The best quote about this game is this one from Michael Jordan himself: "Whew. They made me a little nervous."
I watched this game with several friends in Charlotte while the wife was lucky enough to get a ticket. The common thread among all 7 of us who watched the game together was that at the end we were all horrendously nervous. The second half of this basketball game was one of the finest displays of crisp basketball that I have ever seens, as well as one of the most hotly contested. As a basketball fan you had to enjoy watching two teams playing that way, with fewer than 10 turnovers each despite the pace that the game was played at, and of course there was the fact that after the first 10 minutes neither team every led by more than 6 points. That such a high level of basketball occurred on the NCAA Tournament stage- in a second round game, no less- made it all that much more enjoyable (or nervous, if you're a UNC or UW fan).
But as nervous as we all were I'm not sure we should have been. It is a statistic that will be frequently cited over the next few days as people try to reflect on what this version of UNC basketball has done. But it is still striking. The Heels are 8-1 in games decided by 3 points or less and 11-2 in games decided by 5 points or less. For all of the emphasis on how young and inexperienced this team is (and they are), they sure don't play like it. That is an absolutely ridiculous record. At some point all season I have expected that this team's penchant for playing with fire in close games will come back to hurt them; it's starting to look like that may not happen.
But two things especially impressed me about this win. The first was that despite this team's success in close games, they won this one with a slightly different blueprint. Yes, Harrison Barnes still hit a big shot (the 3 with 4 minutes left down 76-75), but he really wasn't the story down the stretch. This game was much more about Kendall Marshall and, of all people, Dexter Strickland. Strickland, whose jump shot is the subject of some- ahem- constructive feedback from all-knowing Carolina fans, hit the two biggest free throws of the season with the game on the line. However, he also played some of the best defense I've ever seen on half a meniscus, forcing Isaiah Thomas into such a bad game that he didn't even have the ball down 1 with the game on the line. To be able to find a new way to win a close game, and with a performance like that from a guy that has been solid but not spectacular all season, definitely bodes well as this team continues on in the NCAA Tournament.
The second thing that impresses about this victory is the way that Washington played. As many people pointed out, the Huskies were a red-hot team that presented some a difficult potential matchup for UNC. And then Washington went out and did everything that they needed to do in order to create that matchup. They shot 10-19 from 3. They neutralized UNC's usual dominance in the frontcourt (Zeller got 23 but Henson struggled from the field and UW actually outrebounded UNC by 3, 40-37). They played their style of basketball and hung with UNC in a game that reached 74 possessions. But despite all that, UNC still found a way to win. I think that says a lot about this team. They continue to prove that they can win all types of games, from 86-83 uptempo shootouts against a team that is making over 50% of their 3's to a 48-46 uglyfest over BC back in February. In the NCAA Tournament, often the talent level is so even that a team cannot count on imposing its own style of play, and thus you need to be able to adapt to how the game winds up going. UNC has done just that, and they proved it again in this game.
Now it's on to the Sweet 16. More on the matchup to come later in this week. For now, let's reflect on how UNC took the best punch from the Pac-10 champion and is still playing in the second weekend of the tournament. Don't think I would have believed that two months ago.
More thoughts on a glorious weekend of college basketball:
- The two fouls at the end of the Pitt-Butler game got a lot of press across the ESPN debate show tour today. Personally, I thought both calls were appropriate. While I don't believe the "a foul is a foul, no matter the time" business (even if it should be, human nature will never allow it), both of those fouls were pretty obvious. I'm all for letting the players decide it; in this case, I thought they did by committing the fouls.
- On the other hand, I thought the Texas call was dead wrong, and it definitely mattered. Yes, Texas could have put the game away earlier by not calling the timeout that got them in that inbounds situation. But that cannot excuse the official making a mistake, and it's clear that it was a mistake. If you don't believe me, check out the screenshot on Luke Winn's blog (about 1/4 of the way down). The picture clearly shows the official just starting the arm count as the timeout is being signaled. And I don't know if I buy that this call is a "judgment call." It is counting to five. Even under those circumstances it seems to me that the official should be able to know where he is in his counting to five. But I don't know, I've never been an official.
- I thought the two most impressive victories of the second round were Ohio State and VCU. George Mason is a solid team and the Buckeyes just absolutely dismantled them. As a UNC fan it reminded me of the '05 team, which absolutely destroyed two opponents in the first weekend and talked in the postgame presser about how it was a statement they wanted to make from the first tipoff of the tournament. Although I didn't watch the Bucks' press conference, it seemed like they were making a similar statement. VCU, on the other hand, dismantled a Purdue team that just a few weeks ago was being talked about as a potential number 1 seed. In doing so, they scored 94 points on a team that is ranked 12th nationally in defensive efficiency. Wow.
- I'm also still very high on Kentucky. The 'Cats fought through two difficult games and, somewhat like the Heels, proved that maybe their youth probably will not be a concern as they go down the stretch in this tournament. Young teams, the saying goes, do not do well in pressure moments in the Dance, but the Wildcats have now proven themselves in two such settings. If they weren't drawing the Buckeyes in the Sweet 16, I'd really like them to go to Houston. Even as it is, though, UK's tandem of Terrance Jones and Brandon Knight is easily the most talented such duo that Ohio State has played all season, and you never know how Ohio State will respond to a team that can match them athletically. Other than my homer UNC game, that's definitely the Sweet 16 matchup I'm most excited about.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
UNC 102 LIU 87
Well at least it wasn't a first round game against William & Mary in Carmichael in the NIT. That's about the best thing I can take from this game. Well, that and the Heels showed that Ol' Roy still knows how to hang 100 on somebody.
It is a little bit of a cliche but it is important to remember that whatever happens in the Dance this year at least UNC is back competing on the biggest stage in college basketball after the nightmare that was last season. While that may not help to ease the frustration of what seemed like 25 intercepted pitch-ahead passes, it should help to explain. As well as this team has played at times during the season I think we have all let ourselves believe that maybe they are something that they are not. This team may still make a run in the Tournament but even if they do so I would not expect them to do it without several frustrating moments. This is a young team that has never dealth with the nervousness and competition of the NCAA Tournament. At this level every single team is very good and has won something in order to get to this point. For that reason they're not going to back down like teams often do in the regular season. Tyler Zeller referenced this in the postgame press conference, saying "so it's one of those things that you get up by 10 or 15 in a regular season game, they might just go away. It's their last game and they're going to keep coming back and you've got to be aware of that." That's a good point and one that you probably don't find out without playing a game, which these Heels now have done.
Also I think there were several positives to take from this game. I thought at the beginning of both halves UNC came out focused and really took it to LIU, playing great defense, creating turnovers, and converting them at the other end. I thought when we were up 21 we just relaxed on defense and gave up several easy transition baskets. To me that lack of focus is a little bit frustrating but again it goes back to what I said above. Getting a young team to play defense when they're up 20 is almost impossible, even in the NCAA's. Also Kendally Marshall looked much more comfortable and looks like he has put the ACC Tournament behind him. John Henson and Tyler Zeller were playing an outmanned front line, so their gaudy numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, but they still did a great job of getting in good position and demanding the ball in good scoring position. Give them credit for that as they have not always done so this season. Also, except for the two LIU runs (one in each half) I actually think UNC's defense was probably better than the final score indicates. One of my biggest pet peeves is the analyst who judges a team defense only by looking at the final score. Both Kenny Smith and Charles Barkely did this after the game, criticizing UNC's defense for giving up 87 to the Blackbirds. However if you look at the box score LIU shot only 36% from the floor and as Ken Pomeroy tweeted after the game it was their 2nd lowest points per possession of the season. Was Carolina's defense lazy at times? Of course. But I think overall it was better than you think.
Now it is up to this team to move forward and take the appropriate amount of confidence from the positives and motivation from the things they can do better. Washington is a very good team as Doug Gottlieb will tell us and we will need to step up and play a little bit better. See you Sunday.
It is a little bit of a cliche but it is important to remember that whatever happens in the Dance this year at least UNC is back competing on the biggest stage in college basketball after the nightmare that was last season. While that may not help to ease the frustration of what seemed like 25 intercepted pitch-ahead passes, it should help to explain. As well as this team has played at times during the season I think we have all let ourselves believe that maybe they are something that they are not. This team may still make a run in the Tournament but even if they do so I would not expect them to do it without several frustrating moments. This is a young team that has never dealth with the nervousness and competition of the NCAA Tournament. At this level every single team is very good and has won something in order to get to this point. For that reason they're not going to back down like teams often do in the regular season. Tyler Zeller referenced this in the postgame press conference, saying "so it's one of those things that you get up by 10 or 15 in a regular season game, they might just go away. It's their last game and they're going to keep coming back and you've got to be aware of that." That's a good point and one that you probably don't find out without playing a game, which these Heels now have done.
