continuing to hear talk out of chapel hill of rift between doherty and his players, with possibilities of defection next year. looks to me like matt might have let his recruiting ability outpace his ability to babysit today's blue chip primadonnas. below is an article from today's news and observer that i feel epitomizes what's wrong with the tarheels. player attitudes like this make me believe the heels will continue to be a good fade.
Scott struggles with role
Tar Heels need more production from top reserve guard
By BARRY SVRLUGA, Staff Writer
CHAPEL HILL -- Melvin Scott has a puzzling solution for North Carolina's recent woes.
WHEN: 1 p.m. today
TV/RADIO: WCHL-1360, WTRG-100.7, WRAL
scott's stats
Year G FGM-A Pct. 3FGM-A Pct. Reb./G A/G Pts/G
2001-02 28 62-155 .400 28-80 .350 1.0 2.0 6.2
2002-03 20* 33-105 .314 22-71 .310 1.6 0.8 4.4
*UNC has played 21 games, but Scott was suspended one game for a violation of team rules.
SOURCE: UNC
He is a shooting guard who is not shooting well. Yet he thinks he should be playing more.
"It's definitely a little bizarre to me," Scott said Friday. "The whole season's just been shocking, you know? I'm bitter, but I got to stay positive for my team and for myself. But it has definitely been tough."
When the Tar Heels try to break a five-game losing streak today against Florida State, Scott, a sophomore, will almost certainly be the first guard off the bench, spelling either Jackie Manuel or Raymond Felton. His role is supposed to be simple: Take care of the ball and knock down the open jumper.
But the 6-foot-1 sophomore hasn't done that at all lately. Over the past seven games, Scott has hit just 5 of 33 attempts (15.2 percent), including just 2 of 17 3-pointers (11.8 percent). Almost across the board, his stats are down from his freshman season: fewer points, fewer assists, fewer steals, worse shooting percentages (see box).
Scott, though, said the numbers come because he doesn't know his role.
"I don't know what it is," he said. "Just to help where help's needed, when guys are in foul trouble, I guess. I don't know."
Scott is averaging 16.8 minutes and 5.3 shot attempts per game. Last season -- before Felton arrived to handle point guard duties -- he averaged 23 minutes and 5.5 shots.
Still, Scott said he thinks he should play more and get more opportunities to score.
"It's just being able to have the opportunities to shoot shots," Scott said. "A couple shots, I've rushed. A couple shots, I'm like, 'I got to take this one, because I'm not going to be out here that long.' That's the big thing.
"It's like sometimes I think I've got to cherish the shots that I do get. ... I just got to take my mind off whether I'm coming out of the game or not, how much I'm going to play, and just really focus on knocking down shots."
If Scott were making more shots, North Carolina would likely be winning more games. In a tight contest against Wake Forest, he missed all four of his field-goal attempts, including three 3s. Carolina lost just 79-75. At Duke on Wednesday, he made his first jumper, then missed his last four. Carolina, feisty enough to battle closely with the Blue Devils, lost 83-74.
"I don't even really think it's a slump," Scott said. "It's just that I'm rushing shots and I don't get a lot of good looks. I don't think it's a slump at all, because I'm shooting well at practice. It's a matter of just getting the opportunity to be put in position to hit shots."
UNC coach Matt Doherty said he understands Scott's plight.
"It's hard," Doherty said Friday. "When you're a shooter, and you're playing limited minutes, sometimes it's hard to get a rhythm.
"But Melvin's a valuable part of this team. I want him to take good shots; and if he takes good shots, he'll make them, and he'll play more."
Scott's teammates said the guard has little choice but to keep working.
"The best thing for Melvin to do is to stay positive," sophomore Jawad Williams. "Everyone knows Melvin can shoot the ball. I went through a stretch not too long ago where I couldn't shoot for nothing. That's going to happen. You got to just play through it."
But as Scott has played through it, he hasn't helped Carolina in any way. He is averaging less than one assist. The last time he scored more than one basket in a game was Jan. 11 at Virginia, when he hit 3 of 9. The last time he made a significant contribution was Jan. 8 against Davidson, when he hit 5 of 7 shots and scored a season-high 15 points in a season-high 28 minutes.
"He has to take care of the ball and play good defense," Doherty said. "He's helped us a lot this year, against Kansas, against Old Dominion, Davidson. We need him. He'll find his range, and he'll find his confidence."
Scott said he expected to play more this season. But Felton is a far better point guard. Manuel isn't a good shooter, but he has a 6-5 frame and is a superior defender.
