Brice Johnson averaged 26 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 0.5 bursts of profanity in the UNC basketball team’s two games last week against Tulane and UCLA.

His strong play earned the senior forward National Player of the Week honors from CBS Sports.

Johnson was also named ACC Co-Player of the Week.  He shares that award with NC State guard Cat Barber.

Carolina is playing without Kennedy Meeks.  Meeks is sidelined with a bruised knee.  Brice Johnson has stepped up in the absence of Meeks.

Against Tulane, Johnson scored a career-high 25 points.  He also grabbed 10 rebounds.

After his potty mouth put him on the bench against UCLA, Brice Johnson exploded for a new career-high.  The senior dropped 27 points.  He shot 11-12 from the field.

Brice Johnson

Brice Johnson slams one home against Tulane. (Todd Melet)

Brice Johnson credits the benching.

“It put a fire under my butt,” he told reporters after the game. “When I got back in there, I was ready to go.”

Johnson unleashed some foul language as he went to the bench early in the game against UCLA on Saturday.  That did not sit well with Coach Roy Williams.  So, Brice Johnson stayed on the bench for almost nine minutes.  When Johnson sat down, Carolina was down by 7.  When he returned, the deficit was 9.

The North Carolina Tar Heels will return to the court on Monday night.  Carolina plays Appalachian State in the Dean Smith Center at 7 PM.

 

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