Also I think there were several positives to take from this game. I thought at the beginning of both halves UNC came out focused and really took it to LIU, playing great defense, creating turnovers, and converting them at the other end. I thought when we were up 21 we just relaxed on defense and gave up several easy transition baskets. To me that lack of focus is a little bit frustrating but again it goes back to what I said above. Getting a young team to play defense when they're up 20 is almost impossible, even in the NCAA's. Also Kendally Marshall looked much more comfortable and looks like he has put the ACC Tournament behind him. John Henson and Tyler Zeller were playing an outmanned front line, so their gaudy numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, but they still did a great job of getting in good position and demanding the ball in good scoring position. Give them credit for that as they have not always done so this season. Also, except for the two LIU runs (one in each half) I actually think UNC's defense was probably better than the final score indicates. One of my biggest pet peeves is the analyst who judges a team defense only by looking at the final score. Both Kenny Smith and Charles Barkely did this after the game, criticizing UNC's defense for giving up 87 to the Blackbirds. However if you look at the box score LIU shot only 36% from the floor and as Ken Pomeroy tweeted after the game it was their 2nd lowest points per possession of the season. Was Carolina's defense lazy at times? Of course. But I think overall it was better than you think.
Now it is up to this team to move forward and take the appropriate amount of confidence from the positives and motivation from the things they can do better. Washington is a very good team as Doug Gottlieb will tell us and we will need to step up and play a little bit better. See you Sunday.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
NCAAT: East Region
The Top Four: Ohio State is CLEARLY the best team in the country, if you use things like statistics as a barometer. Their efficiency margin is the highest of any of the number 1 seeds and they have only two losses on the road against very good teams. The concerns about them (namely, only using a six-man rotation) are legitimate, but I'm not sure it's going to matter that much. These are young guys and there are tons of timeouts, especially in tournament play. UNC is very good and their defense and rebounding will keep them in absolutely any game, which is dangerous because in a close game you are always in danger of falling to El Falcon Negro. Syracuse has been inconsistent this season but their zone is always difficult to prepare for in the Tournament because it's not something most teams have much experience playing against. I absolutely love Kentucky and think that they're coming together at just the right time having won the SEC Tournament going away, and their talent is as good as anyone's.
Legitimate Sleeper: Washington. The Huskies are the chic pick of the tournament but they are for good reason. They're 15th in Pomeroy's rankings and many of their losses in the weak Pac-10 should probably be blamed at least somewhat on lack of focus during the long conference season. You would have to think that they can get themselves up for the Big Dance. My biggest concern for them would be that they are coming off an emotional conference tournament victory and now have been reading and listening to everyone loving up on them for a week. That's a strong recipe for an upset loss to a very talented Georgia team in the first round.
Deeper Sleeper: Clemson. Yeah, I know, the ACC sucks, blah blah blah. But Brad Brownell's Clemson team has been coming on strong in recent weeks despite very little national love. They played Duke down to the wire in Cameron, they nearly took out UNC at home, they pounded Virginia Tech twice, and they should have beat the Heels in the ACC Tournament. And while many used the OT game vs UNC as evidence that Carolina maybe isn't that good, anyone who did that most likely did not watch that game. UNC for the most part actually played pretty well, and Demontez Stitt and company consistently answered runs by the Heels in a road game environment in Greensboro. Add to that the 18-point blowout in the first round of UAB, and this is a team playing with a ton of confidence right now that could definitely make a run.
Oltz's picks: Sweet 16 of Ohio State, Kentucky, Xavier, and UNC. I just think Syracuse doesn't have the focus to get through 2 games in the opening weekend, and the Muskies are one of only two teams to make the Sweet 16 three years in a row (Michigan State). I then like Kentucky matching up with Ohio State because they are athletic enough to really make the Buckeyes work to guard them which could bring out the six-man-rotation-problem. I then have UNC over Kentucky in the regional final. Yeah, that's a homer pick, but again I like the matchup. Plus, the name of the blog is "I'm A Tar Heel Born." What did you expect?
Legitimate Sleeper: Washington. The Huskies are the chic pick of the tournament but they are for good reason. They're 15th in Pomeroy's rankings and many of their losses in the weak Pac-10 should probably be blamed at least somewhat on lack of focus during the long conference season. You would have to think that they can get themselves up for the Big Dance. My biggest concern for them would be that they are coming off an emotional conference tournament victory and now have been reading and listening to everyone loving up on them for a week. That's a strong recipe for an upset loss to a very talented Georgia team in the first round.
Deeper Sleeper: Clemson. Yeah, I know, the ACC sucks, blah blah blah. But Brad Brownell's Clemson team has been coming on strong in recent weeks despite very little national love. They played Duke down to the wire in Cameron, they nearly took out UNC at home, they pounded Virginia Tech twice, and they should have beat the Heels in the ACC Tournament. And while many used the OT game vs UNC as evidence that Carolina maybe isn't that good, anyone who did that most likely did not watch that game. UNC for the most part actually played pretty well, and Demontez Stitt and company consistently answered runs by the Heels in a road game environment in Greensboro. Add to that the 18-point blowout in the first round of UAB, and this is a team playing with a ton of confidence right now that could definitely make a run.
Oltz's picks: Sweet 16 of Ohio State, Kentucky, Xavier, and UNC. I just think Syracuse doesn't have the focus to get through 2 games in the opening weekend, and the Muskies are one of only two teams to make the Sweet 16 three years in a row (Michigan State). I then like Kentucky matching up with Ohio State because they are athletic enough to really make the Buckeyes work to guard them which could bring out the six-man-rotation-problem. I then have UNC over Kentucky in the regional final. Yeah, that's a homer pick, but again I like the matchup. Plus, the name of the blog is "I'm A Tar Heel Born." What did you expect?
NCAAT: West Region
The Top Four: Tuesday Duke became maybe the most intriguing team in the field as K discussed the possibility of Kyrie Irving coming back. The Blue Devils have been one of the best teams in the country on both ends of the floor (top 10 nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiency) and the consensus is that the number 1 overall pick can only make them better. However, it's not nearly that cut and dry- just ask the 1984 Tar Heels, which returned their freshman point guard Kenny Smith from injury before the Tournament only to flame out in the Sweet Sixteen despite having both Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins on that team. Anyways, no one knows how effective Irving will be but it is something to keep an eye on. San Diego State is a team I just don't know that much about; their record is incredible and they're very good on paper, but it's difficult to know how they will respond to playing consistently better competition than they get in the Mountain West. UConn is one of the hottest teams in the country but there has to be concern over their ability to come back mentally and physically from the 5-games-in-5-days marathon. Texas is 4th in Pomeroy's rankings and at times has looked like a national championship favorite, but Rick Barnes' lack of success in the tournament is difficult to ignore.
Legitimate Sleeper: Tennessee. The Vols have shown that on any given day they can play with anyone in the country, and now they should have had time to get their focus away from all the off-court issues. With Scotty Hobson and Tobias Harris on the wing and Brian Williams in the middle, this is a really talented team with a bunch of good wins (and terrible losses) on the resume. I also love Texas in this bracket as a Final Four sleeper.
Deeper Sleeper: Oakland. Oakland has size up front, which is both a rarity and a huge advantage as a mid-major. They also know how to beat good teams, having already taken out Tennessee this season. A first-round matchup with Texas threatens to derail my Longhorns Final Four pick if Classic Rick Barnes is on display.
Oltz's picks: Sweet 16 of Tennessee, Texas, UConn, San Diego State. Love the Vols to get up for the Duke game IF they can get by Michigan. Texas over UConn in the regional final. I don't love the Huskies but I just don't see the fatigue being an issue after the first weekend, and I like their matchups in that first weekend.
Legitimate Sleeper: Tennessee. The Vols have shown that on any given day they can play with anyone in the country, and now they should have had time to get their focus away from all the off-court issues. With Scotty Hobson and Tobias Harris on the wing and Brian Williams in the middle, this is a really talented team with a bunch of good wins (and terrible losses) on the resume. I also love Texas in this bracket as a Final Four sleeper.
Deeper Sleeper: Oakland. Oakland has size up front, which is both a rarity and a huge advantage as a mid-major. They also know how to beat good teams, having already taken out Tennessee this season. A first-round matchup with Texas threatens to derail my Longhorns Final Four pick if Classic Rick Barnes is on display.
