Tarheel Basketball Report 2007 - Game 7

It was the battle of the two greatest programs in college basketball, North Carolina and Kentucky. The Wildcats were without two of their good players in Jodie Meeks and Derrick Jasper and it showed. The Tarheels won this won 86-77. The game was not nearly as close as the final score shows. Here are some of the key points from the game:

Junior Danny Green had a career high 20 points.

Tyler Hansbrough finished the game with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Despite a quite shooting day, Wayne Ellington added 18 points.

Ty Lawson started for North Carolina.

North Carolina played this game with their starting point guard Ty Lawson. Lawson has been battling an ankle injury and missed the heels game against Ohio State earlier this week. He was however cleared to play today, and the team played much better. The first half was not as good as coach Williams would have liked. The team struggled knocking down shots but still managed to have a 5 point halftime lead. In the second half, the heels started with a 13-7 run and never look back. At one point they lead by as many as twenty in the second half.

Today's key player was without a doubt Danny Green. He had a career high 20 points on a day in which Wayne Ellington had an off night. Green looked very good, hitting shots from the outside, getting rebounds and making plays on defense. It was certainly his best game of the year. Also Bobby Frasor had a solid game, coming off the bench to knock down 3 three pointers and making some other key plays throughout the game. When he plays like he did today, it gives the heels yet one more weapon in their arsenal. Furthermore Junior Marcus Ginyard had a solid game playing great defense and rebounding.

The heels looked much better in the second half of this game, despite losing some of their edge once up by twenty. Sure Kentucky is not the team they were a few years ago, but winning in Rupp Arena still is never easy. If UNC plays like they did today they are going to be tough to beat. Next up for the heels, a date with Penn, before a much deserved twelve days off.