The term role-players is a bit of a misnomer, as every player on a team has a role; it's just that some roles are less glamorous than others. For instance, during the 2001 season when Duke won the national title, Shane Battier was the face of the program and a role player all at once. On the surface, it seems contradictory, but it's simple-- Batiter was never the first option on the Blue Devils' plays, nor did it seem that he slacked off on defense, whether he was guarding on the perimeter or in the post. Some columnists would call these guys "glue guys", but I would say they're more than glue; they are the foundation of winning teams. Forget glue-- these guys are more like granite.
Enter Reyshawn Terry.
In my opinion, Terry is the most underrated player in America. He's unselfish enough to cede the spotlight not only to Tyler Hansborough (a sophomore), but to three freshmen who are captivating the eyes of fans and NBA scouts. Last year, the Tar Heels had a David Noel, but Noel wasn't quite the player Terry has show me this season. Noel, a converted football player, had a decent outside game, and a bullish inside game...but nothing in between. Terry is a ball player who can control the defense by stretching them horizontally, as well as penetrating off of the dribble. He is physical enough to cover power forwards in college, which is a huge benefit to a team like North Carolina when they need to put an extra guard onto the floor.
When the Tar Heels take on Virginia Tech tonight, keep an eye on #3 in white. He is going to be the one doing the things like rebounding, playing the passing lanes, and filling his lane on the break that are going to make those flashy underclassmen look good. And I'm sure he wouldn't have it any other way.
(posted by JH)
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