Oltz's picks: Sweet 16 of Tennessee, Texas, UConn, San Diego State. Love the Vols to get up for the Duke game IF they can get by Michigan. Texas over UConn in the regional final. I don't love the Huskies but I just don't see the fatigue being an issue after the first weekend, and I like their matchups in that first weekend.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
NCAAT: Southwest Region
The Top Four: It's difficult not to be impressed with Kansas' talent. They go deeper at all positions with guys who can score and defend than anyone in the country. The Morris twins are a matchup nightmare because of their strength inside and range shooting the 3. Also I think the memory of the second-round upset from a season ago will result in sharp focus from game 1 this season around. As for the rest of the high seeds, Notre Dame has been very good offensively all season but their inexperience in the tournament (I know that they have a bunch of seniors, but they've never made a deep tournament run) makes me wonder if they're really poised for a deep run. Purdue has been great this season and was once a candidate for a 1 seed, but they've recently lost to Iowa and were blown out by Michigan State. Louisville has been one of the best overachieving stories of the season, and their pressure defense is a great equalizer that means they could pull off the upset over Kansas should they get that far.
Legitimate Sleeper: Georgetown. If Chris Wright returns and is effective, the Hoyas are as good as anyone in the region except for Kansas, having won 9 games in a row in the brutal Big East at one point this season. Without Wright, however, they have yet to win a game.
Deeper Sleeper: Richmond. The Spiders are synonymous with upsets in the history of college basketball, and this year they have two legitimate NBA prospects as well as the confidence of having just won a difficult Atlantic 10 tournament. Plus they get Vanderbilt in the first round; the 'Dores have gone out in the first round as a 4 and 5 seed in each of the past two seasons.
Oltz's picks: Sweet 16 is all chalk, with Kansas, Louisville, Purdue, and Notre Dame. I did take Richmond over Vandy in the first round but don't see them getting past the Cardinals. Kansas over Purdue in the regional final. Love the Jayhawks' talent to get back to the Final Four following last season's dissappointment.
Legitimate Sleeper: Georgetown. If Chris Wright returns and is effective, the Hoyas are as good as anyone in the region except for Kansas, having won 9 games in a row in the brutal Big East at one point this season. Without Wright, however, they have yet to win a game.
Deeper Sleeper: Richmond. The Spiders are synonymous with upsets in the history of college basketball, and this year they have two legitimate NBA prospects as well as the confidence of having just won a difficult Atlantic 10 tournament. Plus they get Vanderbilt in the first round; the 'Dores have gone out in the first round as a 4 and 5 seed in each of the past two seasons.
Oltz's picks: Sweet 16 is all chalk, with Kansas, Louisville, Purdue, and Notre Dame. I did take Richmond over Vandy in the first round but don't see them getting past the Cardinals. Kansas over Purdue in the regional final. Love the Jayhawks' talent to get back to the Final Four following last season's dissappointment.
NCAAT: Southeast Region
As the greatest four days in sports are set to begin tomorrow, yours truly is breaking down the 4 regions. First up is the Southeast Region.
The Top Four: Immediately after the bracket was released, all of the talking heads dubbed this as the easiest bracket. Now, a few days later, it's hard to deny that. Pittsburgh has been one of the most consistently good teams all season, but they've never generated much buzz and they've stumbled just a little bit down the stretch, including the loss to UConn in the Big East tournament. They're also, contrary to the image you get of Pitt basketball, the worst #1 seed defensively according to Pomeroy's efficiency rankings, by a large margin (20th nationally). Florida is another solid-but-not-spectacular team with several suspect losses and few marquee wins. BYU has the Jimmer but giant question marks about how they've played since losing Davies. And Wisconsin has beaten Ohio State but they are terrible defensively (63rd overall in Pomeroy's efficiency rankings) and they're ripe for an upset against 30-win Belmont in the 1st round.
Legitimate Sleeper: Michigan State. Tom Izzo's tournament success is plenty well-documented, and there's no denying that the Spartans are talented. They're also experienced, having gone to the Final Four each of the past two seasons. Add to that the wide-open half of the bracket they drew with Florida and BYU as the 2 and 3 seeds, and a run to the Elite 8 is pretty easy to imagine.
Deeper Sleeper: Utah State. The Aggies are a ridiculous 30-3 and boast the nation's #7 defense by adjusted efficiency numbers. They know how to win and you can bet they'll be motivated after getting just a 12 seed despite their gaudy record. Kansas State, their first round opponent, has been inconsistent all season and relies very heavily on one player, Jacob Pullen. I picked Utah State through to the Sweet 16 in my bracket.
Oltz's picks: Sweet 16 of Pittsburgh, Utah State, BYU (almost put Gonzaga through here, but held off), and Florida (just too much poor play from Sparty to pull the trigger). Pittsburgh over BYU in the regional final. I love the Panthers and think they have a great chance to take advantage of a weak bracket to get to their first Final Four under Jamie Dixon.
The Top Four: Immediately after the bracket was released, all of the talking heads dubbed this as the easiest bracket. Now, a few days later, it's hard to deny that. Pittsburgh has been one of the most consistently good teams all season, but they've never generated much buzz and they've stumbled just a little bit down the stretch, including the loss to UConn in the Big East tournament. They're also, contrary to the image you get of Pitt basketball, the worst #1 seed defensively according to Pomeroy's efficiency rankings, by a large margin (20th nationally). Florida is another solid-but-not-spectacular team with several suspect losses and few marquee wins. BYU has the Jimmer but giant question marks about how they've played since losing Davies. And Wisconsin has beaten Ohio State but they are terrible defensively (63rd overall in Pomeroy's efficiency rankings) and they're ripe for an upset against 30-win Belmont in the 1st round.
Legitimate Sleeper: Michigan State. Tom Izzo's tournament success is plenty well-documented, and there's no denying that the Spartans are talented. They're also experienced, having gone to the Final Four each of the past two seasons. Add to that the wide-open half of the bracket they drew with Florida and BYU as the 2 and 3 seeds, and a run to the Elite 8 is pretty easy to imagine.
Deeper Sleeper: Utah State. The Aggies are a ridiculous 30-3 and boast the nation's #7 defense by adjusted efficiency numbers. They know how to win and you can bet they'll be motivated after getting just a 12 seed despite their gaudy record. Kansas State, their first round opponent, has been inconsistent all season and relies very heavily on one player, Jacob Pullen. I picked Utah State through to the Sweet 16 in my bracket.
Oltz's picks: Sweet 16 of Pittsburgh, Utah State, BYU (almost put Gonzaga through here, but held off), and Florida (just too much poor play from Sparty to pull the trigger). Pittsburgh over BYU in the regional final. I love the Panthers and think they have a great chance to take advantage of a weak bracket to get to their first Final Four under Jamie Dixon.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Duke wins ACCT/First Thoughts on the NCAA's
Well today started out as a beautiful, 75 degree Sunday in the South, and ended with a similarly beautiful evening spent grilling and watching the ESPN Selection business.
Unfortunately, in the middle we had to watch that ACC Tournament final. That, clearly, sucked. However, as awful as it is to have to watch UNC lose by 17 to Duke, I would caution Tar Heel fans or bracketeers who try to read too much into that loss. This team is not built to win three games in three days. Kendall Marshall is the only true point guard, and he also happens to be the key to everything the Heels have been able to accomplish recently. Anyone who watched him in that game should recognize that he was simply not at 100% after playing two very difficult games back-to-back for the first time in his young career. Also, it probably didn't help matters that the only other somewhat legitimate option at the 1- as well as UNC's best perimeter defender- was saddled with 3 early "fouls" because of some personal vendetta that Karl Hess happened to have against him. More on that later.
I'm just not sure that this loss will linger all that long for this team. After all, this was still a young team that had managed to win 10 in a row including a very emotional victory over Duke for the ACC Regular Season Championship. This streak led the entire national media to jump all over them which no doubt went to the guys' head just a little bit. As I have said many times before, they read the same things we do, and you had to see a little bit of a letdown coming. If that letdown had to come, I'm glad it game in the tournament that doesn't matter rather than the one that does, which starts Thursday.
One final note: I HATE using officiating as an excuse, and I didn't think that overall the officiating went Duke's way or UNC's way (I did think it was equally bad on both sides). But the charges that were called on Dexter Strickland in the first half were- in my opinion- absolutely ludicrous, especially the second one. Strickland CHANGED DIRECTION to miss Singlers (except for his shoulder) then elevated and bashed over top of him, with only slight contact. If you make that call you are taking athleticism out of basketball, which is ridiculous. If you want to make that call then we should just do away with driving to the rack and play a freaking game of HORSE. Just saying. I'm still frustrated by that.
