
By Eddy Landreth
Staff Writer
Reggie Bullock, a sophomore guard from Kinston, is finally getting the opportunity he dreamt of as a youngster in eastern North Carolina.
Bullock will be in the starting lineup when the seventh-ranked Tar Heels (16-3, 3-1 in the ACC) play N.C. State at 7 tonight at the Smith Center. He will likely continue as the starting shooting guard for the remainder of this season.
“I know I’m a shooter, a rebounder and a defender,†Bullock said. “I just have to bring that to the team. I need to do it consistently for the rest of the season.â€
Bullock’s opportunity unfortunately arose because of an injury to junior guard Dexter Strickland. Strickland landed awkwardly during the Tar Heels’ 82-68 victory at Virginia Tech on Jan. 19, the last game Carolina played.
Strickland tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee and is out for the rest of the season.
“It was a big-time loss for us,†coach Roy Williams said.
Strickland has started all 19 games this season. He is tied with starting point guard Kendall Marshall for the team lead in steals with 25 heading into tonight’s game. Strickland is second in assists to Marshall with 39. His shooting percentage of 57 percent leads the team.
For all his attributes though, the most difficult role to fill in his absence is that of backup point guard. His ability to move from shooting guard to the point provided Marshall with needed rest.
When Carolina won by larger margins, Strickland often played more point so Marshall could further rest his legs.
Freshman shooting guard P.J. Hairston of Greensboro will be Bullock’s backup. Those two are not the only ones who will benefit from Strickland’s absence.
Freshman guard Stilman White of Wilmington will get a chance to contribute more than he probably ever imagined. He will be Marshall’s official backup.
“We’re going to give Stilman some time there,†Williams said. “We’re going to try to do a little more work on the passing game, not having a true point guard, and see how that works. We’ve got to find a way to give Kendall a little bit of a break each half.â€
Marshall acknowledged he has his own responsibility in this new scenario.
“I’ll have to do a good job of taking care of my body and play more minutes,†Marshall said.
Marshall said the entire team must keep its mind on its business and stop losing its concentration.
“Effort and energy for 40 minutes,†Marshall said. “What we’re trying to do as a team is live in the here and now, not look to the future, not focus on the past. We want to focus on the task at hand. So that is the main focus of our team right now – living in the here and now.â€
Tonight’s game will provide an excellent test. This is not the same N.C. State team that UNC could count as a sure victory in the past. First-year coach Mark Gottfried has the Wolfpack playing exceptionally well.
NCSU is coming off a 78-73 road win over Miami on Sunday. Gottfried said it did not take his team long to turn its attention to the Tar Heels.
“Oh, I think our players will be excited,†Gottfried said. “They’ve been excited to play every game, but this game’s different. There is no question. It feels different to your players, fans, students on campus. So our players are very well aware of that.
“For us, it’s just a great opportunity, and I think our players view it like that. Our guys, as soon as the Miami game was over, their minds shifted to North Carolina.â€