How Garrison Brooks, who was sick, got his groove back and helped UNC sweep N.C. State
Garrison Brooks said he lost eight pounds in two days last week while fighting a fever.
He couldn’t eat. He couldn’t talk. He said he felt weak. He was hot at times, and cold other times. He could barely move. Whatever it was he was dealing with, it kept him out for North Carolina’s game against Louisville last Saturday — a game the Tar Heels lost by 17.
But Brooks was healthy for Tuesday’s game against N.C. State (17-11, 8-9 ACC) and made his presence felt in every way. The 6-9, 235-pound forward scored a team-high 30 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in UNC’s 85-79 win over N.C. State.
“I was emotional about it,” Brooks said of missing Saturday’s game. “I was sad by it. I just really wanted to play today.”
Brooks scored 17 of his 30 points in the second half. He had four “and-1” buckets, or shots he scored while he was also fouled.
“Garrison was an absolute monster,” junior guard Andrew Platek said. “We really missed him at Louisville. It was good to have him back and get a win.”
Brooks has been the Tar Heels’ best and most consistent player this season. He’s played in all but one game. He’s UNC’s emotional leader, its defensive MVP, and when Cole Anthony went out in December, had to be its primary scorer.
He is averaging 15.7 points per game this season and 8.5 rebounds. But the one area he struggled was from the free throw line. He was shooting 56.5 percent entering Tuesday’s game. A big reason for his low percentage from the free throw line was a poor four-game stretch from Jan. 27 to Feb. 8.
Brooks missed 14 of 15 free throws in those four games. That includes the three he missed in the final seven minutes of regulation in UNC’s 98-96 overtime loss to Duke.
But against N.C. State, Brooks’ free throws helped seal the game. N.C. State cut UNC’s lead to four points with 47 seconds left. In those final 47 seconds, the Wolfpack fouled him three times.
Brooks made all six free throws.
“I just did what I normally do,” Brooks said. “Shot it with confidence.”
Brooks said he noticed during the stretch of misses, that the ball was coming off the rim hard. So he said he tried to shoot it softer, and add more arc on his shot and get it higher. It worked.
He finished 14-for-16 from the free throw line for the game and was 11-for-11 in the second half.
“Every one he shot tonight, as soon as it left his fingers, it had great spin, and that helped me feel better,” UNC coach Roy Williams said.
That was the key for the Tar Heels, who have struggled to close out games the past two months. Before snapping their seven-game losing streak, the Tar Heels had lost every game they played in February.
Four of those losses happened after an opponent hit a game-winning shot or game-winning free throw.
But that was not the case here.
The Tar Heels led 67-56 with 8:33 left. They did allow the Wolfpack to cut their lead to three points with 2:12 left. But the Tar Heels held on. Credit some key stops on defense, Brooks’ clutch free throw shooting and a little more arc on his shot.
“I am very happy for our kids,” Williams said. “I am really happy for Garrison. Eleven straight free throws in the second half.”
While UNC’s locker room after losses in recent weeks has been grim, Tuesday’s environment was much different. Players were smiling and happy just to get a win.
Especially Brooks, who said he had to do a “ton of eating,” a “ton of hydration,” and get a lot of rest to get back to full strength. The win should give the Tar Heels (11-17, 4-13 ACC) confidence as they finish the final stretch of their regular season schedule. They play Syracuse on Saturday, Wake Forest on March 3 and finish with a road game against Duke on March 7.
“Of course we’ve got a couple more games left, we’re very capable of winning,” Brooks said. “So I think we can celebrate for a little while, but it’s back to focus.”
This story was originally published February 26, 2020 at 8:21 AM.
