ACC Microsite writers Matt Patton and Brad Jenkins will be reporting live from Greensboro at the 2015 ACC Tournament throughout the week.
This season has been one of ups and downs for North Carolina, and much of that volatility can be attributed to the rash of injuries and illnesses that have beset the Tar Heels. Roy Williams’ team was without starting center Kennedy Meeks (illness) and guard Theo Pinson (still injured) in its opening round ACC Tournament game against Boston College, but it still handled its business in easily winning by a score of 81-63. A big reason for the comfortable margin was the all-around performance of junior point guard Marcus Paige, who appears healthier than he has been all season.
North Carolina’s Marcus Paige is getting healthier and more productive with each passing game. (AP/Bob Leverone)
Back in October, Paige was selected as the preseason ACC Player of the Year and a member of the preseason All-America First Team. While he has played well for most of the year, his performance has not been to that level. There’s no question that part of the reason he has not lived up to expectations is that his plantar fasciitis has caused continuing pain and has hampered his quickness. By his own admission, Paige’s last three outings have been his first pain-free games of the season, and the results are striking. While his scoring is only up marginally — 15.7 PPG over that stretch — his efficiency and all-around play have been especially impressive. When asked after yesterday’s game about what was benefiting most from his healthy foot, Paige cited an ability to finish two-point shots and be more active defensively. The stats clearly back up that notion — Paige has made all eight two-pointers he has attempted and has recorded 11 total steals in those three games, not to mention six rebounds and nine assists in his latest outing. This increase in his production really bodes well for the Tar Heels as postseason play continues, assuming Paige’s foot ailments are behind him for good.
Next up for North Carolina will be a rubber-match meeting today with Louisville in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals (2:30 ET). It’s unclear if Meeks will be available for the game, but Williams was not optimistic when asked about his status on Wednesday. The head coach mentioned that his sophomore center hasn’t run up and down the court since last Saturday’s Duke game. With or without Meeks in the lineup, the Tar Heels must find a way to slow Louisville power forward Montrezl Harrell, who dominated the North Carolina frontcourt in the last meeting — Harrell posted 22 points and 15 boards in a comeback win while UNC’s Brice Johnson and Isaiah Hicks combined for five points and 10 fouls. Another key to the game will be how well J.P. Tokoto can defend guard Terry Rozier, who scored over 20 points in both of this year’s prior meetings. Tokoto stepped up to a similar challenge against Boston College’s Olivier Hanlan on Wednesday, holding the First Team All-ACC guard to a hard-earned 18 points on 5-of-19 shooting.