ACC Basketball Player Ratings: North Carolina and North Carolina State 11/15

This year I am recapping games in a similar fashion that soccer matches are recapped. Following a game, each player receives a rating 1-10 based upon their performance. Over the course of time you can see how they are playing in stretches, and how the team overall is performing based upon the form of their players. I think this is an effective way to evaluate basketball games. Especially when, at the end of the season, it is not always the most talented team that wins, or the team that had the most victories during the season, but the team that is experiencing the greatest of run of form. So, with no further introduction, here are two games featuring ACC teams from last night.

Team ratings include weighted values from each player based on playing time. 

Sunday 11/15

1 North Carolina 92 vs Fairfield 65

North Carolina Tarheels

C Kennedy Meeks: 8

Kennedy Meeks may not have been a huge threat on offense; he scored eight points, on 3-6 shooting, while making only two of five of his free throws. Meeks was howevr, a defensive stalwart. He finished the game with 12 total rebounds, which led all players this game. He also blocked two shots, and UNC only blocked three as a team. Meeks impressively stole the ball four times, leading to quick points for the Tarheels. Meeks is capable of offensive outbursts, evidenced by the 25 points he scored in the opener against Temple. In this game however, he was comfortable sitting back and playing strong defense. The Tarheels are blessed with multiple scorers down low though.

Kennedy Meeks' Side Whiskers: 0

I feel like Jameis Winston also tries to pull off this 70's look. It's not working. Stop trying to bring it back.

F Brice Johnson: 7.5

Johnson is clearly the best player on this team when he is on the court. He does a good job scoring in the low post, and frequently draws fouls on the inside. He finished this game with 16 points, shooting 4-8 from the field, and scoring another eight points from free throws off of 10 opportunities. Johnson also grabbed 10 rebounds, including three on the offensive end. The problem for Johnson is staying on the court. He ended the game with four personal fouls, and picked up his fourth with more than ten minutes remaining in the second half. North Carolina needs Johnson to stay on the court, especially against strong opponents. On this occasion, Brice Johnson only played 21 minutes.

F Theo Pinson: 8

Theo Pinson has played well thus far this season. He scored double digits for the first time this game. He only shot 2-5 from the field, but was six for eight from the free throw line, allowing him to score 11 points. Pinson may never lead UNC in scoring this season, but he contributes in a variety of ways. Pinson picked up five rebounds, all defensive this game, and is averaging seven on the season. Pinson is often positioned along the perimeter on offense, and he will also place himself just above the free throw line, from both positions he passes the ball really well, and has been able to find teammates, either in the low post, or cutting towards the basket. He dished out eight assists last night, which led the team. Pinson also played above average defense.

F Justin Jackson: 5

Justin Jackson scored 11 points on five for nine shooting. However, he is still not living up to expectations on offense. North Carolina needs Jackson to step up and be a prolific scorer especially from three point range, since they lack shooters, but he missed all three of his attempts from deep this game. He also only made one of four free throw attempts. Additionally, despite playing 23 minutes, Jackson grabbed no rebounds.

G Joel Berry: 6

Joel Berry got the start at point guard this game. He scored 15 points on six for sixteen shooting, making three of his eight three point attempts. Berry, along with Nate Britt, have thus far answered the call as far as shooting from distance goes. Berry is shooting 50% of his shots behind the arc through two games, and has been aggressive in pulling the trigger. Berry did however, turn the ball over three times last night, and only had four assists.

G Nate Britt: 10

Nate Britt has been stepping up on offense in Marcus Paige's absence. He scored 17 last night, and is averaging 16 points through two games. Last night he was six of nine from the field, and was an excellent four of six from three point range. He also ended the game with five assists, while only turning the ball over twice. Britt has been coming off of the bench, instead of starting, but it is no matter, as he is still receiving starters' minutes. Britt's early season success should win him more time at shooting guard when Marcus Paige returns from injury. North Carolina occasionally showed a three-guard attack this game with Berry, Britt, and Kenny Williams all on the floor at the same time. This foreshadows a future lineup involving Berry, Britt, and Marcus Paige, which would be a lethal combination based on the way Berry and Britt have begun the season.

