In the ramp up to the 2008-09 basketball season, I will be profiling key Tar Heels who will likely be major contributors this season. Today’s profile looks at senior SG/SF Marcus Ginyard.
Vitals
Number: 1
Position: SG/SF
Height: 6-5
Weight: 220 lbs
Year: Senior
Career Stats: 107 gms, 5.7 ppg, 1.6 apg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 spg
2007-08 Stats: 39 gms, 6.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.0 spg
What Happened Last Season
Marcus Ginyard was the best defender on the team, period. What he lacked in a tour de force on the stat sheet he more than made up for in shutting down opposing players. What he did do on the stat sheet usually involved a key offensive rebound or putback. I was surpised to see that Ginyard shot 40% from thee point range, the same as Wayne Ellington, but Ginyard was limited in his opportunities to shoot three given the other weapons on the court. Overall Ginyard filled his role nicely as the team leader/garbage man there expressly to do the little things which almost never get recognized when it is happening.
Outlook For This Season
Ginyard will start the season injured having had surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot. The prognosis given at the time of surgery was eight weeks. If things go according to schedule, Ginyard might return for the Heels’ trip to Detroit to face Michigan State. I tend to think unless he is ahead of schedule, the staff will be very careful how and when they bring him back. Players who rush back from an injury to the foot sometimes end up with it nagging them thus killing their ability to play productively. In terms of the big picture there is no rush. As long as Ginyard can get back in December at some point he should be able to get his legs and rhthym by the time the ACC schedule is in full swing. Other than that, we have no idea what to expect from Ginyard since the effect of the injury on his play is presently unknown.
Probable Role
Same as last year. Questions will abound over whether Danny Green should start in place on Ginyard when the latter returns. Obviously Green will fill the slot while Ginyard is out but what about later? My guess is Roy will look to keep the team roughly in the same setup as last season since that team went 36-3. Ginyard still stands to be the best defender on the team and also the guy more than willing to be the glue. Something tells me Roy would like him in the starting lineup doing those things reserving Green as the offensive hammer off the bench. If Ginyard returns healthy look for him to do exactly what he did last season.
Main Concerns
One really, what if he cannot recapture last season’s form after the injury? The worst case scenario is Ginyard never gets his legs back, the injury still nags him and he is unable to do what he does best which is shutting the opposing team’s best guard/small forward down. Losing Ginyard is also a blow to UNC’s general depth, takes a key experienced player off the floor and also a natural leader. This is why I am more than content to see Ginyard taking as much as time as needed to get his foot healed even if it makes for a rough ride early on.
Wish List
That Marcus Ginyard becomes the perfect hybrid of Jackie Manuel and George Lynch. I think we see some of both in him but if he can take his offense up a notch and improve his defense from being really good to “holy crap this guy is 1-12 with Ginyard on him” so much the better.
Final Thoughts
Get well soon, Marcus.
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I don’t think it is too early to address the age old question of whether you can lose your spot due to injury. Obviously, if Marcus gets better he will be on the court a great deal. But if the team is 7-0 on December 3, or undefeated whenever he does come back, should Roy yank Danny out of the starting lineup?
With the extended 3 point line, Wayne and Danny will be able to stretch their defenders out to the far wing. That will leave Ty to dribble to the basket or pass it in to Tyler and Deon. If that combination is working well, Roy may not want to change that. Of course, Wayne or Danny is going to have to be a shut down defender on the defensive end. Not sure if that will work.
I think Roy values defense and the “little things” over what Green generally does. I mean why else would you sit Marvin Williams on the bench and leave Jackie Manuel in the starting rotation. Sure the positions did not quite match up but as you said if neither Wayne or Danny are not playing the same level of one-on-one defense Ginyard plays then Ginyard gets his spot back.
Re: ” I will be profiling key Tar Heels who will likely be major contributors this season.”
THF – You’re going to be profiling a lot of players, aren’t you? ;^)
I’m looking forward to your profiles as well as to the tip-off for the first regular season game.
My recollection is that Roy started Jawad over Marvin because Jawad outplayed Marvin in the pre-season.
I love the way Marcus plays and I think he is fantastic. When he is healthy, I am sure he will play a ton of minutes. But the problem is that he won’t likely be fully healthy until half-way into the season. By that point, do you change the starting line-up if the team is rolling? My prediction would be no.