(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Robbi Pickeral of the Charlotte Observer on North Carolina’s win over Michigan State: “By beating No. 9 Michigan State 89-82 at the Smith Center on Tuesday, 10th-ranked UNC finally started living up to all those preseason expectations, just in time to face two more top 25 teams – Kentucky and Texas – this month.”
Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News and Observer on the UNC win: “That just isn’t done against Michigan State. And if that wasn’t enough, Ginyard hit a 3-pointer on the first shot of the second half. At one point in the second half, with North Carolina up 15, the Tar Heels had made twice as many shots (29) as they had missed (14). The flow dried up not long after, but it was enough to hold off the Spartans, who kept plugging away until the end.”
Dana O’Neil of ESPN was in Chapel Hill to report on the Heels’ victory: “Nevertheless, the Carolina kryptonite once again paralyzed the Spartans. Putting together its most complete effort of the season and riding the revelry of a crowd chastised into action by its head coach, the Heels won 89-82, their fifth consecutive victory over Michigan State — and third in the last 12 months.”
Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News says North Carolina will only get better: “So you can be assured that even though Carolina has won two of the past five NCAA championships, the dynasty has lots of time to run. More than 68 percent of the Heels’ points in their 89-82 victory were scored by players with at least two years of eligibility remaining after this one. Three more top-25 recruits join next season, including consensus No. 1 prospect Harrison Barnes.”
Luke Winn of SI.com learned from the Michigan State loss: “I ranked the Spartans second in the preseason — despite coach Tom Izzo’s objections — because I felt they had fewer flaws than any team not named Kansas. While I still think they have an elite offense, I underestimated the impact of losing defensive stopper Travis Walton from the backcourt, and 6-foot-10 Goran Suton and 6-11 Idong Ibok from the frontcourt. State no longer has a lockdown artist or the ability to alter many shots in the paint.”
Shannon Shelton of the Detroit Free-Press on the MSU loss: “MSU couldn’t get its shots to fall in the first half, going 14-of-36 from the field (38.9%), while the Tar Heels shot a scorching 21-of-33 (63.6%). North Carolina (7-1) went on a 9-0 run with the game tied at 21 midway through the first half to take a lead it wouldn’t relinquish, and led 50-34 at halftime.”
