Chansky’s Notebook: Well-Coached!

Roy Williams continues to prove he can coach basketball.

The Tar Heels’ 78-73 comeback win at Tennessee had a lot of the old Carolina Blue and more revelations that, besides having good players, they also have a helluva coach. Williams’ program has excelled the last few years by his “coaching up” veterans who weren’t one-and-dones. Additionally, his game management – shown in changing defenses Sunday – is underrated.

Williams’ latest edition is deep and talented on the perimeter but also would not have beaten 20th-ranked UT if not for a front court of late-bloomer Luke Maye and two lightly recruited freshmen bigs. That trio helped keep Tennessee from extending its lead into double figures and scored important points down the stretch of the rally.

By now, no one should be surprised at how well Maye is playing, especially when he is outmatched by quicker opponents early in games. But Maye, from a pedigreed athletic family, never quits and finds a way to make an impact. He wound up finding his groove and finishing with 15 points and eight rebounds.

Garrison Brooks and Sterling Manley split most of the five-spot minutes, playing 19 each and combining for 19 points and 16 rebounds. Both made enormous plays late that should give them, and Williams, confidence that they can develop into forces giving Carolina a shot to make a third straight Final Four.

The outside attack is shining and will only be better when Cameron Johnson finally gets in the game. Joel Berry is beginning to match his preseason press as a first-team All-American; Theo Pinson still has trouble scoring from outside but he made all five free throws, had 9 rebounds and 8 assists and played defense and set screens that don’t show up in the box score. Kenny Williams, who buried the dagger in the final minute, has gone from a reputed outside shooter who made one 3-pointer as a freshman to the most accurate “arcsman” in the ACC.  Berry and Williams totaled 36 points, almost all of them hushing up a sold-out, rocking arena.

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes had UNC’s number when at Texas, beating the Tar Heels 5 out of 6, but he’s now lost two heart breakers to them since moving to Knoxville, thanks to Ol’ Roy, who told his team that was down six at the half, “Do what we tell you to do and we’ll be there at the end.” They did, and they were.

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