UNC Basketball: Carolina's Freshmen Are Making the 2010-11 Campaign a Success

On November 21, 2010 the UNC fan base was shocked and baffled by the 2-2 start of their basketball team. UNC started the year ranked in the top 10 and with the addition of heralded freshman Harrison Barnes appeared poised to bounce back after an NIT berth the previous year.

The season didn't start the way fans had hoped and UNC struggled to a 4-3 start after a loss to Illinois in a game that was a bigger blowout than the score indicated. 

Then, in the blink of an eye, something started to click and they began to look more like a team and less like a bunch of kids playing "herd ball" on the soccer field. 

UNC was able to beat Kentucky. Albeit at home, a win was a win for a team that was struggling to find an identity.

Since the loss to Illinois, Harrison Barnes has only scored in single digits three times in 13 games after scoring in single digits in three of his first seven.

While that statistic is not mind-blowing, it is more impressive when you look at his shot attempts; during his first seven games Barnes attempted to carry the team on his back, shooting the ball more than ten times every game except the game against Illinois. Since that game, Barnes has only taken more than 10 shots seven times in 13 games.

Barnes has greatly improved his shot selection as the season has gone along, and that decision making along with the presence of Zeller and Henson inside have drastically improved this team.

UNC only has two losses since its horrid start, one was on a last second shot to Texas who is ranked No. 3 in the country, the other to Georgia Tech (a team that Roy Williams hasn't been able to beat in Atlanta, for one reason or another). 

UNC went into Georgia Tech 2-0 in the ACC and coming off an impressive second half comeback against Virginia Tech, seemed in good position to go 3-0 in the conference.  It appeared as though UNC had finally gotten their swagger back and had their eye on one of the top three spots in the conference.

Then Georgia Tech pummeled the Heels by 20 points, an embarrassing performance against a team that was a bottom feeder in the conference and came into the game 8-11.

However, this loss was the best thing that could have happened to this team, for one reason and one reason alone:

Kendall Marshall.

The game against Georgia Tech was Larry Drew's last start at point guard for the Tar Heels this season, and Tar Heel fans hope it will be the last one of his career.  Against Georgia Tech, Larry Drew played 21 minutes and finished without a point and only two assists.

Marshall, on the other hand, played 19 minutes and finished with four points and six assists. Marshall did have four turnovers in the game but his ability to create on offense was evident and if he was a little more patient those turnovers would have never occurred.

On the season, Marshall has averaged almost a full assist more than Drew in seven fewer minutes and boasts a field goal percentage that is 10 percent higher. While neither of these point guards are big scorers, Marshall appears to be more well-rounded and has the potential to be a very good point guard. 

Considering the fact that Larry Drew has essentially gotten worse every year he has been in Chapel Hill, and the move to start Marshall was an easy decision for Roy who has the Heels in the top 25 of the AP poll and in position to return to the NCAA tournament.

Marshall doesn't have the speed of Drew, but Marshall's passing is light years ahead of Drew's. Marshall may not be Ty Lawson or Raymond Felton, but Marshall's presence on the court has appeared to spark the Heels to three straight impressive wins and will look to keep it going against Boston College tomorrow night.

Kendall, you're time has come and Tar Heel fans officially welcome you to Chapel Hill.