F Isaiah Hicks: 8

Hicks was a great asset coming off the bench, playing 18 minutes. He scored eight points on a perfect four of four shooting. He also added five rebounds, and played good defense inside when Brice Johnson was out of the game. Hicks will need to be a solid contributor due to Johnson and Meeks' penchant for foul trouble, and he is proving capable of the task.

F Joel James: 3

James is a solid defender in the low post, but offers nothing offensively. He was 0 for two from the field, and missed all three of his free throw attempts. He rebounded the ball three times, including twice on offense, but also turned the ball over twice. James' playing time is directly linked to Meeks and Johnson's foul accumulation. The less James is needed the better.

F Luke Maye: N/A

Maye did not play enough to be rated. He scored two points, and grabbed a rebound. Interestingly, UNC has been using him to guard out on the perimeter.

G Kenny Williams: N/A

Williams didn't play enough minutes to be rated this game. He scored four points on 2-3 shooting. The freshman came into the season known for his ability to shoot from distance, but he has yet to make a three this season. If Williams has played sparingly this early in the season without Paige, than he likely will not be a major factor this season.

Team Rating: 7.0

North Carolina is the best team I have seen so far, which shouldn't be a shock considering they are ranked the best team in the nation. Their depth is impressive, and they do not need a go-to scorer due to several players' ability to impose their will on offense. North Carolina plays very up tempo, which sometimes hurts them on defense, as players do not always get back. Their frontcourt players also get into foul trouble far too quickly. Brice Johnson can be the best player in the ACC, but he needs to play more than just 21 minutes a game. Still, North Carolina has looked very good, especially on the offensive end, due to guards Berry and Britt who have stepped up with increased playing time through two games. This team will only get better when Marcus Paige recovers from his hand injury.

North Carolina State 88 vs South Alabama 70

North Carolina State Wolfpack

F Leenard Freeman: 5

Freeman started, and received the most playing time of the three big men. Freeman's greatest strength is on the defensive glass, and pulled down eleven defensive rebounds in this game—thirteen overall. Other than that, this was not a great night for Freeman, and his rebounding numbers benefited from South Alabama missing 50 shots. In fact, despite playing more minutes than either Abu or Anya,, Freeman was the least effective big man for the Wolfpack. He shot only two of five all night, scoring a total of five points. He also turned the ball over three times, and picked up four fouls. Also, although Freeman is a steady defender inside, he is less dynamic on defense than his counterparts.

F Abdul-Malik Abu: 6

Abu only played 20 minutes this game, but looked when he was on the floor. He scored more points than both Freeman, and Anya, ending the game with 14 points. Abu shot 5-9 last night, and proved to be an assertive scorer. He looked to establish his jump shot, from up to 18' out, but was not effective doing so. Instead he was much more successful down low, and showed off some good post moves, and finishing ability around the rim. Abu was most effective when on the floor alongside Anya. They fed each other in the low post on several occasions, earning assists, and were a dynamic force on defense. Abu's minutes were limited because he was often in foul trouble, and ended the game with four fouls. He also finished the game with six rebounds.

F Caleb Martin: 9

Martin, the slightly young, was far-and-away the most impressive player for the NC State last night. He was great from the offensive end shooting 7-10, and 4-6 from three point range. He scored 19 points total, and has established himself as a consistent scorer through the Wolfpack's first two games, he has averaged 20 ppg, while maintaining shooting percentages of over 50%. One of the big questions for North Carolina State entering the season was who would step up on offense in the absence of Trevor Lacey and Ralston Turner, and it appears Martin is answering the call. Martin also added six rebounds; although because he plays so far away from the basket, Martin is not an asset picking up offensive rebounds. Martin also suffers because he does not play great perimeter defense. He too easily allows players to get past him on their way to the basketball. That is the greatest area of weakness in Martin's game.