Now on to the NCAA Tournament. I will offer initial thoughts on the East Region only as it relates to the Heels and then expand with further thoughts later this week. Obviously, at first glance the bracket looks quite daunting. Tar Heel Fan has a nice graphic here showing the Pomeroy rankings for the teams in the East. Clearly the most striking is 7 seed Washington which is 15th in those rankings, just one spot behind UNC and three behind Syracuse. No doubt this has led many like Doug Gottlieb and even our own Hubert Davis to pick the Huskies over UNC. First, I will say that this is good as I think history proves that this team plays much better when no one believes in them than when they are able to shower in praise. After that, though, I will focus no more on the Huskies because there is the first round to contend with and we should worry about that game first (as should Washington, as Georgia has a ton of talent). Long Island is ranked 4th in tempo by Pomeroy which I think will be interesting and maybe a good thing as it may help to get the Heels' offense back on track. If they come out like they should following a poor showing at the ACCT, then Long Island will play right into their hands by attempting to run with them. Classically, teams that try to run with Ol' Roy do not have much success. Hopefully this is again the case and hopefully that will give them confidence as well on the offensive end which they can translate to further games.
As for the rest of the bracket, obviously you have to hate seeing Syracuse in there because of their length and that dadgum zone which will no doubt frustrate the Heels should they wind up playing Syracuse in the Sweet 16. However, I will add that Syracuse has been very inconsistent this season and is in fact probably overseeded as a 3. Ohio State is a great team but if we get to them then we are in the Elite 8 and the pressure is probably off so I'm okay with that.
In the end, I don't usually get too worked up over easy vs. hard brackets because my feeling is you're going to have to beat good teams to advance. That said there are some particularly challenging matchups for UNC in their bracket and so in that sense I'm not overly happy about it. Either way though it is probably reasonable to keep in mind that I like this bracket far more than last season's so let's get to the games and go from there. I do believe that the loss to Duke will motivate this team and that their small taste of the one-and-done format will help them come Friday night. Hopefully that will translate into a second weekend birth.
Unfortunately, in the middle we had to watch that ACC Tournament final. That, clearly, sucked. However, as awful as it is to have to watch UNC lose by 17 to Duke, I would caution Tar Heel fans or bracketeers who try to read too much into that loss. This team is not built to win three games in three days. Kendall Marshall is the only true point guard, and he also happens to be the key to everything the Heels have been able to accomplish recently. Anyone who watched him in that game should recognize that he was simply not at 100% after playing two very difficult games back-to-back for the first time in his young career. Also, it probably didn't help matters that the only other somewhat legitimate option at the 1- as well as UNC's best perimeter defender- was saddled with 3 early "fouls" because of some personal vendetta that Karl Hess happened to have against him. More on that later.
I'm just not sure that this loss will linger all that long for this team. After all, this was still a young team that had managed to win 10 in a row including a very emotional victory over Duke for the ACC Regular Season Championship. This streak led the entire national media to jump all over them which no doubt went to the guys' head just a little bit. As I have said many times before, they read the same things we do, and you had to see a little bit of a letdown coming. If that letdown had to come, I'm glad it game in the tournament that doesn't matter rather than the one that does, which starts Thursday.
One final note: I HATE using officiating as an excuse, and I didn't think that overall the officiating went Duke's way or UNC's way (I did think it was equally bad on both sides). But the charges that were called on Dexter Strickland in the first half were- in my opinion- absolutely ludicrous, especially the second one. Strickland CHANGED DIRECTION to miss Singlers (except for his shoulder) then elevated and bashed over top of him, with only slight contact. If you make that call you are taking athleticism out of basketball, which is ridiculous. If you want to make that call then we should just do away with driving to the rack and play a freaking game of HORSE. Just saying. I'm still frustrated by that.
Now on to the NCAA Tournament. I will offer initial thoughts on the East Region only as it relates to the Heels and then expand with further thoughts later this week. Obviously, at first glance the bracket looks quite daunting. Tar Heel Fan has a nice graphic here showing the Pomeroy rankings for the teams in the East. Clearly the most striking is 7 seed Washington which is 15th in those rankings, just one spot behind UNC and three behind Syracuse. No doubt this has led many like Doug Gottlieb and even our own Hubert Davis to pick the Huskies over UNC. First, I will say that this is good as I think history proves that this team plays much better when no one believes in them than when they are able to shower in praise. After that, though, I will focus no more on the Huskies because there is the first round to contend with and we should worry about that game first (as should Washington, as Georgia has a ton of talent). Long Island is ranked 4th in tempo by Pomeroy which I think will be interesting and maybe a good thing as it may help to get the Heels' offense back on track. If they come out like they should following a poor showing at the ACCT, then Long Island will play right into their hands by attempting to run with them. Classically, teams that try to run with Ol' Roy do not have much success. Hopefully this is again the case and hopefully that will give them confidence as well on the offensive end which they can translate to further games.
As for the rest of the bracket, obviously you have to hate seeing Syracuse in there because of their length and that dadgum zone which will no doubt frustrate the Heels should they wind up playing Syracuse in the Sweet 16. However, I will add that Syracuse has been very inconsistent this season and is in fact probably overseeded as a 3. Ohio State is a great team but if we get to them then we are in the Elite 8 and the pressure is probably off so I'm okay with that.
In the end, I don't usually get too worked up over easy vs. hard brackets because my feeling is you're going to have to beat good teams to advance. That said there are some particularly challenging matchups for UNC in their bracket and so in that sense I'm not overly happy about it. Either way though it is probably reasonable to keep in mind that I like this bracket far more than last season's so let's get to the games and go from there. I do believe that the loss to Duke will motivate this team and that their small taste of the one-and-done format will help them come Friday night. Hopefully that will translate into a second weekend birth.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Previewing the ACC Tournament
The ACC Tournament isn't what it used to be. Roy Williams is often quoted for saying this or for calling it a "cocktail party" or whatever else the media can manufacture to get a story leading up to this event. But he's right, you know. There's a lot of nostalgia associated with this tournament, as the first postseason tourney of any kind. The stories of the legendary NC State/Maryland/UNC battles from the 70's are what makes this tournament so historically special. But, let's face it, at this point it's mostly historical. Even in the 90's, as a kid growing up in Raleigh, I remember loving quarterfinal Friday, when each of the Big Four was in action and we all wore our school colors and the cool teachers wheeled in the old school TV into the room to watch the noon game.
But this tournament isn't that special anymore. It's still fun, no doubt, and it's still the final chance for bragging rights against local rivals. But with ACC expansion leading to the awkward 4-game "opening night," quarterfinal Friday has lost some of its luster, with four teams already eliminated by that time. It just isn't much fun to wear your Wake shirt to school if they've already lost. Add to that the incredible popularity of the NCAA Tournament, and nobody remembers who wins this thing anymore. They just don't. It matters who wins the ACC regular season (a little), and it matters how you do in the NCAAT (a lot). That's it.
That said, it's still a great chance to watch basketball for 3 days straight and it's still a great appetizer to the NCAAs which begin next week. So without further delay to bash the thing, let's get to my picks:
Awkward Opening Round:
UVa over Miami
BC over Wake Forest
NC State over Maryland
Georgia Tech over Virginia Tech
Why: I just like Tony Bennett a lot and not just because he shares his name with a lounge singer. His Cavs have not quit all season and quietly finished 7-9 and 8th in the ACC despite a talent void left by Dave Leitao and losing their best player to injury in December. A lot of people are looking at Maryland as a potential dark horse, but watching them play last week it just looks to me like they've quit. Sure, they should have motivation now with a NCAA bid maybe on the table, but it's just hard to turn that switch back on. As for the last game, I really see Georgia Tech giving the Hokies a great game in this one, and I went with the upset because I just have a feeling that Greenberg is destined to be whining on Selection Sunday again. More of a hunch than a legitimate pick.
Quarterfinals:
UNC over UVa
BC over Clemson
Duke over NC State
FSU over Georgia Tech
Why: UVa gave the Heels a game back in January, but this is a VERY different UNC team now. I really like the job Brad Brownell has done, and the BC-Clemson game is really a 50-50 toss-up. I went with the Eagles because I like their talent better, especially Reggie Jackson. NC State finally ends Sidney Lowe's Reign of Terror. Georgia Tech is good enough to beat Seth Greenberg but not a legitimate team.
Semifinals:
UNC over BC
Duke over FSU
Why: Duke and UNC have not met in the ACC Tournament since 2003, despite the fact that they've won every one combined since then except for 2004 (Maryland). I see it happening this year, because these two teams are just so much better than the rest of the league. If Chris Singleton plays and plays well, I can definitely see the 'Noles pulling the upset because of their length and athleticism on defense and ability to bother shooters, but I just don't see Singleton being effective this close to breaking his foot. Likewise, BC definitely CAN beat UNC if Reggie Jackson goes off but I think the Heels are just better and would beat them on a neutral court 70% of the time.
