CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Last season, UNC coach Roy Williams said, “I felt like every game that came down to the stretch, something good happened for the other team, and something bad happened to our team.”
That hasn’t been the case this year – thanks to freshman Harrison Barnes.
The wing’s game-winning 3-pointer at Miami on Wednesday night marked the third straight victory that Barnes has played “Mr. Clutch” down the stretch:
*On Jan. 13, he scored 8 of his 12 points (including two 3-pointers) in the final 3:38 to help the Tar Heels secure a 64-61 victory over Virginia Tech.
*On Jan. 18, he buried a key 3-pointer with 4:58 left to help top Clemson, 75-65.
* And then there was Wednesday, when he scored five points in the final 69 seconds – including that 3 in front of the Tar Heels’ bench, on an assist from Kendall Marshall.
Barnes, a pre-season All America, hasn’t shot the ball as consistently as anyone expected – just 37.3 percent on the season -- but there’s something about the final five minutes of games, he said, that “just becomes a lot more fun for me.”
He’s wanted the ball in clutch situations all season, dating back to the Texas loss in December, when he tied the game 76-76 on a 3-pointer with 12.7 seconds left. The final play was drawn up for Barnes in that game, but the ball never got to him.
It’s a good thing it has over UNC’s last three victories – or the Tar Heels probably wouldn’t be 4-1 in the ACC.
“Everybody wants to take it, but he’s not afraid to take it, and he feels like he’s going to make it every time,’’ Williams said. “ And I think that’s a huge quality for a youngster to have … and I hope he has about 100 more of them.”
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at
Comments
Reality check
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 15:25 — TheMambaSTRIKESJust as it is way tooooooo soon to trash the guy...so too is it way tooooooo early to anoint him anything.....No player plays in a vacuum.......he can be made to look better and definitely WORSE......by the other 4 jokers on the floor with him
...Another struggle to win a game in the woeful ACC,....let's wait to see how Barnes and the team perfom in the first 3 games in Feb... it's what we call......."Reality Check" time !!!!!
OK!!!! Can we anoint him now?
Sun, 01/30/2011 - 12:21 — unc098OK!!!! Can we anoint him now?
The kid does like the 'rock'
Fri, 01/28/2011 - 09:50 — unc098The kid does like the 'rock' at the end of the game though....and seems to know what to do with it. Mr KMAR can deliver the mail. He did look a bit quicker against Miami, but I know its an illusion. He may be slow as you say but has good bball intelligence.
First of Feb will be a reality check indeed. I would like to see at best 2 wins but expect 1out of the three.
No ones pointing this out
Fri, 01/28/2011 - 10:28 — gvillegatrBut you do not have to be like beep-beep if you have the IQ to run point.
Strickland ( I know he is a
Fri, 01/28/2011 - 10:32 — unc098Strickland ( I know he is a 2 ) case in point.
memory
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 13:14 — SurferWhen they kept showing Barnes last 3 over and over in slow motion showing that there was 1 second on the shot clock after it left his hand, did anybony else but me immediately think about T.J.'s spike with 1 second left? Just curious.
When interviewed at the end
Fri, 01/28/2011 - 09:52 — unc098When interviewed at the end of the game he said he was aware of the clock but I think it was just luck that he got it off in time. Give kudos to Marshall for that excellent pass.
Call me crazy
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 10:46 — gvillegatrOf Barnes could play 35 mins like he does the last two, UNC would be a bonified (msp?) Final Eight team this year. No question.
Crazy!
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 13:04 — shadleBarnes has had his struggles this year--that's for certain. Over the course of the season he's shooting 37.3 FG% and 31.5 3FG%. Not stellar. He's only shot 50% or better from the field four times all season--and only one of those times was against a somewhat legit team (Texas). The other victims of his great shooting--Lipscomb, Hofstra, and St. Francis (PA).
That was my point
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 13:29 — gvillegatrIf he could play 35 mins a game like he does in the final minutes of games, this team could be a Final Eight team. I'm still probably crazy though.
You only need one guy to get you that far. You need two guys to get your farther and you need three guys to win it all.
True, but he doesn't have
Fri, 01/28/2011 - 09:59 — unc098True, but he doesn't have the maturity yet to do that. He still turns the ball over way to much. As many as 6 turnovers against Clemson and I believe he had the same at GT. He seems a bit confused on defense about where hes supposed to be and I would say the same about offense. His defensive rebounding is ok but his offensive rebounding stinks. NO one on this team crashes the O-boards. I saw Bullock follow his own miss the other night and get his own rebound and I think that was the first time I have seen that in two years from anyone. Case in point, the missed FT by Strickland. The damn thing came back at him hard and he didn't flinch to try to get it. Thats the kind of bs that I can't stand. Also everyone seems to have an aversion to dive for those loose balls. Shades of last year, but they are getting better. Less turnovers seems to be one of the keys.
The way Marshall has
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 14:40 — shadleThe way Marshall has improved and Drew II has settled into his role as defensive stopper, the Heels are getting better with each game. Their frontcourt (PF/C) have been solid all season. That said, they still shouldn't be having a tough time with this year's Miami team--even on the road--or losing by 20 to GT.
Don't sell Miami short
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 15:04 — gvillegatrThis is an above avg team IMO. The TEAM just has to get on the same page. In the meantime, somebody has to lose ...
I'm not the spelling police,
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 11:10 — melvinfurdbut since you were pretty sure you'd spelled it wrong, I decided to look in my Funk & Wagnalls and found it's "bona fide".
Secret about me
Thu, 01/27/2011 - 12:10 — gvillegatrWhen I put the (msp?) on the board it means I know I misspelled it bc my phone is trying to give me another word in it's place, but I simply don't have the time to go look it up. Thx for the correct spelling. I hate misspelling words ...