North Carolina (13-1, 2-0) vs. Georgia Tech (11-2, 2-0)
Chapel Hill, N.C. - Dean E. Smith Center
7 p.m., ESPN
Quotables
"Jarrett [Jack] is probably physically stronger than any point guard in the country. He can take a lot
of contact and still get his own shot –- and finish the play. He can also go inside and create contact
with the big guys and get the ball to the guys that they were guarding. He can penetrate and dish as
well as anybody I have ever seen. He is a load for us. That is where our first defensive emphasis
has to be -- doing a decent job on him, which we haven’t been able to do very often." -- Roy Williams
"We’ve got outstanding leadership at the point guard position. Jarrett Jack won’t allow any of his
teammates to even think about somebody that’s hurt or somebody that’s not playing at 100 percent.
He’s talking to these guys on the court and in the locker room about taking care of their
responsibilities. When we need to pick up the slack because B.J. is not there or somebody is in foul
trouble, Jarrett is right there getting people to understand that because we have enough talent to
play well and be successful." -- Paul Hewitt
"We don't alter our game. We're going to go out there and do the best we can. I mean [Schensher]'s seven-foot, he's long; but we're going to play to our advantages, which is our speed and our quickness." -- Jawad Williams
"We are playing pretty well despite a couple of injuries. We’ve had some freshmen – Ra’sean Dickey
and Anthony Morrow, in particular – step up and play very, very well. We’re looking forward to
playing against North Carolina. They’re obviously playing great basketball right now." -- Paul Hewitt
PREGAME NOTES
Last Year Vs. UNC: Georgia Tech and North Carolina squared off three times in the 2003-04
season. In January at the Smith Center, strong defense gave the Heels a 20-point first-half lead and
a 103-88 win, with Sean May (28 pts, 8 reb) and Raymond Felton (25 pts, 9 ast) leading the way. The
following month in Atlanta, B.J. Elder (30 pts) and Rashad McCants (31 pts) went toe-to-toe, each
hitting seven three-pointers, but Tech's supporting cast outplayed UNC's for an 88-77 Yellow Jacket
win. The rubber match was in the ACC Tournament quarterfinal, and a Jarrett Jack jumper with 1.4
seconds left gave Tech an 83-82 win, despite the Tar Heel trio's efforts (May - 27 pts, McCants - 25
pts, Felton - 20 pts).
Season To Date: Tech has two losses on the season, both road games against high quality
opponents (Gonzaga, Kansas). However, they don't have many quality non-conference wins (Michigan was
the only one) and have handled their two inferior conference opponents (Miami, Virginia). That's not
to say the Jackets haven't been tested, as the overtime loss at Kansas was proof enough that Paul
Hewitt's club can play with any team -- anywhere.
Injury Report: The biggest news is the absence of senior wing B.J. Elder (13.2 ppg), who is
still recovering from a strained hamstring. Freshman power forward Ra'Sean Dickey (9.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg
in two ACC games) is questionable with a knee sprain. Freshman forward Jeremis Smith has been out
since late November since suffering a dislocated kneecap.
PG Battle: There's no night off in the ACC this season for point guards. Raymond Felton goes
from one matchup of future pros (vs. Maryland's John Gilchrist) to another -- Wednesday night against
Jarrett Jack. Jack, a 6-3 junior, is a lethal offensive threat. He may not have the best
assist:turnover radio in the league, but none are stronger or more effective getting to the hoop --
not to mention he is hitting 48 percent of his three-point attempts. Jack lit up Kansas for 26 points
(10-12 FG) in Lawrence.
No Elder? No Problem: Well, not exactly "no problem." After all, Elder has recorded double-digit scoring outings in all seven career games against UNC. But winning without Elder isn't
insurrmountable for the Jackets, as the senior isn't Tech's top long-range threat this season. That honor
goes to both Jack (48% 3pt) and freshman Anthony Morrow (47% 3pt), a Charlotte native. Elder is seen
as the go-to scorer, but last year's postseason run without Elder helped the team develop other
scoring options.
Big Luke: Luke Schenscher, Tech's 7-1 senior center, will go down as one of the most improved
players in ACC history. The Australian native's meager production in his first two seasons made him
the subject of jokes by Jacket fans and opponents alike, but his sudden turnaround his junior season
made him a fan favorite in Atlanta. Schenscher's averages and playing time skyrocketed, as he played
an integral role in Tech's run to last season's national title game. Tar Heel fans assuredly remember
his 17-point, 17-rebound performance in UNC's 2004 ACC tournament loss.
Projected Starters:
3 Jarrett Jack (6-3, 202, G, Jr.) – 14.8 ppg, 4.7 apg
11 Will Bynum (6-0, 185, G, Sr.) – 11.3 ppg, 3.3 apg
2 Isma'il Muhammad (6-6, 228, F, Sr.) - 9.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg
55 Anthony McHenry (6-7, 222, F, Sr.) – 5.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg
12 Luke Schenscher (7-1, 250, C, Sr.) - 10.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg
Key Reserves:
4 Ra'Sean Dickey (6-9, 255, F, Fr.) – 6.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg
23 Anthony Morrow (6-5, 205, G, Fr.) – 6.6 ppg
35 Zam Frederick (6-0, 209, G, Fr.) – 2.4 ppg, 1.1 apg
44 Theodis Tarver (6-9, 245, C, Jr.) – 1.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg
5 Mario West (6-4, 208, G, So.) – 1.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg
GT Info
Schedule
Stats
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Photo Gallery
Jack ... McHenry
Bynum ... Muhammad
Schenscher ... Morrow