G Maverick Rowan: 6

Rowan is a freshman wing who is starting in the absence of injured shooting guard, Terry Henderson, who will be out till, probably, the ACC season. Rowan gives NC State another good shooter alongside Martin. He shot 5-10 from the field, and 2-6 overall, scoring 15 points. Rowan is now averaging 15.5 ppg, but is only 3-14 from the three point arc early this season. Rowan is not an asset yet beyond his scoring numbers. He is not a big rebounder, finishing the game with one. More importantly, he, like Martin, is not a great perimeter defender. Rowan is not even a decent one. He was consistently allowing South Alabama players by him in this game. He picked up fouls quickly himself, and finished the game with four. Worst of all due to the atrocious perimeter defending by NC State, South Alabama often put pressure on the Wolfpack's big men, which caused them to pick up fouls quickly. In fact, NC State's three big men combined to pick up 13 fouls, or 4.33 fouls a piece.

G Cat Barber: 6

Cat Barber runs this team, and despite being outscored by Caleb Martin in each of their first two games, Barber's play will ultimately decide how well this team performs. Barber was not great shooting the ball once again. He finished the game just 3-11, and 0-1 from three point range, thus far this season he is shooting only 40.1%, and 26.1% from three. However, he did get to the FT line often, taking 12 shots from the line, and making eleven. He was able to get so many free points, because of this attacking style of offense. Barber almost finished the night with a triple-double. He rebounded the ball twelve times, mostly on the defensive end, and dished out eight assists. Barber was another member of NC State's bad perimeter defense, although he was slightly better there than Rowan and Martin. Barber is by far the most important player on this team, and needs to be a more efficient scorer. He has played all but one minute for the Wolfpack through two games.

C BeeJay Anya: 8

BeeJay Anya came off the bench, and ended up playing 25 minutes. Anya was a member of the All-ACC defensive team last season, and is one of the favorites to be Defensive Player of the Year this season. He backed up his reputation, playing ferocious defense, and ending the game with five blocks. He also added five rebounds and eight points, shooting 3-4 from the field, but only 2-6 from the free throw line. Anya has more offensive upside than Lennard Freeman. He is a good finisher around the rim, a good athlete for his size, but he needs to improve at the charity stripe as he continue to receive opportunities from there. Anya also earned three assists in this game. Anya ended up fouling out; he was consistently harassed by ball handlers getting inside due to poor perimeter defense.

F Cody Martin: 6

Martin's role off the bench will grow in Henderson's absence over the next month and a half. Martin, played nearly half the game on this occasion, 19 minutes. He scored eight points total, going 3-5 from the field, and 2-2 from the free throw line. Martin does not have the same offensive ability as his brother, Caleb, and lacks the ability to shoot from outside. However, Cody was the best of NC State's perimeter defenders in this game. Their best defensive lineup came when Cody played alongside his brother and Barber on the outside.

Team Rating: 6.75

North Carolina came back strong after being upset in their first game. I was more pessimistic regarding the Wolfpack's hopes this season than anyone, declaring them the ACC's tenth best team in my ACC preview. However, in this game NC State showed glimpses of being better than that. They are a well set up team. Most of the scoring will come from the perimeter in the form of Barber, Caleb Martin, and Maverick Rowan (and Terry Henderson when he returns from injury), while the inside is staunch defensively with some offensive potential. However, questions remain unanswered. North Carolina State's perimeter defense was very bad, against South Alabama; they too easily allow defenders to get past them, and attack the basket. This directly caused NC State's bigs to all get into foul trouble early, and throughout the game. This is an area that needs to be corrected, or they will be vulnerable against any higher level competition. That said, this game was a step in the right direction offensively, as Caleb Martin continues to establish himself as a secondary scorer to Cat Barber. But, Barber needs to be a more efficient shooter in future games. 

Statistics courtesy of ESPN.com