Marshall making quite an impression on Tar Heels

Roy Williams never had a point guard quite like Kendall Marshall in his first 22 seasons coaching college basketball.

Since last season, Williams has learned that Marshall has gifts for playmaking and passing that others haven't had. Those talents will be on display again today when North Carolina plays Appalachian State in the Smith Center at 6 p.m. (ESPNU Ch. 502).

"He probably pitches (the ball) ahead better than anybody I've ever had," said Williams, counting his time at North Carolina and his 15 seasons at Kansas. "Of all the point guards, he probably looks for his shot the least of anybody I've ever had.

"He really plays the game to get the ball to his teammates in the right spot or when they're getting ready to score. He's not the fastest point guard, but he does a better job of moving the ball up the court by passing than anybody I've ever had."

North Carolina (8-2) will be playing the third game of a nine-game homestand. Appalachian State (4-5) is coached by Jason Capel, a former Tar Heel who finished his career in 2002.

Marshall isn't the only North Carolina player that Appalachian State will have to contain. John Henson is one of college basketball's top shot blockers. Harrison Barnes and Tyler Zeller can score inside, and Reggie Bullock and P.J. Hairston are 3-point threats.

But Marshall is the player who gets the offense going and the break running.

"There have been a couple of times (when I realize I should have taken a shot), but for the most part, I know my teammates are better at finishing plays," Marshall said. "The majority of the time, I'm looking for the best opportunity to score, and most of the time, it's going to be my teammates."

Marshall, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, has been waging a one-man assault on the school point-guard records since Jan. 18, when he stepped into the starting lineup in place of the struggling Larry Drew.

He is averaging 10.2 assists this season and has 102 total. The school record for assists in a season is 284, set in 1999-2000 by Ed Cota in 35 games.

Marshall had 16 assists in a victory against Long Beach State last Saturday to match his career high. It was his fourth game with at least 15 assists, the most for a North Carolina player.

Phil Ford, Raymond Felton, Ty Lawson, Jeff Lebo and Cota are among the top point guards in school history. They played a combined 600 games for the Tar Heels and had a combined three games of at least 15 assists.

Marshall's four games of at least 15 assists each came in 47 games.

Marshall went from backup to standout in near-record time, but Williams thought he was prepared for any pressure after a productive high-school career in northern Virginia.

"I don't think it's fazed him near as much as it would a lot of people because he's been so well known for so long a time," Williams said. "When you're declared the best 6th-grader in the United States, everything's downhill after that. You go to lunch, and a girl wants to share her lunch with you."

In Williams' opinion, there is one shortcoming in Marshall's game — scoring. Williams believes Marshall needs to score more than his current average of five points a game for North Carolina to be stronger.

Marshall is North Carolina's eighth-leading scorer. He has 332 career assists but has taken only 230 shots and has made 93.

He has assisted on 33.2 percent of the Tar Heels' baskets this season. The school record is 28 percent, set by Cota in 1999-2000.

"I do look to pass the ball first, because I enjoy it," Marshall said. "It's a big part of my game, and something I take pride in. I've tried to concentrate on making the defense respect me, and I haven't shot the greatest percentage this year.

"It's a little frustrating because I felt like coming into the season I was shooting the ball tremendously.

"But at the end of the day, it matters what you do in games. I just have to keep working at it and keep my confidence high, and hopefully the results will come out in the games."