Finals:
UNC over Duke
Why: I love the talking point that Roy doesn't care about this tournament. First of all, the only time his UNC team has really failed expectations were in 2005 and 2009 when they failed to reach the finals as a 1 seed. But in '09 they were playing without their starting PG and ACC POY Ty Lawson. They've also won the thing twice since Roy has been there. Second of all, the thought that somehow Roy doesn't coach as well or doesn't try for ANY game that his team plays is ridiculous. The mark of a true professional as a coach is someone who prepares at the same high level for each game. You can bet Roy does that.
Now that's off the table. Duke and UNC are very close and this is probably a 50-50 game on a neutral floor. But it's hard for me to get that wire-to-wire, dominant UNC victory I just watched last weekend out of my head. I think that Duke has a difficult matchup with this UNC team, as the Heels' frontline is so good defensively that it makes the Devils even more reliant on the 3-pointer. Add to that the fact that Harrison Barnes has purchased significant real estate inside Kyle Singler's head, and I like Heels by a hair in this one.
But this tournament isn't that special anymore. It's still fun, no doubt, and it's still the final chance for bragging rights against local rivals. But with ACC expansion leading to the awkward 4-game "opening night," quarterfinal Friday has lost some of its luster, with four teams already eliminated by that time. It just isn't much fun to wear your Wake shirt to school if they've already lost. Add to that the incredible popularity of the NCAA Tournament, and nobody remembers who wins this thing anymore. They just don't. It matters who wins the ACC regular season (a little), and it matters how you do in the NCAAT (a lot). That's it.
That said, it's still a great chance to watch basketball for 3 days straight and it's still a great appetizer to the NCAAs which begin next week. So without further delay to bash the thing, let's get to my picks:
Awkward Opening Round:
UVa over Miami
BC over Wake Forest
NC State over Maryland
Georgia Tech over Virginia Tech
Why: I just like Tony Bennett a lot and not just because he shares his name with a lounge singer. His Cavs have not quit all season and quietly finished 7-9 and 8th in the ACC despite a talent void left by Dave Leitao and losing their best player to injury in December. A lot of people are looking at Maryland as a potential dark horse, but watching them play last week it just looks to me like they've quit. Sure, they should have motivation now with a NCAA bid maybe on the table, but it's just hard to turn that switch back on. As for the last game, I really see Georgia Tech giving the Hokies a great game in this one, and I went with the upset because I just have a feeling that Greenberg is destined to be whining on Selection Sunday again. More of a hunch than a legitimate pick.
Quarterfinals:
UNC over UVa
BC over Clemson
Duke over NC State
FSU over Georgia Tech
Why: UVa gave the Heels a game back in January, but this is a VERY different UNC team now. I really like the job Brad Brownell has done, and the BC-Clemson game is really a 50-50 toss-up. I went with the Eagles because I like their talent better, especially Reggie Jackson. NC State finally ends Sidney Lowe's Reign of Terror. Georgia Tech is good enough to beat Seth Greenberg but not a legitimate team.
Semifinals:
UNC over BC
Duke over FSU
Why: Duke and UNC have not met in the ACC Tournament since 2003, despite the fact that they've won every one combined since then except for 2004 (Maryland). I see it happening this year, because these two teams are just so much better than the rest of the league. If Chris Singleton plays and plays well, I can definitely see the 'Noles pulling the upset because of their length and athleticism on defense and ability to bother shooters, but I just don't see Singleton being effective this close to breaking his foot. Likewise, BC definitely CAN beat UNC if Reggie Jackson goes off but I think the Heels are just better and would beat them on a neutral court 70% of the time.
Finals:
UNC over Duke
Why: I love the talking point that Roy doesn't care about this tournament. First of all, the only time his UNC team has really failed expectations were in 2005 and 2009 when they failed to reach the finals as a 1 seed. But in '09 they were playing without their starting PG and ACC POY Ty Lawson. They've also won the thing twice since Roy has been there. Second of all, the thought that somehow Roy doesn't coach as well or doesn't try for ANY game that his team plays is ridiculous. The mark of a true professional as a coach is someone who prepares at the same high level for each game. You can bet Roy does that.
Now that's off the table. Duke and UNC are very close and this is probably a 50-50 game on a neutral floor. But it's hard for me to get that wire-to-wire, dominant UNC victory I just watched last weekend out of my head. I think that Duke has a difficult matchup with this UNC team, as the Heels' frontline is so good defensively that it makes the Devils even more reliant on the 3-pointer. Add to that the fact that Harrison Barnes has purchased significant real estate inside Kyle Singler's head, and I like Heels by a hair in this one.
Monday, March 7, 2011
All-ACC Awards
The ACC regular season awards were handed out today, and 4 Tar Heels in all were honored. Of course the major news from this from a UNC perspective is going to be that no UNC players were named to the first team, despite their team going 14-2 in conference play and winning 7 in a row to win the regular season title outright. However, I don't know that I really see this as that great of a slight. Due to the Heels' great balance, John Henson, Tyler Zeller, and Harrison Barnes probably split the "Carolina" vote, meaning that every person voting probably included 1 Tar Heel on his/her first team, but the balance was evenly spread such that no one player accumulated enough votes. And looking at the results, with Zeller/Henson/Barnes coming in 6th/7th/8th, it's pretty clear that's what happened.
However, I will submit the following numbers to you. These statistics are from conference games only, since after all these are all-conference awards.
Harrison Barnes: 15.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 43% FG, 32.5% 3-point
Kyle Singler: 15.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 39% FG, 29% 3-poin
Add to that the fact that Barnes was the best pure offensive weapone on the conference champions and that he absolutely SHUT DOWN Singler in both games they played against one another, and I think Barnes should be first-team above Singler. Which is why I would vote that way, if given the opportunity.
If given a vote, this is how I would have voted, with a short explanation on why. As you will no doubt realize, I put a strong emphasis on how each player impacts his team's overall record. Winners, in other words, get the benefit of the doubt:
First Team:
Harrison Barnes, UNC: see above
Kendall Marshall, UNC: the MVP of the conference champions. Numbers weren't great, though much improved once you account for increase in minutes. Also anyone who watched Carolina knows he was the key.
Malcom Delaney, VT: His scoring numbers are too much to ignore
Reggie Jackson, BC: Deserves a ton of credit for getting the Eagles to where they were this season. That team overachieved more than perhaps any other team in the conference and he was the major reason for it.
Nolan Smith, Duke: Again, his numbers are too good to ignore. Also he was the clear leader and MVP for the second-place Devils, who were after all a top-5 team.
Second Team:
John Henson, UNC: Could make an argument for him over Barnes, but I went with the Falcon because he hit so many big shots which won the Heels games. Probably a coin flip.
Tyler Zeller, UNC: Leadings scorer for the season for a top-10 team and conference champion. Also the primary offensive threat after Barnes. Second team is definitely warranted.
Kyle Singler, Duke: See above. He's also underrated defensively and his field goal percentage would be higher if he didn't take ridiculously difficult shots. He's still a great player.
Chris Singleton, FSU: Would easily have been First Team if he played the whole season, he led FSU in nearly every statistical category and was a big reason why they're one of only 3 ACC locks for the NCAA Tournament.
Jordan Williams, Maryland: His numbers probably warrant first-team consideration, but his team faded hard down the stretch and I'm a blatant Heels homer.
Third Team:
Demontez Stitt, Clemson: Similar to Jackson in that he was the motor behind a very surprising team.
Derwin Kitchen, FSU: This may be a reach but I just felt he was the reason FSU did not go away after Singleton got hurt, and he deserves credit.
Iman Shumpert, GT: The Jackets are so bad but Shumpert is too good to be left off completely.
Jeff Allen, VT: Averaged a double-double per game on a good team.
Joe Trapani, BC: I love what the Eagles did this year, and Trapani was the second reason for that. Enough to get him the last spot.
All Freshman:
Marshall- that Travis McKie received more votes is so dumb I will waste no further space on it.
Barnes
Terrell Stoglin, Maryland: These last 3 guys get in by default. Was the ACC's freshman class really this bad?
Travis McKie, Wake Forest
CJ Leslie, NC State
Player of the Year: Nolan Smith, Duke
Freshman of the Year: Marshall. Again, MVP on the conference champions. Barnes close second.
Defensive Player of the Year: John Henson. Singleton is close, but Henson is so central to everything that
Carolina does defensively, and they're a top-5 defensive team. It's not just about blocks; he allows for UNC's perimeter guys to put more pressure on the ball and overplay more, which is a very important part of what Williams and UNC like to do. Without Henson to clean things up behind them, that's not as possible.
