When Kendall Marshall was asked about his performance on Sunday against Florida State, he replied "I think I played well, had a few turnovers in there I probably could have avoided but other than that..." This is why I love this kid so much. He's an extremely competitive guy, and he wants to make the perfect play every time. He has the best court vision I've seen in a long time, and as I said earlier in the season, he reminds me of Jason Kidd (Kidd is 2nd on the NBA all-time assist list). Today was beautiful to watch, as Marshall finished with 9 points on 3-4 shooting, 16 assists, 3 steals, and 3 turnovers in 36 minutes. He completely controlled the game, just as I thought he would. He sets up easy shots for his teammates, and he plays great defense. He has the competitive fire that you just can't teach, and he plays with a great energy and passion for the game. He also set a UNC record for most assists in an ACC game, and I think he'll make a few more runs at that record before this season ends. I've been waiting for Kendall to get the opportunity to play 35 minutes all season, and I was glad to see my wishes validated immediately after Drew's departure.
Simply having Marshall on the floor gives more confidence to everyone on our team, as the easier shots he creates results in more success for his teammates, and therefore more energy. The Tar Heels have shot above 50% in all five games that Marshall has started, and in that time Barnes has transformed from a struggling freshman to the star he was expected to be. Barnes finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, John Henson had 16 and 10, Dexter Strickland had 15, 6, and 4 assists, Tyler Zeller had 16 points and 4 rebounds (a little weak), and Justin Knox had 8 points on 3-4 shooting in 16 minutes. Everyone played well, and having Kendall Marshall with them on the floor improves the chances that they will continue to do just that. The departure of Drew and the subsequent increase in playing time for Kendall Marshall has just turned Carolina from a decent team into a final 4 contender. I think Texas and Ohio State are the two best teams in the country, but UNC only lost to Texas by 2 on an absolute prayer by Cory Joseph with only a few seconds remaining, so I now truly believe the Tar Heels can beat any team in the country on a given night.
The change at point guard comes at a perfect time, as Carolina visits Cameron on Wednesday night at 9 to take on Duke. Just a few weeks ago I figured we would get blown out by 20+ in Durham if things stayed the same, but Drew removing himself made everything much, much different. While the Blue Devils lost one of their best players in Kyrie Irving, the Tar Heels finally decided to start effectively using one of theirs, and now these two teams appear to be much more evenly matched. I still think Duke has to be the favorite, but I now know we can compete and be right there with the defending champions in their own building. While Kendall Marshall is young, he is not afraid, and he most likely will thrive in the intense environment of Cameron Indoor Stadium. I'm now looking forward to the game at Duke, with the full expectation that we can win the game.
When Kendall Marshall was asked about his performance on Sunday against Florida State, he replied "I think I played well, had a few turnovers in there I probably could have avoided but other than that..." This is why I love this kid so much. He's an extremely competitive guy, and he wants to make the perfect play every time. He has the best court vision I've seen in a long time, and as I said earlier in the season, he reminds me of Jason Kidd (Kidd is 2nd on the NBA all-time assist list). Today was beautiful to watch, as Marshall finished with 9 points on 3-4 shooting, 16 assists, 3 steals, and 3 turnovers in 36 minutes. He completely controlled the game, just as I thought he would. He sets up easy shots for his teammates, and he plays great defense. He has the competitive fire that you just can't teach, and he plays with a great energy and passion for the game. He also set a UNC record for most assists in an ACC game, and I think he'll make a few more runs at that record before this season ends. I've been waiting for Kendall to get the opportunity to play 35 minutes all season, and I was glad to see my wishes validated immediately after Drew's departure.
Simply having Marshall on the floor gives more confidence to everyone on our team, as the easier shots he creates results in more success for his teammates, and therefore more energy. The Tar Heels have shot above 50% in all five games that Marshall has started, and in that time Barnes has transformed from a struggling freshman to the star he was expected to be. Barnes finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, John Henson had 16 and 10, Dexter Strickland had 15, 6, and 4 assists, Tyler Zeller had 16 points and 4 rebounds (a little weak), and Justin Knox had 8 points on 3-4 shooting in 16 minutes. Everyone played well, and having Kendall Marshall with them on the floor improves the chances that they will continue to do just that. The departure of Drew and the subsequent increase in playing time for Kendall Marshall has just turned Carolina from a decent team into a final 4 contender. I think Texas and Ohio State are the two best teams in the country, but UNC only lost to Texas by 2 on an absolute prayer by Cory Joseph with only a few seconds remaining, so I now truly believe the Tar Heels can beat any team in the country on a given night. 
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