- That was just a tough ugly game that we have to feel really lucky to win. With so many injuries and fouls, the Heels were being held together with twine and duct tape by the end.
- Everyone was complaining about the officiating but was it even close to being as bad as that first Dook game? Not even in the same universe, if you ask us.
- This felt like a real chance for Desmond Hubert and he failed to make much of an impression. With Henson out and Zeller and McAdoo getting into foul trouble, he could have been the one to step up.
- Same goes for Stilman White. Instead, Roy goes with Watts at the PG.
- Maybe Len Elmore really doesn’t like us. He sure sounded like a State fan whining at the end of the game.
- How come no one mentioned that Barnes sprained his ankle yesterday and maybe that’s why he only had 3 points in the first half?
- It’s probably really, really difficult to beat the same team 3 times in one season, but you gotta think that Roy Williams being Mark Turgeon’s former mentor has to give him some kind of psychological edge. Do you really think Turgeon coming into this one believed — really believed — he could win?
- Nothing against Harrison Barnes, but Marshall should have made 1st team All ACC instead.
- Marshall’s assist record is likely to stand for a long time. He’s still got a few games to go, and it’s hard to see how whatever he ultimately racks up will be touched by anyone for a decade at least. Maybe never.
- Henson’s injury reminds fans just how slim the guy still is. Even though he’s added some 30 pounds of bulk since he arrived at Carolina, he looked really fragile going down on that wrist.
- Hairston had a really nice game. If the 3s aren’t falling, why doesn’t he opt to drive more? He was really a one-dimensional player throughout the conference season, and that’s a shame.
- It was a bit alarming how difficult it became to snag rebounds with both Zeller and Henson out.
- James Michael McAdoo looked about as aggressive and confident as he has ever been in a Carolina uniform. Great game, and that dunk on Alex Len, with a little nudge to Len’s head with his foot for good measure, was the stuff of Sportscenter highlights.
- One of the knocks on Barnes is that he really doesn’t pass the ball. And he really doesn’t. That’s why it was so odd to see him drive to the hoop then suddenly make a nice dish to Hairston, who was fouled. Barnes should do more of that.
- Zeller is so good at taking charges. It’s such an underrated aspect of his game that really helps the team and saps the momentum from an opponent.
- Marshall maybe has been reading his press on how good he throws that hit-ahead pass. He tried it a few too many times and got hit with some turnovers.
The day has finally come. It has been confirmed that someone with a Dook affiliation has picked up our book. And what’s more, she’s written a review! In an actual newspaper!
Tighten your chin straps, people.
All in all, the review from a Duke alum is reasonably fair, although it’s weird that she knocks us for being biased. And you expected…what? Of course the book selectively presents evidence. Of course it’s biased. It’s meant to be written in an over-the-top, fun, confrontational style. This is a sport rivalry, not a dental conference.
She also sort of misses the point of the book. Our goal was to examine all the complaints that haters have lobbed at Dook through the years and see which ones we could stand up with actual evidence. Some don’t stand up and we say so. We think you should only hate Dook for the things they should actually be hated for, not phantom arguments. I guess this reviewer disagrees.
Here are a couple choice bits:
Many of the hits are so far below the belt that my knees got bruised. I mean, leave the poor cheerleaders alone. Trumped-up charges against the mascot are pitiful. Coach K’s hair (which their investigation concluded is NOT dyed) is so yesterday’s news. And dragging paunchy Christian Laettner (“an arrogant, insufferable douche”) through the mud is like rejecting Thomas Jefferson’s brilliance because he had a thing for Sally Hemming.
Maybe I’m protesting too much. Chalk it up to good fun, Deb. Smart satire. Sassy drivel lapped up by a hungry market. Selective research conveyed with great authority. But what starts out as fun devolves into petty and forced, finally just tiresome.
It shouldn’t really be close, should it? But then again, you never know. As the years have gone by, the ACC Tournament has seemed to mean less and less to coaches and teams, and now it’s approaching something like the NFL’s Pro Bowl in prestige. Yeah, it’s nice to win. It could give that winning team a boost in their NCAA tourney seeding, but I don’t think any of the top teams are going to risk injury or wearing out their best players (cough – Kendall Marshall – cough) to take home the trophy.
That said, even with an effort that doesn’t approach what we saw against Dook last weekend, Carolina is favored by far to win the thing, if you believe these sort of cold, mathematical calculations. The Heels have a 63% chance to win, Dook a 21.5% chance. Maryland has a .09% and Wake 0%. That doesn’t seem right. I don’t think the probability of anything involving sports is ever 0%, but so be it.
So the question is, who’d you rather play in this opening game, Wake or Maryland. Maryland has Terrell Stoglin and he may be looking to make a showy exit for the league, if the rumors of him turning pro are true. The Terps could be in danger of making one of those patented runs by a lower-seeded team that seem to happen every year. Then again, Wake has Ty Walker, a serious shot blocker and a true seven-footer who’s probably one of the best players in the league for matching up with Zeller.
It’s official. Z is player of the year in the ACC. This is great news, but not all that surprising considering what the big man has done in the last few months. Zeller earned 45 of the 62 votes; Scott was second with 14. Oddly, Henson and Barnes also received votes.
The POY honors come three days after tearing Dook a new one, a week after being named the national Academic All-American of the Year and few hours after being named to the second-team Sporting News all-America team, an honor that makes Zeller eligible to have his jersey hung in the rafters.
Congratulations to Zeller. He has been such a force down low and probably the team’s most consistent player, especially in the conference season. He works hard every position, and while ESPN still promos UNC games with a photo of Harrison Barnes, most Carolina fans appreciate who the team’s most valuable player is this season. Next year, we’ll certainly miss his quick turnaround hook shot, his numerous and-ones, his ability to run the court and his 80% free-throw shooting. Wonder if Cody would consider transferring?
Reed named him his personal player of the game against Duke, mainly because he knew Andy would have Butter covered. Here’s what Roy had to say about the freshman big man today.
How would you assess James Michael McAdoo’s play on Saturday and do you think he’s hitting his stride?
“A couple of big-time offensive rebounds for baskets. The follow dunk on the other end, he was up about as high as I can remember seeing anybody and the offensive rebound in the late game situation… we just told him he was the defensive award winner for the game, so he is really doing some nicer things. People say ‘oh gosh, he’s only averaging 5 [points] and 3 [rebounds]’, but to me, there’s been a marked difference in his play in the last 10 or 12 games. He’s extremely valuable to us.”
Following the smackdown in Durham on Saturday, Andy turned up on Fox Sports radio this morning to talk about why people hate Duke with hosts Andy Furman and former Bengal and Patriot DB Artrell Hawkins. It’s a pretty funny segment. Take a listen by clicking on the link below.
We are still flying high after the 18-point demolition of Duke in Cameron. With such a balanced performance, the debate is on for who was the player of the game. That Austin Rivers shot stings a little less now but was the win enough to put the Heels in line for a #1 seed? All of that and an extended dance remix of Duke Sucks.
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