The Carolina men’s basketball team’s toughness has been scrutinized this season, most notably, after ugly losses to Butler and Iowa. But junior forward Brice Johnson is doing his best to rectify the situation.

***Listen to the story***

Johnson’s explanation for his 19 points and career-high 17 rebounds in Sunday’s rout over ECU is simple. He played more minutes.

“For one, I wasn’t in foul trouble all night. That was the biggest thing. I could get in the groove and was able to stay on the floor a good period of time. I attribute it to that. The last couple games, I’ve been in foul trouble,” Johnson says.

Brice Johnson recorded a breakout performance Sunday (Todd Melet)

Brice Johnson recorded a breakout performance Sunday (Todd Melet)

ECU head coach and former Carolina basketball player Jeff Lebo says he was pulling hard for a UNC win last Wednesday in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge if only to avoid an angry opponent for his Pirates.

UNC head coach Roy Williams agrees. The Tar Heels were ticked off with their performance against the Hawkeyes.

“Mentally, we were more into the game. Jeff [Lebo] and I talked before the game. He was pulling for us hard Wednesday night, because he’s a North Carolina graduate, but also he didn’t want us to be as mad as we were. I told him I agreed after the game. We had much more attention to detail today. In the first half, we had one turnover,” Coach Williams says.

That clean of a game is an encouraging sign for Coach Williams if the Tar Heels can keep it up, and that’s a big if, especially with the No. 1 team in the nation looming large on Saturday.

But for now, Johnson says he’s eager to continue stepping up as a key big man inside for Carolina. His 17 rebounds, the most since Tyler Zeller’s 22 in 2012, jumped off the stat sheet Sunday, but Johnson says he wants more.

“Well, I wanted 20, but it didn’t happen that way. It’s good I could help my team any way I could. That was the biggest way I could help my team. I’m really happy about that,” Johnson says.

Coach Williams credits what he calls one of the toughest practices his team’s ever faced as a key contributor to the focus and improved play last weekend.

Roy Williams doesn't like what he sees all the time (Todd Melet)

Roy Williams doesn’t like what he sees all the time (Todd Melet)

“It did simmer for another next 24 hours. We got after it as hard as anybody on this team has ever had at practice the day before a game. You can’t do the things rebounding-wise or the things one-on-one and selfishly like we did Wednesday night and be a good basketball team,” Coach Williams says.

Johnson’s explosive game didn’t surprise his coach. The Hall of Famer has thrown the gauntlet down all season, expecting his post players to dominate for the Tar Heels. Not surprisingly, when they’ve done so, UNC has fared well.

“I’ve said that since the start of the year. We have a couple of big guys that have to step up. When they step up and be big-time players, we’re really a good basketball team. That’s putting a lot of pressure on guys, but heck, it’s college basketball at the highest level. If you want to be good, your best player has to step up and play,” Coach Williams says.

Coach Williams and Tar Heel fans everywhere will certainly be hoping the big men can answer the bell in hostile Rupp Arena this weekend. They’ll have to or risk getting embarrassed.