Plauderecke » .I hope Ive improved and I hope Ive also learnt

HONOLULU -- North Carolina coach Roy Williams did not mince words after his fifth-ranked Tar Heels struggled in the first half before pulling out their latest win.Isaiah Hicks scored 10 of his 16 points after halftime to lead five players in double-figures as North Carolina (4-0) beat Hawaii 83-68 Friday night.Its one of the ugliest games Ive ever coached in my entire life, Williams said, but we made some shots during a stretch in the second half that gave us the lead.North Carolina never trailed outside of the opening minutes and held a 35-27 lead at halftime despite shooting just 35.1 percent from the field. The Tar Heels had shot better than 50 percent from the field in each of their first three games.Hicks said Williams message to the team at halftime emphasized defense.He said that shots were going to fall, but weve got to be better on the defensive end, continue to rebound, get to the board and try to get them out of what they do early on, said Hicks, who shot 7 of 8 from the field.Kennedy Meeks and Nate Britt had 13 points apiece. Justin Jackson scored 11 and Tony Bradley contributed 10 points and 13 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end, off the bench.He really gave us a lift, Hicks said of Bradley, a freshman center. Thats what really got us through the game, especially Tony just getting to the boards, getting the rebounds and second-chance shots.North Carolina led by as many as 18 in the closing minutes. The Tar Heels shot 63.3 percent (19 of 30) in the second half and finished with a 46-23 rebounding edge.Their size created some issues, but we cant lean on that, Rainbow Warriors coach Eran Ganot said. Theyre bigger than us, theyre stronger than us -- those are facts -- but what we need to focus more on is how to get it done.Hawaii pulled to 40-37 on Jack Purchases banker with 16:27 left, but North Carolina answered with a 12-2 run that that was capped by a 3-pointer by Kenny Williams from the right wing that stretched its lead back to 64-49.Noah Allen, a UCLA transfer, led Hawaii with 22 points. Jack Purchase added 14 and Sheriff Drammeh 13 for the Rainbow Warriors (2-2).BIG PICTURENorth Carolina: Junior guard Joel Berry II entered averaging a team-high 21.3 points per game, but was held to just two. His only basket came on a 14-foot pull-up jumper with about 5 minutes left. ... The Tar Heels depth was evident as they dominated Hawaii in bench scoring, 28-12.Its not a concern; Its a good thing, Williams said of Berrys night. Ive never seen him miss and go one-for-nine. Then again, in the first half our starting one, two and three men were 1 for 16 and thats not good.Hawaii: The young Rainbow Warriors have only three active players back from last seasons squad that won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in school history. Hawaii dropped to 19-104 against Top 25 teams, including a 2-19 mark vs. top-5 squads.KEY NUMBERSNorth Carolina took advantage of its size against the smaller Rainbow Warriors by grabbing 19 offensive rebounds and held a distinct edge in second chance points, 28-8. Hawaii had nine turnovers in the first half, but finished two below its season average of 16 for the game.We cut down the turnovers, but we made them at critical times. We just couldnt get over that hump because we couldnt execute at key points, Ganot said.UP NEXTNorth Carolina: The Tar Heels, who are 30-5 all-time in the 50th state, will face their second straight Hawaii opponent when they take on Division II Chaminade in a Maui Invitational quarterfinal Monday.Hawaii: The Rainbow Warriors will host Division II Hawaii-Hilo on Tuesday, their fifth of 13 straight games on-island to open the season, although five of them are part of two tournaments (Pearl Harbor Invitational, Diamond Head Classic). Cam Newton Womens Jersey . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. Jordan Scarlett Panthers Jersey . With the short-handed Warriors needing help from someone -- anyone -- to stop a three-game skid, ONeal returned from right knee and groin injuries that had sidelined him for four games and put up season highs with 18 points and eight rebounds. It was just enough to help lift Golden State to a 102-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. http://www.shoppanthersonline.us/panthers-cam-newton-blue-jersey/ . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Brian Burns Youth Jersey . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. DJ Moore Womens Jersey . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. Allrounder Moises Henriques knows he is good enough for Test cricket, but he also knows that consistency is the key if he is to fulfil his ambition of a long career in the baggy green. In Sri Lanka, Henriques is soaking up the atmosphere of again being part of Australias Test squad, the first time he has toured with the Test side in more than two years.And while Mitchell Marsh is the established allrounder in Australias Test team, there is a chance Henriques could play on the tour depending on the balance of the attack Australias selectors decide to use. Although Henriques has not played a first-class match since November - his season was ended by a calf injury suffered in the BBL - the selectors took a punt on him for the Sri Lanka tour.Henriques played his only three Tests on Australias most recent Test tour of South Asia, in India in 2013, and his batting on debut hinted at a Test-match temperament. Henriques used his long limbs to reach from the crease and negate Indias spin threat in Chennai, his 68 and 81* making him the only Australian since 1980 to score 50-plus in both innings on debut.However, Henriques failed to reach double figures in either of the Tests that followed, in Hyderabad and Mohali, and picked up only two wickets for the series on pitches that offered little for the pace bowlers. He was dropped for the final Test in Delhi and although he was part of the squadd that toured South Africa a year later, he has not played a Test since that Indian series.dddddddddddd.I hope Ive improved and I hope Ive also learnt about how hard Test cricket is, in terms of backing up day after day, Test after Test, Henriques told reporters in Colombo on Tuesday. You see the likes of Smithy and Davey, how they perform Test after Test and are able to bounce back and just be extremely consistent all the time.Its not just about one good performance or a couple of good performances. Youve got to keep churning them and keep being as good as you can for as long as you can. After one good Test I felt like Id displayed that I was good enough, but just not consistent enough. Thats the biggest thing, is to do it over and over again. I certainly feel like Ive improved as a cricketer and given the opportunity, Id like to think I could do even better than I did then.Although Henriques missed the second half of Australias home season, he had plenty of time to get used to Asian conditions during the IPL, playing all 17 matches in Sunrisers Hyderabads successful campaign. That was followed by a stint training on the special spinning pitch Cricket Australia has developed in Brisbane, and Henriques hopes that preparation will hold him in good stead. ' ' '