Top-seeded North Carolina went to Atlanta with the idea of dressing for success. "I hate packing three suits and have them get wrinkled and not have to wear them," Tar Heels coach Roy Williams said. With that in mind, he wants the Tar Heels to advance through the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament and play three games. For North Carolina, it starts with this afternoon's quarterfinal against Maryland.
Taking deep breaths, drinking water and not wasting energy on the court. Stretching properly before games and getting enough sleep afterwards. These might seem like simple steps, but North Carolina sophomore point guard Kendall Marshall has been concentrating on the little things to avoid a repeat of a year ago when the point guard was run down by the time the Tar Heels got to the ACC championship game.
Roughly a week ago, North Carolina beat Maryland to stay in the race for the regular-season ACC title. Friday at Philips Arena, the top-seeded Tar Heels will face the eighth-seeded Terps in their first step toward winning the ACC tournament title.
North Carolina has had to prepare for Terrell Stoglin the Scorer in the past. For Friday's ACC quarterfinal game against Maryland, the top-seeded Tar Heels also need to prepare for Stoglin the Rebounder. Stoglin the Assist Man. Stoglin the Teammate.
Opponents in today's ACC tournament quarterfinal, North Carolina and Maryland have history in the sense that they've played each other recently. They also have that other kind of history. North Carolina defeated the Terrapins twice this season. Each time, the game ended with a North Carolina bucket some could deem unnecessary.
Terps have not been pleased with how UNC closed out its two victories over them this season and will get a chance to lay out a shocker to kick off Friday's quarterfinals. To do so, Maryland must get excellent games from Terrell Stoglin and Nick Faust penetrating and getting to the rim (and converting) and by matching the Heels on the glass, or at least coming close. UNC simply has to play it game and it will advance.
Kendall Marshall, G, UNC. The 6-foot-4 sophomore is a pass-first player who'd rather set up his teammates than look for his own shot.