Maryland at UNC Pregame Notes
There was not much time to celebrate Saturday nights inspired win over Miami. UNC is next on the docket, as Maryland Travels to the Dean Dome. I don’t ever remember so may Tuesday night games as we have had this year. Anyways, on to your UNC information.
UNC gets it start early in our countries history. In 1776, the first state charter, stated there should be a state university for higher learning with appropriations from the state. Well they didn’t get the state money at first, but by 1795 UNC had its first student. UNC was the first State University (University of Georgia was second several years later). UNC was one of a few southern schools to remain open during the Civil War, but actually closed 1870-1875 during reconstruction to repair many buildings.
The nickname the Tarheels comes from the Civil War, as soldiers from North Carolina once were the only troops not to retreat. This led to a discussion between some Carolinian and Virginian soldiers where the Carolina troops were going to put some tar on the heels of the Virginians to make them stick around. The ram mascot came to be in 1924. A cheerleader decided UNC needed a mascot since NC State had the wolf. UNC’s star football player was Jack “the Battering Ram” Merrit, and the mascot was created, and on November 8, 1924 Rameses made his first appearance coming all the way from Texas.
If you live in North Carolina, tuition, room, and board will cost you $24,484, and if you live out of state it jumps to $38,882. Famous Alumni include: Peter Gammons and Dan Cortese. Rick Dees, Jim Lampley and Andy Grifith find themselves on the list of famous alumni as well. Caleb Breenham graduated circa 1888. He was the inventor of Pepsi. There is also quite a list of former governors, representatives and other members of politics whose names don’t stand out. Those are just some of the fun ones.
On to this years basketball team. UNC was a team that everyone said could be the next team to finish the season undefeated. Well thanks to Boston College they weren’t even the last team in North Carolina to stay unbeaten. They are talented. They are fast. They are missing two of the top seven of their rotation. We don’t know how big the loss of Tyler Zeller is. In two games he averaged 10 points. You have to think he would have made it a little easier inside for Tyler Hansbrough, or vice versa. The loss of Marcus Ginyard is the one that seems to have had the most impact. Not necessarily for his 1.3 points per game, but he was considered the Heels best perimeter defender. I will question that. After watching Danny Green, I seem to think he is the best perimeter defender, though he may not be able to handle a true point guard. On to the players tha will suit up. Mr. All Everything Tyler Hansbrough leads the way with 22.4 points and 7.6 assists. He has MADE 134 free throws. He is shooting 53% from the floor. Ty Lawson is averaging 15.2 points and 6.5 assists per game. I might be able to say he is the fastest guy I have ever seen dribble a basketball. I always thought Iverson was fast, but Lawson seems to just blow by people every time you turn around. He is shooting 54% from the floor and 46% from 3. He does not take a ton of three’s but if you slack off him to prevent the drive he will rise up and knock it down. Wayne Ellington is down to 13 points per game this year. He is only (probably would be the highest percentage of a Terp) hitting 37% of his threes. Danny Green is up to 13.2 ppg this year and his hitting on 45% of his threes. He likes to hit them from the corner, and in transition a lot. Of course with Ty Lawson, Carolina gets the ball up the court on makes as fast as some teams on misses. Deon Thompson is playing well in the middle averaging 11.9 and almost 7 rebounds per game. Carolina is fast, and they average 21 more points per game than the Terps! I thought they had no chance in Chapel Hill last year. They won. I don’t think they have much of a chance this year. Will they win? Who knows, but lets just hope we don’t see a repeat performance of the Duke game. Go Terps!
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February 3rd, 2009 at 8:11 am
The story behind the nickname “Tarheel” also has a version where the Virginians say they had to put tar on the Carolina troops feet so they would stay in place. I personally don’t believe that, I think the name is a complement. What few people realize is that 1 out of every 4 causalities suffered by the south in the Civil War was from NC. They were the last Southern State to leave the Union, and paid the dearest price. In fact when Sherman reached NC after torching GA and SC, he told his men, to be kind to the people of NC they didn’t deserve what GA and SC got.
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:16 am
Well you certainly might find that version on UVA’s website.