CHAPEL HILL, NC — Harrison Barnes must really like
the color orange.
The North Carolina sophomore small forward brings out his best whenever the Tar
Heels take on Clemson. In the fourth installment of Barnes vs. the Tigers on
Saturday afternoon at the Dean Smith Center, the "Black Falcon"
soared, like he did in the first three meetings.
Barnes put on an impressive display, scoring 24 points and grabbing seven
rebounds in UNC's 74-52 victory. The Tar Heels are now 56-0 against the Tigers all time in Chapel Hill. After Saturday's victory, the Carolina star admitted
what had become quite apparent.
"I don't know … I always have good games against them," he said,
referring to the Tigers. "Ever since they came here, at their place,
(Clemson forward) Milton Jennings returned the favor to me today. I just love
playing Clemson."
In his first of three meetings against the Tigers, all of which occurred last
season, Barnes totaled 13 points, but hit the go-ahead basket in a 10-point
Carolina victory. He then scored 20 in a 64-62 win at Littlejohn Coliseum, and
in the ACC Tournament, Barnes poured in a career-high 40 points on 12-for-17
shooting.
Reminded after that game that BYU's Jimmer Fredette, the nation's leading
scorer and eventual National Player of the Year, scored 52 the night before,
but on 32 field-goal attempts, Barnes smiled and responded with a simple word,
"efficiency."
Barnes was fairly efficient Saturday. He drilled half of his 18 field-goal
attempts, but he turn the ball over three times. There were sluggish moments for
the Tar Heels, though, and when Carolina broke free, Barnes was there leading
the way.
On a couple of occasions, UNC ran some specific plays to get Barnes looks. One
paid off, the other almost did. But the consciousness of Barnes' appetite for
the ball more and more was obliged by his coach. That's a good sign if baby
blue runs through your veins.
"We have a couple of sets where we try to clear space for him to allow him
to do that," UNC coach Roy Williams said. "He does have an ability to
put the ball on the floor a little bit. He's almost 6-foot-8 … so when you have
that ability to put it on the floor and shoot the basketball like he does, I
think you have good things like that happen."
In UNC's last five games, Barnes is averaging just below 21 points and seven
rebounds. Barnes said he and Williams have a secret bet that has to do with him
grabbing 10 rebounds in a game. He won't divulge what happens to the loser each
game, but smiled and acknowledged it's on the up and up.
"By contract, I can't say," Barnes joked.
But his play against Clemson hasn't been a joke, and the trajectory of his
performances has become a serious boon to North Carolina's recent ascent. Blown
late lead against Duke aside, the Tar Heels have closed out their last four
victories in impressive fashion.
Barnes is a major reason why. Once a bit passive, now he's assertive and is
better using his immense physical strength.
"He's a great player, and we don't have a guy that's his size that matches
up very well," Clemson coach Brad Brownell said. "You've got so many
guys you're trying to stop, it's hard to do a good job on him."
The proof has been in the performances.
