Feeling out the Tar Heels’ Tradition
Thursday, March 20, 2014
What do the Providence Friars really know about the North Carolina Tar Heels?
For one, their colors are Carolina Blue and White. Pretty familiar with those. How did they become the Tar Heels? Legend has it the nickname was started in the mid-19th century, when the state's citizens were known as "tarboilers." From there, Tar Heels just kind of "stuck."
Oh yeah. The state university basketball team has been pretty good, too. 18 Final Fours (two more than PC has total NCAA appearances). Five National Championships. Where Dean Smith coached, Michael Jordan, James Worthy and Bob McAdoo played. Let's go back further - with coaches who played there: Larry Brown, George Karl, Doug Moe...and of a more recent vintage, don't forget players like Sam Perkins, Tyler Hansbrough, Rasheed Wallace or Jerry Stackhouse. The list of players wearing Carolina blue is long, and illustrious.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"We've got a juggernaut organization we've got to play against," PC's Ed Cooley said this week, "and I've got to prepare our group."
This year's team is pretty good, too. Not as good, perhaps, as some of the great Carolina teams of the past, but good enough to finish 23-9 this season, 13-5 in the ACC (tied for 3rd).
"I think they have the fastest big men we've played against since I've been a head coach," Cooley pointed out. "They rebound the ball great, they're unbelievable in transition, I think (Marcus) Paige is a national player of the year candidate - we've got our hands full."
Marcus Paige, a 6-1 sophomore guard from Iowa, was 1st team all-ACC and was also named as a 2nd team all-American by The Sporting News. He's the first Tar Heel sophomore guard to be named 1st team all-ACC since Phil Ford in 1976, and led the team in scoring at 17.6 points per game. James McAdoo is a 6-9 junior forward from Virginia who made 2nd team all-ACC, finished second in scoring (14.2 ppg) and led the team in rebounding (6.7 per game). McAdoo was one of the highest rated prep players in the country three years ago, and his father (who played at Old Dominion) is a cousin of Hall-of-Famer and former Tar Heel star Bob McAdoo.
There's some lineage that runs deep inside that Carolina Blue.
"We definitely have our hands full with what we're trying to do," Cooley added. "We're going to be competitive on the glass, because we were the best offensive rebounding team in our league. But it's 'what have you done for us lately,' and we've got our hands full with this game on Friday."
Carolina is 11-2 on the season with a lineup of Paige, McAdoo, ACC all-defensive team forward J.P. Tokoto, Leslie McDonald and Kennedy Meeks. They've averaged almost 80 points per game over the last 13 games, after averaging only 56 points in their first three league games. The Tar Heels were also 5-2 this season against teams ranked in the Top 25.
"The closest team we would have played with their length would probably have been Syracuse a year ago," Cooley pointed out. "They're really, really long at each position. McAdoo is a tough matchup for people, and they block a lot of shots around the basket. But I think we match up great, it's just a good opportunity for Providence College and I can't tell you how excited we are to go play."
The Friars will also face a program that's playing in the NCAA's for a 10th time in the last 11 years, 45th time overall (second all-time to Kentucky), and led by a coach who has won multiple national titles. A legendary program, rife with tradition throughout.
"We are not going to change what we do," Cooley pointed out. "We'll play with our heart, our soul, we're gonna play with passion and energy."
And perhaps, try to enhance the Friars' tradition at the same time, at the expense of those in the Carolina Blue.
Friar Notes
Providence's chartered flight from T.F. Green departed Wednesday morning just after 8:00 am, and arrived in San Antonio, TX just before 12 Noon local time. Players, coaches, administrators, cheerleaders and band members, along with media and some family members filled the Southwest flight and descended upon the Alamo City shortly after arrival. The team held practice at the San Antonio Spurs practice facility...the games will be played at the AT&T Center just outside of the downtown area, which is the arena home of the NBA's Spurs...the Friars will take to the interview podium and conduct an "open to the public" workout at the AT&T Center Thursday, with Ed Cooley and selected players scheduled for their time "on the blue carpet" from 5:15 until 5:55 pm Central time, with the open practice taking place from 5:55 to 6:35 pm...the other teams in San Antonio - albeit in different regionals - include Nebraska and Creighton, Louisiana-Lafayette, Baylor, Iowa State and North Carolina Central. UNC, Iowa State and UNC Central are in the East Regional with Providence...the Tar Heels come into the NCAA Tournament with two straight losses, having been beaten at Duke and against Pittsburgh in the ACC Tournament. It's the first time in 10 years they've come into the NCAA's with a two-game losing streak...how about this for a stat? Carolina is 142-1 all-time when they shoot 50% or better from the floor. They're 7-1 this season, with the loss coming at Duke in the last game of the regular season...UNC coach Roy Williams is 3rd all-time in games coached in the NCAA's (83), behind Mike Krzyzewski (107) and Dean Smith (92). The game Friday will be Ed Cooley's 1st ever as a head coach in the NCAA Tournament...
Related Slideshow: PC’s Top Post-season Teams
With the Providence College Friars back in the NCAA tournament for a second straight year, GoLocal takes a look back at the top post season teams in Friars history.
From the early days of Lenny Wilkens and Joe Mullaney, to Dave Gavitt's Final Four Friars, to Rick Pitino, Rick Barnes and Pete Gillen-led teams, we've included them all.
Here is a look at the top postseason teams in Providence College history.