"It's like I had to be humble and take a seat, I guess for the good of the team," Scott said. "But at times, I felt like I don't know if that's the right decision. It's coach's decision. ... "
"It's pretty shocking to me, though. I ain't never thought I'd be in a position like that. I don't love my role. I don't really accept it, but I guess I don't have any other choice."
Scott struggles with role
Tar Heels need more production from top reserve guard
By BARRY SVRLUGA, Staff Writer
CHAPEL HILL -- Melvin Scott has a puzzling solution for North Carolina's recent woes.
WHEN: 1 p.m. today
TV/RADIO: WCHL-1360, WTRG-100.7, WRAL
scott's stats
Year G FGM-A Pct. 3FGM-A Pct. Reb./G A/G Pts/G
2001-02 28 62-155 .400 28-80 .350 1.0 2.0 6.2
2002-03 20* 33-105 .314 22-71 .310 1.6 0.8 4.4
*UNC has played 21 games, but Scott was suspended one game for a violation of team rules.
SOURCE: UNC
He is a shooting guard who is not shooting well. Yet he thinks he should be playing more.
"It's definitely a little bizarre to me," Scott said Friday. "The whole season's just been shocking, you know? I'm bitter, but I got to stay positive for my team and for myself. But it has definitely been tough."
When the Tar Heels try to break a five-game losing streak today against Florida State, Scott, a sophomore, will almost certainly be the first guard off the bench, spelling either Jackie Manuel or Raymond Felton. His role is supposed to be simple: Take care of the ball and knock down the open jumper.
But the 6-foot-1 sophomore hasn't done that at all lately. Over the past seven games, Scott has hit just 5 of 33 attempts (15.2 percent), including just 2 of 17 3-pointers (11.8 percent). Almost across the board, his stats are down from his freshman season: fewer points, fewer assists, fewer steals, worse shooting percentages (see box).
Scott, though, said the numbers come because he doesn't know his role.
"I don't know what it is," he said. "Just to help where help's needed, when guys are in foul trouble, I guess. I don't know."
Scott is averaging 16.8 minutes and 5.3 shot attempts per game. Last season -- before Felton arrived to handle point guard duties -- he averaged 23 minutes and 5.5 shots.
Still, Scott said he thinks he should play more and get more opportunities to score.
"It's just being able to have the opportunities to shoot shots," Scott said. "A couple shots, I've rushed. A couple shots, I'm like, 'I got to take this one, because I'm not going to be out here that long.' That's the big thing.
"It's like sometimes I think I've got to cherish the shots that I do get. ... I just got to take my mind off whether I'm coming out of the game or not, how much I'm going to play, and just really focus on knocking down shots."
If Scott were making more shots, North Carolina would likely be winning more games. In a tight contest against Wake Forest, he missed all four of his field-goal attempts, including three 3s. Carolina lost just 79-75. At Duke on Wednesday, he made his first jumper, then missed his last four. Carolina, feisty enough to battle closely with the Blue Devils, lost 83-74.
"I don't even really think it's a slump," Scott said. "It's just that I'm rushing shots and I don't get a lot of good looks. I don't think it's a slump at all, because I'm shooting well at practice. It's a matter of just getting the opportunity to be put in position to hit shots."
UNC coach Matt Doherty said he understands Scott's plight.
"It's hard," Doherty said Friday. "When you're a shooter, and you're playing limited minutes, sometimes it's hard to get a rhythm.
"But Melvin's a valuable part of this team. I want him to take good shots; and if he takes good shots, he'll make them, and he'll play more."
Scott's teammates said the guard has little choice but to keep working.
"The best thing for Melvin to do is to stay positive," sophomore Jawad Williams. "Everyone knows Melvin can shoot the ball. I went through a stretch not too long ago where I couldn't shoot for nothing. That's going to happen. You got to just play through it."
But as Scott has played through it, he hasn't helped Carolina in any way. He is averaging less than one assist. The last time he scored more than one basket in a game was Jan. 11 at Virginia, when he hit 3 of 9. The last time he made a significant contribution was Jan. 8 against Davidson, when he hit 5 of 7 shots and scored a season-high 15 points in a season-high 28 minutes.
"He has to take care of the ball and play good defense," Doherty said. "He's helped us a lot this year, against Kansas, against Old Dominion, Davidson. We need him. He'll find his range, and he'll find his confidence."
Scott said he expected to play more this season. But Felton is a far better point guard. Manuel isn't a good shooter, but he has a 6-5 frame and is a superior defender.
"It's like I had to be humble and take a seat, I guess for the good of the team," Scott said. "But at times, I felt like I don't know if that's the right decision. It's coach's decision. ... "
"It's pretty shocking to me, though. I ain't never thought I'd be in a position like that. I don't love my role. I don't really accept it, but I guess I don't have any other choice."