Coach of the Year: Ol' Roy. Last year, Carolina was in the NIT and then they lost all 5 starters, including one in the middle of this season. That he managed to get them to 14-2 is a great coaching job. Anyone who tells you otherwise is holding him and Carolina to an astronomical standard because of the recruiting classes and expectations. Coach K did a great job and deserves credit, but he returned 3 starters from a national championship team. Brad Brownell also should get some consideration.
However, I will submit the following numbers to you. These statistics are from conference games only, since after all these are all-conference awards.
Harrison Barnes: 15.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 43% FG, 32.5% 3-point
Kyle Singler: 15.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 39% FG, 29% 3-poin
Add to that the fact that Barnes was the best pure offensive weapone on the conference champions and that he absolutely SHUT DOWN Singler in both games they played against one another, and I think Barnes should be first-team above Singler. Which is why I would vote that way, if given the opportunity.
If given a vote, this is how I would have voted, with a short explanation on why. As you will no doubt realize, I put a strong emphasis on how each player impacts his team's overall record. Winners, in other words, get the benefit of the doubt:
First Team:
Harrison Barnes, UNC: see above
Kendall Marshall, UNC: the MVP of the conference champions. Numbers weren't great, though much improved once you account for increase in minutes. Also anyone who watched Carolina knows he was the key.
Malcom Delaney, VT: His scoring numbers are too much to ignore
Reggie Jackson, BC: Deserves a ton of credit for getting the Eagles to where they were this season. That team overachieved more than perhaps any other team in the conference and he was the major reason for it.
Nolan Smith, Duke: Again, his numbers are too good to ignore. Also he was the clear leader and MVP for the second-place Devils, who were after all a top-5 team.
Second Team:
John Henson, UNC: Could make an argument for him over Barnes, but I went with the Falcon because he hit so many big shots which won the Heels games. Probably a coin flip.
Tyler Zeller, UNC: Leadings scorer for the season for a top-10 team and conference champion. Also the primary offensive threat after Barnes. Second team is definitely warranted.
Kyle Singler, Duke: See above. He's also underrated defensively and his field goal percentage would be higher if he didn't take ridiculously difficult shots. He's still a great player.
Chris Singleton, FSU: Would easily have been First Team if he played the whole season, he led FSU in nearly every statistical category and was a big reason why they're one of only 3 ACC locks for the NCAA Tournament.
Jordan Williams, Maryland: His numbers probably warrant first-team consideration, but his team faded hard down the stretch and I'm a blatant Heels homer.
Third Team:
Demontez Stitt, Clemson: Similar to Jackson in that he was the motor behind a very surprising team.
Derwin Kitchen, FSU: This may be a reach but I just felt he was the reason FSU did not go away after Singleton got hurt, and he deserves credit.
Iman Shumpert, GT: The Jackets are so bad but Shumpert is too good to be left off completely.
Jeff Allen, VT: Averaged a double-double per game on a good team.
Joe Trapani, BC: I love what the Eagles did this year, and Trapani was the second reason for that. Enough to get him the last spot.
All Freshman:
Marshall- that Travis McKie received more votes is so dumb I will waste no further space on it.
Barnes
Terrell Stoglin, Maryland: These last 3 guys get in by default. Was the ACC's freshman class really this bad?
Travis McKie, Wake Forest
CJ Leslie, NC State
Player of the Year: Nolan Smith, Duke
Freshman of the Year: Marshall. Again, MVP on the conference champions. Barnes close second.
Defensive Player of the Year: John Henson. Singleton is close, but Henson is so central to everything that
Carolina does defensively, and they're a top-5 defensive team. It's not just about blocks; he allows for UNC's perimeter guys to put more pressure on the ball and overplay more, which is a very important part of what Williams and UNC like to do. Without Henson to clean things up behind them, that's not as possible.
Coach of the Year: Ol' Roy. Last year, Carolina was in the NIT and then they lost all 5 starters, including one in the middle of this season. That he managed to get them to 14-2 is a great coaching job. Anyone who tells you otherwise is holding him and Carolina to an astronomical standard because of the recruiting classes and expectations. Coach K did a great job and deserves credit, but he returned 3 starters from a national championship team. Brad Brownell also should get some consideration.
UNC 81, Duke 67
There are defining moments from the Duke-Carolina rivalry that those of us who are lucky enough to be a (small) part of it will always remember. Jerry Stackhouse dunking over 14 feet of Duke post players. Matt Doherty hitting The Shot. Chris Duhon going length of the floor while David Noel sets a screen on Raymond Felton. Tyler Hansbrough pulling up for 3 with 2 on the shot clock as a freshman in Cameron Indoor.
And, unfortunately, Roy Williams looking depressed, frustrated, and everything in between following his Heels' 32-point beating at the hands of the Blue Devils 1 year ago.
Luckily, Dexter Strickland gave us another defining moment that helps to erase any memory of that last one.
First, let me just say that I am not going to do nearly as fine a job recounting that moment as Adam Lucas, and you should definitely read his piece after this (if you haven't already).
But that moment, and the completely uninhibited joy and celebration which followed it, perfectly defined what this season has been for UNC and all of us who call ourselves fans. Up 13 with a minute to play, with the game in hand to everyone who has not lived through the brutal Year from Hell, watching Dexter Strickland drop the hammer on Miles Plumlee put all of that behind us. That dunk perfectly summarized what was a surprisingly dominant wire-to-wire victory for a young team that just 6 weeks prior had taken a 78-58 beating at the hands of terrible Georgia Tech.
Those in the national media who mocked UNC fans for rushing the floor do not understand 1) the Duke-Carolina rivalry or 2) how much we love this team. As I wrote in my pregame post, the Duke-UNC rivalry is so much about momentum and the swing of the pendulum. Each program has used the success of the other in order to motivate its own team to achieve greater things. Last year's Duke team is the perfect example of that. And now, this year's UNC team just may be an example of that. Don't believe me? Take a look at what the winner of the Duke-UNC regular season finale has done since 2004 (when Ol' Roy came back to Chapel Hill):
2004: Final Four
2005: National Championship
2006: 2nd round
2007: Elite Eight
2008: Final Four
2009: National Championship
2010: National Championship
Wow. I have always stated that the single greatest thing about the Duke-UNC rivalry is that it makes each program greater. And on Saturday night, after 23 months of having that proven to us on the wrong shade of blue, we learned it again. And in the middle we did it by absolutely dominating a bitter rival on our home floor after 23 months of frustration. So excuse us if we rush the floor to celebrate. Hopefully now the Heels can back up that impressive run shown above.
The other thing that outsiders do not understand is the attachment we have all grown for this team. These guys clearly love playing with each other and are obviously having a fantastic time putting on the Carolina Blue every week. As an alum of the same school they are so happy to represent, that makes me like them and cheer for them even harder. Nowhere was the special attachment between fans and this team shown more strongly than on the face of Kendall Marshall after the game was over and the stands were emptying. There was Marshall, raising his arms in the air, bouncing up and down, and smiling. Afterward in the press conference and then again on his Twitter account, Marshall emphasized how proud he was to see how happy the fans were as they rushed the floor. And that's a perfect response, because everywhere in Chapel Hill on Saturday night were fans who were so happy with what they had just watched. So excuse us if we tried to let the players in on it.
I don't know when the high will end from this game, but I do know that this season more than any highlights the need to enjoy the ride with each basketball season. Carolina may not be the last team standing in Reliant Stadium in a month, but I daresay no one will have enjoyed this season as much as Carolina fans. And if this post seems a bit overly rosy and optimistic, that's good. It was just that kind of weekend.
And, unfortunately, Roy Williams looking depressed, frustrated, and everything in between following his Heels' 32-point beating at the hands of the Blue Devils 1 year ago.
Luckily, Dexter Strickland gave us another defining moment that helps to erase any memory of that last one.
First, let me just say that I am not going to do nearly as fine a job recounting that moment as Adam Lucas, and you should definitely read his piece after this (if you haven't already).
But that moment, and the completely uninhibited joy and celebration which followed it, perfectly defined what this season has been for UNC and all of us who call ourselves fans. Up 13 with a minute to play, with the game in hand to everyone who has not lived through the brutal Year from Hell, watching Dexter Strickland drop the hammer on Miles Plumlee put all of that behind us. That dunk perfectly summarized what was a surprisingly dominant wire-to-wire victory for a young team that just 6 weeks prior had taken a 78-58 beating at the hands of terrible Georgia Tech.
