I would say Zeller (POY), Henson (best 2-way player in the league, though Zeller is not far off), Scott and Rivers are - and all should be - locks.
Barnes will probably nab the 5th spot due to rep and attention, though I'm not sure he really deserves it. He has put up solid numbers all year, at least in terms of scoring, but has rarely been dominant or clutch. And to me, Barnes is the least impactful of the Heels' "big four" in terms of overall influence on games and how the team overall plays. I see Marshall and Snaer as more deserving, with Stoglin and Kadji also deserving of consideration.
Count me among the Duke fans who aren't especially bothered by Henson. In fact, i found some of his antics in the first Duke -UNC game almost comical, particularly when he tried to act like some sort of tough guy. Does anyone seriously think he could take anyone on the Duke team, especially Tyler? Not me.
There's a fundamental difference between idly speculating about how much better one's stats would be if they played on a team with more or less talent around them, and the objective truth that more possessions per game directly results in more points, rebounds, and everything else per game.
Disclaimer: I've only seen one complete UNC game (against Virginia Tech) and two partial games (against Duke and UVa). However, my impressions based on those games are that Marshall does a good job of running the point, but I think that any decent point guard would do that with the options that UNC has. He's consistently beaten on the defensive end, to the point that he's almost a liability. In essence, he'd be a role player on most teams who puts up gaudy numbers because UNC has so much talent at other positions.
Partially agree. I think most point guards that have good vision and passing skills could easily replace him. He is slow, does not play D, does not contribute much on offense as scoring goes. He just makes good entry passes to the best front court in all of college which inflates his stats. If Barnes, Zeller and Henson all leave this year then Marhall should as well because his stats will take a big dip.
Dave...
Stones, we talkin' bout stones?
So you don't think Roy has done a good job after losing two starters, and couldn't be considered at least on par with coach K this season because he started with good players... Like making good players better shouldn't count?
Here's some stones for ya...(best Palin voice)
For example, looking at players being coached to improve their games overall, I'll take the continued improvement I've seen in Zeller, Henson and Barnes over the continued improvement, or lack of, in Mason, Miles, and Kelley's games all day. That's coaching, and UNC is winning.
Coach K is a great coach that has been lucky this season with some tough individual play from his players to keep this team from middle of the pack ACC play. I'll give him credit for keeping them in position to be lucky, recognizing they have to bomb away to have a chance, and keeping them tough, that's good coaching, no doubt.
But Roy is coaching well too, and should get at least equal credit for what his team is accomplishing.
Rivalry talk here, and a day off to joust a little,..nobody get all mad.
Actually, I scheduled a board meeting/ fund raiser with my new charitable foundation for Saturday night in a private room at a local restaurant...of course we will have a big screen, so don't expect any comments from me either way until Sunday...but rest assured I'll stop by no matter what.
Sorry, I know this is rivalry talk, but I take offense to the "lucky" theme. Duke is 12-2 in the conference with comeback wins over NC State and UNC and an overtime win over VaTech. But the two losses were on a buzzer beater by Florida State (by Snaer, who banked in a 3-pointer to end the first half) and in overtime to Miami. So, a few of the wins could have gone the other way, but certainly the losses could have, too. Would a different result or two really put this Duke team in the middle of the pack?
And then the "they have to bomb away to have a chance"?? Is that to imply that 3-point shooting is somehow not real basketball or is some sort of desperation strategy for this team?
No woofing on Ole Roy and the Heels here, just taking note of your lack of respect for what Coach K and this Duke team have achieved.
Scoreboard.
Marshall is not just an average, good vision, point guard. He's setting records that have stood all time in the ACC...
And it's not just because there are good players around him. Everybody else had good players around them too all those years.
I think he hurts himself on defense because he paces himself to play extended minutes without a backup. More energy and effort would make his D tougher. He's not a bad defender, he's average, and is up there in league steals.
All said, he does need to improve that D, shoot better, and finish at the rim better. That's a few reasons he won't make first team All-ACC.
Zeller, Henson and Barnes were more highly rated out of high school than Mason and Kelly (to say nothing of Miles), and Zeller and Barnes arrived on campus much less prepared for college basketball. (Which is saying something, given the remarkable mediocrity of Barnes' rookie season.) What are you even talking about?