Successful debut: Tar Heels' new lineup romps to 88-72 win

Reloading North Carolina began defense of its NCAA Tournament championship last night by overpowering Florida International at the Smith Center.

UNC won 88-72 in the first round of the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament, using its defense to force 20 turnovers and taking advantage of FIU's cold outside shooting. UNC never trailed, although the score was tied twice early, and surged to a 57-32 lead with 15:34 left.

At times UNC's play was ragged, leading to 26 turnovers. On other occasions it was a struggle. The veterans in the lineup, Deon Thompson and Marcus Ginyard, sparked UNC with the smarts that they developed in the three previous seasons.

Thompson, the only returning starter from the title team, said that this UNC team is almost starting over after losing four starters from last season's team.

"It's definitely different," Thompson said of being on this team. "Those last year guys, I had been with them ever since I've been here. We all knew each other. We knew each others' tendencies, where guys were going to go, and how guys were going to get shots.

"Now you have no clue where that person is going to go, what he's thinking in his mind or even if he knows the plays."

The Tar Heels wore throwback uniforms to honor the 1957 national-championship team as part of its yearlong celebration of its 100th season, complete with the unusual sight of some red on the waistband of the shorts and the neckline of the jersey.

Both teams were playing their season openers. Isiah Thomas of FIU made his college-coaching debut against UNC 28 years after he ended his college playing career at Indiana against UNC in the 1981 NCAA Tournament championship game in leading his team to the title.

Thomas' debut came on the same day his 86-year-old mother, Mary, had open-heart surgery in Chicago. He spent Sunday with her, then arrived in Chapel Hill early yesterday for the Golden Panthers' shootaround at the Smith Center. He said before the game that he expected to return to Chicago today.

Thompson led UNC with 20 points and 10 rebounds, marking the fourth time in his college career that he has reached double figures in both categories in the same game. Ed Davis added 13 points and 11 rebounds and four blocked shots, and Ginyard and Tyler Zeller scored 12 points each.

Larry Drew, taking over at point guard, had six assists and two of the turnovers. He added seven points and one steal.

Marvin Roberts led FIU with 18 points.

While five prized freshmen fought stage fright in their first college game, Thompson and Ginyard battled through all the rough spots. The lead was 63-40 when Thompson went to floor in the backcourt to fight for a loose ball.

Ginyard felt the effort acceptable for a first game, and for a team that fought all night to find a consistent playing rhythm. Coach Roy Williams played 12 players in the first half and used all 12 in the second half for the first 15 minutes, which helped lead to the turnovers, before clearing his bench.

"I thought it was a good game for us," Ginyard said. "We definitely learned some things out there. We didn't execute as well as we think we could have later on in the game and sometimes in the first half, but overall is was successful for us. We got the win."

Williams was also pleased to open with a victory, but his satisfaction wasn't full. He admitted that he chewed out the last five players who got in the game for adding to the turnovers total.

He did like the inside work after halftime which helped UNC forge a 24-9 rebounding advantage in the second half and a 44-29 edge for the game. He thought that UNC launched too many 3-point shots in the first half instead of forcing the ball inside.

"I didn't like the way they came up with all the loose balls," Williams said. "I didn't like the way we had the ball so many times and all of a sudden they take it away from us.

"I thought the experienced players did some nice things. For the most part I thought we were active and were trying hard. We just weren't very sharp, but that's what you should expect at this time of the year."

bcole@wsjournal.com.

FIU
Min FG-A FT-A OR-T A PF Pts

Roberts 32 6-17 4-4 1-2 1 3 18

Bright 28 5-8 0-0 2-3 0 4 10

Gacesa 15 1-4 0-0 0-1 0 1 3

Weaver 21 1-5 0-0 1-2 1 0 3

Gary Jr 35 1-8 3-4 1-4 5 2 5

Watson 33 5-14 4-5 1-4 6 2 16

Otero 13 2-5 0-0 1-2 1 2 5

Russell 15 3-6 3-4 2-3 0 4 10

Miro 2 1-1 0-0 0-0 1 0 2

Crowder 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Anderson 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Crawford 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Totals 200 25-68 14-17 13-29 15 18 72

Percentages: FG .368, FT .824. 3-Point Goals: 8-23, .348 (Watson 2-5, Roberts 2-6, Russell 1-2, Weaver 1-2, Otero 1-3, Gacesa 1-3, Gary Jr. 0-2). Team Rebounds: 8. Blocked Shots: 2 (Watson, Otero). Turnovers: 20 (Watson 6, Gary Jr. 5, Russell 4, Weaver, Roberts, Gacesa, Bright, Crawford). Steals: 14 (Russell 4, Roberts 4, Miro, Gary Jr., Crowder, Gacesa, Bright, Watson). Technical Fouls: None.

UNC
Min FG-A FT-A OR-T A PF Pts

Graves 17 2-5 2-2 0-6 1 0 6

Thompson 22 7-11 6-8 6-10 0 0 20

Davis 23 5-8 3-3 1-11 2 2 13

Ginyard 29 5-7 0-0 1-4 3 1 12

Drew II 21 3-6 0-0 0-2 6 3 7

Zeller 20 4-7 4-4 3-4 1 3 12

Strickland 11 1-1 0-0 0-0 1 4 2

Henson 12 2-3 0-0 0-1 2 1 4

McDonald 8 1-4 0-0 0-1 1 0 2

Watts 9 2-5 0-0 0-0 2 3 5

DWear 10 1-3 1-2 0-1 3 1 3

TWear 10 1-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 2

Campbell 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Petree 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Thornton 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Gallagher 2 0-0 0-0 0-1 1 0 0

Totals 200 34-61 16-19 12-44 23 19 88

Percentages: FG .557, FT .842. 3-Point Goals: 4-13, .308 (Ginyard 2-4, Watts 1-2, Drew II 1-3, McDonald 0-1, Graves 0-3). Team Rebounds: 2. Blocked Shots: 8 (Davis 4, D.Wear, McDonald, Watts, Henson). Turnovers: 26 (Strickland 5, Davis 4, Zeller 3, Ginyard 3, Watts 2, Thornton 2, Thompson 2, Campbell 2, Drew II 2, D.Wear). Steals: 10 (Thompson 3, Zeller 2, Henson, Drew II, Graves, Campbell, Davis). Technical Fouls: None.

FIU 30 42 -- 72


UNC 46 42 -- 88

A--16,161.