Those in the national media who mocked UNC fans for rushing the floor do not understand 1) the Duke-Carolina rivalry or 2) how much we love this team. As I wrote in my pregame post, the Duke-UNC rivalry is so much about momentum and the swing of the pendulum. Each program has used the success of the other in order to motivate its own team to achieve greater things. Last year's Duke team is the perfect example of that. And now, this year's UNC team just may be an example of that. Don't believe me? Take a look at what the winner of the Duke-UNC regular season finale has done since 2004 (when Ol' Roy came back to Chapel Hill):
2004: Final Four
2005: National Championship
2006: 2nd round
2007: Elite Eight
2008: Final Four
2009: National Championship
2010: National Championship
Wow. I have always stated that the single greatest thing about the Duke-UNC rivalry is that it makes each program greater. And on Saturday night, after 23 months of having that proven to us on the wrong shade of blue, we learned it again. And in the middle we did it by absolutely dominating a bitter rival on our home floor after 23 months of frustration. So excuse us if we rush the floor to celebrate. Hopefully now the Heels can back up that impressive run shown above.
The other thing that outsiders do not understand is the attachment we have all grown for this team. These guys clearly love playing with each other and are obviously having a fantastic time putting on the Carolina Blue every week. As an alum of the same school they are so happy to represent, that makes me like them and cheer for them even harder. Nowhere was the special attachment between fans and this team shown more strongly than on the face of Kendall Marshall after the game was over and the stands were emptying. There was Marshall, raising his arms in the air, bouncing up and down, and smiling. Afterward in the press conference and then again on his Twitter account, Marshall emphasized how proud he was to see how happy the fans were as they rushed the floor. And that's a perfect response, because everywhere in Chapel Hill on Saturday night were fans who were so happy with what they had just watched. So excuse us if we tried to let the players in on it.
I don't know when the high will end from this game, but I do know that this season more than any highlights the need to enjoy the ride with each basketball season. Carolina may not be the last team standing in Reliant Stadium in a month, but I daresay no one will have enjoyed this season as much as Carolina fans. And if this post seems a bit overly rosy and optimistic, that's good. It was just that kind of weekend.
Friday, March 4, 2011
UNC vs Duke
I know that this game already gets enough media hype as it is, and it certainly gets enough hype among UNC and Duke fans as well. But this particular version of the rivarly has a little extra behind it, just as last year's matchup in Cameron did. And we all know how that went.
I've always thought one of the most amazing parts of the Duke-Carolina rivalry was the constant swing of the pendulum throughout the history of the rivalry. The Blue Devils and Tar Heels have consistently used each other almost as motivation throughout the last 30 years or so, feeding off the other's success to get back to the same level. Twice in the past 20 years UNC and Duke have won national championships after the other (the Heels in '93 and Devils last season) and each time marked a clear turning point in the rivarly. The rivalry has gone through ebbs and flows, with several distinct periods where one side dominated. UNC had the upper hand throughout Dean Smith's last years, including of course most memorably the Year that K Expunged From All Humanity (1995), only to see Duke take the early 2000's. Then Marvin Williams gave the Heels the beginning in another fine stretch punctuated by Tyler Hansbrough and his inability to lose at Cameron Indoor. And then of course last year Duke laid a 30 point beatdown to close the season and clearly swing the pendulum back the other way. Duke is dominating the rivalry right now, and you can bet that every person in baby blue tomorrow knows that. And hates it.
That's why tomorrow night's game is as big a regular season game as UNC has played since that Marvin Williams putback in 2005. Following last year's debacle, Carolina has somewhat slowly worked its way back into the national conversation, but it would take a season split with Duke to prove to the country as well as 15-501 that the Heels have put 2009-10 clearly behind them. That this game is also for an ACC regular season championship in a year when Duke was awarded that trophy in late November only further underscores the point above. Just one month ago Carolina looked like they could make that statement a little early as they went up by 16 on the road against top-ranked Duke. Although they wound up losing, the national media and UNC fans alike sang a similar chorus in the days afterward: "just wait til UNC gets them in Chapel Hill." Now is that chance.
As for what might actually happen tomorrow, I really don't know. I always love preview posts where analysts give "keys to the game" or whatever. Don't turn the ball over, make 3 points shots, work the paint, run the football, etc. So I will shy away from giving you the same kind of tired analysis. Going into the first meeting, I really felt Carolina was going to win because they came in with incredible momentum having played 4 of the best halves of basketball they've played all season (and about to play a 5th). And for 20 minutes I looked quite intelligent for that pick. This time around, I just don't feel that same way. I think the Heels' confidence has waned maybe a little bit as their offense has stagnated. At the same time, there is something to be said for a young team learning to get tough wins, and there is NO doubt that UNC has learned that skill.
I do know that the first time around I underestimated the effect that Cameron had on the outcome of the game, probably because (except obviously last year) UNC has had such great success there recently, and that's what I remember. This time, I will not make the same mistake, especially since Duke is 2-3 on the road against the RPI top 100 and has lost its 3 toughest road games of the season. Also, I have been saying from the beginning of the season that UNC would surprise everyone by splitting the season series with Duke. I'll stick with that pick here.
UNC 81, Duke 75.
I've always thought one of the most amazing parts of the Duke-Carolina rivalry was the constant swing of the pendulum throughout the history of the rivalry. The Blue Devils and Tar Heels have consistently used each other almost as motivation throughout the last 30 years or so, feeding off the other's success to get back to the same level. Twice in the past 20 years UNC and Duke have won national championships after the other (the Heels in '93 and Devils last season) and each time marked a clear turning point in the rivarly. The rivalry has gone through ebbs and flows, with several distinct periods where one side dominated. UNC had the upper hand throughout Dean Smith's last years, including of course most memorably the Year that K Expunged From All Humanity (1995), only to see Duke take the early 2000's. Then Marvin Williams gave the Heels the beginning in another fine stretch punctuated by Tyler Hansbrough and his inability to lose at Cameron Indoor. And then of course last year Duke laid a 30 point beatdown to close the season and clearly swing the pendulum back the other way. Duke is dominating the rivalry right now, and you can bet that every person in baby blue tomorrow knows that. And hates it.
That's why tomorrow night's game is as big a regular season game as UNC has played since that Marvin Williams putback in 2005. Following last year's debacle, Carolina has somewhat slowly worked its way back into the national conversation, but it would take a season split with Duke to prove to the country as well as 15-501 that the Heels have put 2009-10 clearly behind them. That this game is also for an ACC regular season championship in a year when Duke was awarded that trophy in late November only further underscores the point above. Just one month ago Carolina looked like they could make that statement a little early as they went up by 16 on the road against top-ranked Duke. Although they wound up losing, the national media and UNC fans alike sang a similar chorus in the days afterward: "just wait til UNC gets them in Chapel Hill." Now is that chance.
As for what might actually happen tomorrow, I really don't know. I always love preview posts where analysts give "keys to the game" or whatever. Don't turn the ball over, make 3 points shots, work the paint, run the football, etc. So I will shy away from giving you the same kind of tired analysis. Going into the first meeting, I really felt Carolina was going to win because they came in with incredible momentum having played 4 of the best halves of basketball they've played all season (and about to play a 5th). And for 20 minutes I looked quite intelligent for that pick. This time around, I just don't feel that same way. I think the Heels' confidence has waned maybe a little bit as their offense has stagnated. At the same time, there is something to be said for a young team learning to get tough wins, and there is NO doubt that UNC has learned that skill.
I do know that the first time around I underestimated the effect that Cameron had on the outcome of the game, probably because (except obviously last year) UNC has had such great success there recently, and that's what I remember. This time, I will not make the same mistake, especially since Duke is 2-3 on the road against the RPI top 100 and has lost its 3 toughest road games of the season. Also, I have been saying from the beginning of the season that UNC would surprise everyone by splitting the season series with Duke. I'll stick with that pick here.
UNC 81, Duke 75.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
UNC 72, Florida State 70
The Black Falcon.
That's really all you can say about this game. I could spend some time talking about how UNC once again showed their youth and inexperience in failing to put a team away when they built a 6-7 point lead with under 4 minutes to go. Or I could spend some time talking about how the usually defensively strong Heels gave up 48% shooting to a terrible offensive team playing without its leading scorer. Or I could spend some time talking about how UNC went on the road against a team that was 7-0 at home in ACC play and desperate for a 2nd signature win on Senior Night and came out with a gutsy 2-point victory. Or that John Henson beat back the ridiculous physicality of this game and answered some serious questions about his strength with a 19-point, 12-rebound performance.
But none of those things matter all that much, because in 2 years I won't remember any of those things. In 2 years, I will remember this game however. I will remember watching the team in the timeout huddle with 11 seconds left with Harrison Barnes CLEARLY demanding the ball to Roy Williams, and Williams responding by pointing at him, confirming with a head nod, then immediately going to the clipboard (seriously, if you have DVR go back and look at this- it's quite striking). Then the Heels running a clear-out play for their freshman on the road in a game to put his team in the driver's seat for a conference championship. If you have DVR also go back and watch when Dan Schulman exclaims "They're running a clear-out for the freshman!" I got chills when he said that.
