Just between you and me? I cannot decide if Mickey Mouse is just some fun loving kids character or a cult leader. That castle at the Magic Kingdom looks like it could be a temple.
A huge thank you to all of you for holding the fort down on the open thread while I was gone.
Anyway, I was most pleased to pull up the ACC scores when I arrived home and see that Duke bought it against Michigan. I wonder where all those folks who were out there proclaiming Duke was a possible title contender Wednesday morning are at now? Duke is good, but I have asked it once and I will ask it again: How are they better than last season conisdering they lost Demarcus Nelson?
As for the Heels. What an awesome display of firepower against UNC Asheville and again versus Michigan State. I know we are not supposed to consider the thrashing of the western sister school anything to hang your hat on but it was important for one reason: The Heels were expected to completely dismantle the Bulldogs and they did. No let down from Maui. No poor execution. Yes, UNCA was missing Kenny George and was not the same team as last season but it was last season UNCA actually gave the Heels problems. The way UNC took the Bulldogs apart is reminiscent of what the 2005 team did to the lesser teams on their schedule.
The win over Michigan State was a shock to me. Not the actual W but rather the level of destruction the Heels leveled. Seriously, I called a seven point win, would not have been surprised with a double digit win and got an 35 point thrashing. The Heels are clicking and when you consider Louisville lost to Western Kentucky, UConn almost lost to Buffalo and the aforementioned Duke loss to Michigan, I loved the position UNC is in right now. The Heels are living up to the hype and while there is a ton of work to do, I think the Heels are at a good place. You always expect a team to get better as the season proceeds. The same should be true of UNC and when Marcus Ginyard gets meshed into the rotation the depth, experience and defense gets upgraded. If UNC can get better than they are now, you are talking about an incredible level of play. The dangers? Relapse of bad defense or a general loss of focus considering how well they are playing. There is also the injury bug which hopefully is done inflicting harm in Chapel Hill. And yes, Ty Lawson is awesome. Insanely so. I mean, 6.11 A/TO ratio? Really? Only nine turnovers in eight games? 55% shooting percentage and 55% from three point range? Yeah. I dare say Lawson has arrived.
This was also a good point for UNC to get a 10 day break. Hopefully Hansbrough will stop being questionable for every game after the time off. UNC gets to run through a schedule of cupcakes which includes two games away from Chapel Hill. Perhaps Ginyard can get back soon and they can work out all the kinks before heading into ACC play.
On the football side it looks like the Car Care Bowl which probably is more about the bowls wanting sure crowds in a weak economy than anything else. The opponent is likely to be West Virginia which would afford UNC a chance to go 3-0 versus the Big East this season.
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Welcome back THF. We missed you, but needless to say, things stayed busy here at your blog.
Since you have been gone I think the most noteworthy happening was Dook’s loss yesterday. They showed a lot of weaknesses, especially 3 point selection. They have an ineffective inside game as well. That should play well for the TarHeels. The most impressive game, not counting the MState win by us, was yesterday’s Davidson/nc state match up. The wulfpack actually played well enough to win, but Curry made some back breaking threes to finish them off. A great game to watch.
Again, welcome back!!
Welcome back THF. Do we think Ginyard will be back after the break?
Welcome back! I feel like you could make a week’s worth of posts out of the the conversations in the previous post!!
Poor dukies. Our classes are SOOO hard.
“We were really worried coming off the Purdue game. This is a tough academic week for us, and we didn’t handle it in a mature way,” Krzyzewski said. “We were not mentally ready to play.”
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=283410130
Don’t worry WB3. No matter how bad Duke plays, ESPN will have something to spin to make up for it.
Really? K actually used exam week as an excuse as to why they could not beat a team they had already blown out on a neutral court? I think that puts the Coach K Whiner Count at three this season.
No kidding how does that happen? Did the Dookies come out saying well we blew these guys out of the gym last time? Or did Michigan find something to work with that hopefully all teams will be able to model their game plan after?
I also couldn’t believe Rat used the exam week excuse. So then why did you schedule a road game during exam week?
And let’s not forget the jab K took at the Michigan faithful in the Crisler Arena crowd:
“Reporters from Michigan asked Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski if the atmosphere was similar to that at ACC arenas.
‘I watched the Savannah State tape, and you didn’t have many seats filled,’ he said. ‘So come here all the time and (fill seats), and that’s when you’ll have a really great arena.’”
You know, when you win and you’re an ass, you’re colorful (see Bobby Knight). When you haven’t won the league or made it to the Sweet Sixteen in two years and you’re an ass, then you’re just an ass (again, see Bobby Knight).
If am I not mistaken, they played Michigan in Cameron right in the middle of the exam period last season and had no trouble with it. UNC takes the full exam period off, something like 10 days and then they play again. They also tend to make sure they are in the midst of their lighter schedule. Oral Roberts will be the first team they play after the break and should be the right kind of opponent to shake the rust off or get past the strain that apparently college exams put on the kids nowadays.
I vote for Disney as “cult”…if you think about: you must travel a far distance to visit, the cost to enter is high and once you are in, the cost continues higher still. And yes, they fill your head with visions of wonder and magic when you are very young. Scientology ain’t so different !
Dook plays an actual road game in December, and seeks excuses for not showing up. Stop living off the 3′s, and then maybe they won’t kill you each March. And if K wants to talk scheduling…check out what Ricky Barnes is doing: Texas beat UCLA on Thursday…and then plays Villanova on Tuesday. Final four team, and a sweet 16 team from the preivous season.
I would never tout the ability of Barnes, but Texas could be a mild sleeper coming out of the big 12. Depth, some size and good guard play.
I guess if Zoubek hadn’t been flipping through those advanced astrophysics flashcards during the timeouts…
DailyDoc, you nailed it – the Krzyzewski/Knight infallibility complex never has meshed with their press. Knight as some paragon of discipline – when he clearly has none himself. Coach K as leader among men – except when it comes to taking responsibility for something that didn’t turn out well. And always quick with some reason as to why it’s not their fault.
Welcome back THF! I’ve never been to Disney World but I consider basketball much more important. I have learned several things in the past week.
1)K has finaly lost it.
2)Heels have “a taste for blood” that will take them very far http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/120408aaa.html
3)Steph Curry is still lethal. (Did anyone see the State vs Davidson game?)
4)I’m pretty sure this is Lowe’s last season
5)I have a 4.0 GPA
Overall a good week for me and the Heels.
Rockin the 4.0, great work! As fer as the Bob Knight / Koach K comparisons, i doubt anyone on this board would welcome the parallels to continue onto the dance floor we all know as March Madness. If you pull the wikipedia page on Bob Knight, it shows a few elite 8s and a final 4 in the early 1990′s. Following 1994, 1995-2000 seasons ended at weekend # 1. Four of the six years were an exit in the first round, and I want to recall a few exits not being very good at all by IU standards.
Hope springs eternal for the Tar Heel fan. In this season of holiday giving and thankfulness, I am grateful for the return of prodigal son Roy to this rightful home and place !!