UNC takes win streak to FSU

Roy Williams can spout out numbers in a post-game press conference without referencing the stat sheet in front of him.

He can correctly tally John Henson’s rebounds, Kendall Marshall’s steals or his team’s second-half free-throw percentage.

But when it comes to five-game winning streaks, Williams doesn’t put much stock into numbers.

“It’s tough to have any kind of winning streak when you’re playing teams on their home court, good teams like we have in the ACC,” Williams said on his weekly conference call Monday. “You feel fortunate to have a two-game winning streak. If you get a third, that’s great. If you get a fourth, that’s great.

“I don’t get concerned about a magic number of five being the maximum number that we can win. I’m not into that kind of thing.”

But with a win against Florida State, UNC would secure its longest winning streak since grabbing six straight in the 2009 NCAA Tournament en route to the title.

The Tar Heels have knocked on the door twice already this season with previous five-game stretches ended at the hands of Georgia Tech and Duke.

“We just did not play in the second half (against Georgia Tech),” Williams said. “We did not compete. There was no fight. That was the game I thought about changing three starters.

“Since the Georgia Tech game, I’ve been really impressed with my team.”

But that team will now be without freshman forward Reggie Bullock for the remainder of the season.

Bullock, who has had nagging knee issues since he came to UNC, tore the lateral meniscus in his left knee against Maryland on Sunday and will require surgery in the near future. During the last seven games, Bullock has averaged 2.3 points and 13.4 minutes while going 2-for-20 from 3-point range.

“I am just heart-broken for Reggie,” Williams said in a press release. “There’s no doubt that is why he has struggled somewhat with his shot over the last few weeks, but at the same time he’s played really well defensively, helped us on the boards and often gave us a nice spark off the bench.”

The loss of Bullock puts the Tar Heels at a disadvantage with bench play. Williams typically runs a nine-man rotation but may look for more minutes from starting freshman forward Harrison Barnes or junior reserve forward Justin Watts.

The Tar Heels’ bench scored 16 points in North Carolina’s 89-69 handling of Florida State earlier this season.

But the Seminoles have dropped only one game since their trip to Chapel Hill. And since losing Chris Singleton to a right foot injury in the Virginia game on Feb. 12, Florida State been led in points by a different player in each contest.

The Seminoles also boast a 12-2 record at home, including a 66-61 win against then-No. 1 Duke. UNC, on the other hand, is 8-6 away from home.

Contact the Sports Editor at sports@dailytarheel.com.