Many won’t see a regular season win against the team with the worst record in the ACC as a major victory — But Theo Pinson says otherwise.
“Last game was really huge for us,” he said. “I don’t think people really realize how big it was for us.”
Down one with 2:22 to go and without the services of their head coach, the Tar Heels squeaked out a three point victory to halt a two-game losing streak. Assistant coach Steve Robinson took over for Roy Williams after he collapsed during the game.
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“We were in a packed house and we were down,” Pinson said. “Everything was going their way and Coach Rob just told us ‘play how we taught y’all in practice.'”
Marcus Paige found his shot at the end of the game, scoring six of the team’s nine points in the final two minutes.
“We did it,” Pinson said. “We got stops and we converted on the other end, we executed and that was huge. It just goes to show that they say things just work out.”
The Tar Heels hope to put a rough stretch of games behind them on Sunday when Pittsburgh comes to Chapel Hill.
“I think now it’s just being consistent with our concentration and effort defensively,” Williams said.
Before the start of the Boston College game, he made an unusual change in his starting lineup, sitting regular starters Justin Jackson, Kennedy Meeks and Brice Johnson.
Williams said he sat Meeks and Johnson because they had the two lowest defensive grades against Notre Dame the previous game.
While Jackson responded to the benching with a 20 point game, Williams said Johnson was upset with his play.
“He and I have had a good talk,” Williams said. “He’s an unusual dude and I love him to death. I’m just trying to push, push, push.”
After five consecutive double-doubles, Johnson finished with just nine points and five rebounds, due in large part to foul trouble.
“Brice is Brice,” he said. “But he’s just gotten better and better and better and I think everyone knows that. If I can get him to concentrate a little more on the defensive end then he’s got a chance to be a big time player for a long time.”
Williams said he has not yet thought about whether the three players benched will return to the starting lineup on Sunday.
Tipoff is at 1:00 p.m., make sure to tune into WCHL starting at 11:30 with UNC Health Care’s Countdown to Tipoff with Aaron Keck.
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