And of course I will remember Harrison Barnes hitting a cold-blooded jump shot with a hand in his face as though he was playing pickup in his back yard. The guy is absurd. It's difficult to forecast exactly what the postseason expectations for this team should be, but with Barnes the Heels have a puncher's chance against any team in the country because he's always a threat to hit the big shot.
I can't wait for Saturday, can't wait for the ACC Tournament, and certainly can't wait for the Dance. Watching the Falcon take us through March is going to be one heck of a ride.
That's really all you can say about this game. I could spend some time talking about how UNC once again showed their youth and inexperience in failing to put a team away when they built a 6-7 point lead with under 4 minutes to go. Or I could spend some time talking about how the usually defensively strong Heels gave up 48% shooting to a terrible offensive team playing without its leading scorer. Or I could spend some time talking about how UNC went on the road against a team that was 7-0 at home in ACC play and desperate for a 2nd signature win on Senior Night and came out with a gutsy 2-point victory. Or that John Henson beat back the ridiculous physicality of this game and answered some serious questions about his strength with a 19-point, 12-rebound performance.
But none of those things matter all that much, because in 2 years I won't remember any of those things. In 2 years, I will remember this game however. I will remember watching the team in the timeout huddle with 11 seconds left with Harrison Barnes CLEARLY demanding the ball to Roy Williams, and Williams responding by pointing at him, confirming with a head nod, then immediately going to the clipboard (seriously, if you have DVR go back and look at this- it's quite striking). Then the Heels running a clear-out play for their freshman on the road in a game to put his team in the driver's seat for a conference championship. If you have DVR also go back and watch when Dan Schulman exclaims "They're running a clear-out for the freshman!" I got chills when he said that.
And of course I will remember Harrison Barnes hitting a cold-blooded jump shot with a hand in his face as though he was playing pickup in his back yard. The guy is absurd. It's difficult to forecast exactly what the postseason expectations for this team should be, but with Barnes the Heels have a puncher's chance against any team in the country because he's always a threat to hit the big shot.
I can't wait for Saturday, can't wait for the ACC Tournament, and certainly can't wait for the Dance. Watching the Falcon take us through March is going to be one heck of a ride.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Reggie Bullock Out for the Year
Rumors had begun to swirl that the Kinston native's recent shooting slump may have been due to injury, and now it seems that this has been substantiated. UNC has confirmed that Bullock has a torn lateral meniscus and will miss the remainder of this season.
While this is undoubtedly a blow for Bullock himself, a self-proclaimed lifelong Tar Heel fan who now will miss his first March wearing the baby blue, I don't know how much it will matter for the team as a whole. While this team continues to struggle with a consistent outside shot, a very significant part of those struggles have been Reggie's prolonged slump. Outside of a nice 3-point play over Scott Wood and several run-out hustle plays, Bullock has done very little since the first half against Boston College roughly a month ago. And I don't know that I personally ever expected him to do much more this year. His injury opens up playing time for Leslie McDonald, who has looked better in recent games against NC State and Maryland and has a more versatile offensive game at this point in their respective careers. Although it is always difficult to lose an important member of the rotation this late in the season, I don't think it will necessarily lower the Heels' ceiling in any way. Some combination of McDonald and Justin Watts will be able to step up and fill the void in minutes.
Elsewhere in college basketball on this first day of March:
- BC jumped all over hungover Virginia Tech, in a result that should surprise absolutely no one save Dicky V, who already has the Hokies in his bracket. As an ACC fan, it's important for the conference in this mediocre season to get at least four teams into the Dance, especially given the relative "softness" of the bubble this year. For that to happen, it would be nice if Tech could pull out this victory to prevent a possible must-win in Littlejohn on Saturday.
- Purdue is putting together a quiet run toward a darkhorse number 1 seed by beating Illinois by 8. At the same time, they continued the Illini's run from preseason darling to postseason dissapointment. Bruce Weber had a lot of success early on with Illinois using momentum inherited from Bill Self, but he has to feel his seat getting much warmer in Champaign after failing to live up to expectations this year.
- Florida just does not look like a top-15 team to me when I watch them play, particularly on offense. But they just keep winning through a solid SEC schedule, pounding Alabama by 20+ at home tonight.
- NC State drops its 10th ACC game of the season for the 5th consecutive season (or 100% of Sidney Lowe's career) by losing by 9 on the road to UVa. The Wolfpack continue to sit squarely on the NIT bubble and will likely need to win at least 2 more games to be in.
While this is undoubtedly a blow for Bullock himself, a self-proclaimed lifelong Tar Heel fan who now will miss his first March wearing the baby blue, I don't know how much it will matter for the team as a whole. While this team continues to struggle with a consistent outside shot, a very significant part of those struggles have been Reggie's prolonged slump. Outside of a nice 3-point play over Scott Wood and several run-out hustle plays, Bullock has done very little since the first half against Boston College roughly a month ago. And I don't know that I personally ever expected him to do much more this year. His injury opens up playing time for Leslie McDonald, who has looked better in recent games against NC State and Maryland and has a more versatile offensive game at this point in their respective careers. Although it is always difficult to lose an important member of the rotation this late in the season, I don't think it will necessarily lower the Heels' ceiling in any way. Some combination of McDonald and Justin Watts will be able to step up and fill the void in minutes.
Elsewhere in college basketball on this first day of March:
- BC jumped all over hungover Virginia Tech, in a result that should surprise absolutely no one save Dicky V, who already has the Hokies in his bracket. As an ACC fan, it's important for the conference in this mediocre season to get at least four teams into the Dance, especially given the relative "softness" of the bubble this year. For that to happen, it would be nice if Tech could pull out this victory to prevent a possible must-win in Littlejohn on Saturday.
- Purdue is putting together a quiet run toward a darkhorse number 1 seed by beating Illinois by 8. At the same time, they continued the Illini's run from preseason darling to postseason dissapointment. Bruce Weber had a lot of success early on with Illinois using momentum inherited from Bill Self, but he has to feel his seat getting much warmer in Champaign after failing to live up to expectations this year.
- Florida just does not look like a top-15 team to me when I watch them play, particularly on offense. But they just keep winning through a solid SEC schedule, pounding Alabama by 20+ at home tonight.
- NC State drops its 10th ACC game of the season for the 5th consecutive season (or 100% of Sidney Lowe's career) by losing by 9 on the road to UVa. The Wolfpack continue to sit squarely on the NIT bubble and will likely need to win at least 2 more games to be in.
Sidney Lowe Thinks Scott Wood Gets Held A Lot
From the Charlotte Observer this morning.
The first part of the article is much more important, as it explains the scenarios to determine the number 1 seed for the ACC Tournament. Quite simply, because of the tiebreaker scenario, whichever team wins the Duke-UNC game next Saturday will be the ACC's number 1 seed, no matter what happens tomorrow night for either team. Just in case you thought that game didn't matter at all.
But there's a little footnote at the bottom where Sidney Lowe is asked why 3-point specialist Scott Wood can't seem to string two consecutive games together.
"I know he's my player, and I might be a little biased, but I think the film doesn't lie, he gets held more than anybody I've ever seen," Lowe said. "They just literally grab him, grab his jersey and hold him."
Really? Please. Sidney Lowe's whining about the refs is getting a little tired. It was bad enough to go around talking about how "confused" he was after the UNC game last Wednesday (despite the fact that his gameplan clearly included being as physical as possible with the Heels- I guess he was expecting that Tracy Smith should not get the same treatment at the other end), but now he's just blatantly blaming the fact that Wood is inconsistent on missed holding calls.
Stop it.
The first part of the article is much more important, as it explains the scenarios to determine the number 1 seed for the ACC Tournament. Quite simply, because of the tiebreaker scenario, whichever team wins the Duke-UNC game next Saturday will be the ACC's number 1 seed, no matter what happens tomorrow night for either team. Just in case you thought that game didn't matter at all.
But there's a little footnote at the bottom where Sidney Lowe is asked why 3-point specialist Scott Wood can't seem to string two consecutive games together.
"I know he's my player, and I might be a little biased, but I think the film doesn't lie, he gets held more than anybody I've ever seen," Lowe said. "They just literally grab him, grab his jersey and hold him."
Really? Please. Sidney Lowe's whining about the refs is getting a little tired. It was bad enough to go around talking about how "confused" he was after the UNC game last Wednesday (despite the fact that his gameplan clearly included being as physical as possible with the Heels- I guess he was expecting that Tracy Smith should not get the same treatment at the other end), but now he's just blatantly blaming the fact that Wood is inconsistent on missed holding calls.
Stop it.
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