According to the magic-8 ball, all signs point to yes when asked “will Roy continue to own coach K”.

I recall Duke’s class of 2005 (for the 05-06 season), featured prominently on the SI cover issue that season. Highly touted coming in, upon leaving…not as much. All i have to say about that.

http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/story/1595540.html

Guthridge was more permissive than Smith was, both with players and the press. I am not sure, however, that the result in 1998 was much different from that in 1997, with the exception being that Dean’s team started well and sputtered to the finish against Arizona, while Gut’s team started abysmally and almost pulled out the game against Utah. My recollection is that the 1998 team came closer to winning its game against Utah, than did the 1997 team against Arizona, although neither performance was good.

I honestly think the 1997 team was better than the 1998 team because it had a true center, but if you look at the trends, after recovering from an 0-3 start in the ACC, the 1997 squad was basically the same team as the 1998 team in terms of winning percentage. Haywood didn’t play that much in 1998, so once again merely looking back at the rosters can deceive.

I honestly would compare the 1998 Tar Heels to the 2008 Tar Heels, more than this year’s squad because like the 2008 team, the 1998 team had to be functioning on all cylinders to win. They couldn’t withstand a bad performance by Shammond, who, as good as he could be, was never really a star in the manner of a Felton or Lawson, or even a Donald Williams. Essentially, the 1996-98 Tar Heels lacked a third true star. When only Vince Carter showed up for the Utah game, it was just too much to overcome.

Last year’s team couldn’t withstand a mediocre performance by Hansbrough against Kansas, due to similar outside shooting issues, Ellington being erratic and Lawson needing screens to set up his shot, left only Danny Green hitting from outside against the Jayhawk onslaught. Hansbrough’s lack of inside help left him frustrated and put all the pressure on the outside game.

This year’s team was basically complete, inside and outside, with the addition of Ed Davis and the improvement in outside shooting by Green, Lawson and Ellington. Teams couldn’t key on Hansbrough the same way; Lawson got much better at finding his shot and Ellington finally reached the .400 range on three’s. There simply was no way to deal with those kinds of weapons.

The number of lucky wins by the 2008 squad, and the hard-luck losses by the 2009 squad obscures the fact that this year’s team was decidely better than last year’s team. In 2008, the Heels won three overtime games, and three other games by two points or less, dropping only a close one to Maryland by two points. They also eeked out a close win over Davidson. They lost two games by double digits.

In 2009, the Tar Heels lost four out of six of their close games, losing their only overtime game, as well as three others that they had a chance to tie or go ahead in during the last minute, losing by three to Wake, Maryland and FSU and by seven to BC.

Although traditionally, one would have deemed the 2008 Heels as “clutch” compared to the 2009 Heels, I think it is now fairly clear why the debacle against Kansas should not have been such a surprise.

At the time Ronald Curry looked like he was going to be an incredible player in both sports. There is really no way you could have known Curry was going to be at best mediocre and Jason Williams an All-American.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/newFLAG01070309.htm

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/newEAST01070309.htm

And, if that is the case, what a lousy job in handling that situation. Hmm, let me figure this out. Jason Williams, Ronald Curry. I know who I’d want. That’s like debating on whether we will recruit Pete Chilcutt or Larry Bird. No offense Pete.