The Tarheels have won nine of their last ten games since Kendall Marshall took over the starting point guard job.

Marshall, who is second in the ACC with 5.1 assists per game, has become an extension of Tar Heels coach Roy Williams on the floor.

"He understands time and score better than most people," Williams said. "He understands who's hot and who's not; he understands who's in foul trouble on the other team. He's a thinking man's point guard, with a lot of ability, too."

Not since Ed Cota has UNC boasted a point guard who looks to distribute so much more often than taking his own shot