The question everyone has after UNC plays like this is whether or not Roy was biting the heads off live chickens while running the team to the point of losing their lunch. Turns out that was not the case. Green says Roy opted to use it as a teaching moment and did push for a competitive practice, possibly to ratchet the intensity up. Given the fact this group has been together three years destroying them in practice might not be the best approach.
As for what happened Sunday night and why it happened again after everyone swore it wouldn’t following the Kansas game, Green is fairly even keel about it saying sometimes things don’t go your way and “it happens.” To some extent that is true but at the same time Green struck me as a little nonchalant about the whole thing.
Anyway, Green indicated that the Heels were ready to move on which is probably the right attitude. We will find out how ready Wednesday night.
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“As for what happened Sunday night and why it happened again after everyone swore it wouldn’t following the Kansas game…”
There is a big difference between, “not happening again,” and “not happening again, in the NCAAT.” I think what people were referring to was the latter…
Is it me, or are we, as a collective group, reading way to much into a single loss?? UNC’s performance Sunday was no worse than their performance at Clemson last year.
C.Michael, that is so true. Last year we had several close games that we could have easily lost. We lost 3 last year that could easily have been 6 to 7. We could be in for a long season if our mindset is were going to lose less than 3. I was thinking along these lines this year. The more I think about this loss the more I think we’ll lose at least 3 to 5 in the regular season, one in the ACC tournament and well It’s a crap shoot in the NCAA’s. The loss took a big wind out of our sail and I wouldn’t be surprised if it has the kids are in the same mind frame. They read the papers and believe the hype. Hopefully they can get over it and do what needs to be done. Go HEELS
I think you may have taken my comment more negatively than it was intended. I don’t think this loss is in any way a harbinger of things to come; if anything, it could be a blessing. In UNC’s last three title runs losses like this served as a restart… essentially hitting, “ctrl-alt-delete” on the season. Obviously, they can’t play like that and expect to win, but after both of UNC’s losses last year, they went on to play inspired ball for an extended stretch (you could even argue that they dis so after the KU loss, as well). I see know reason to expect less this year, for as we have all said, it is essentially the same team.
Additionally, for us, the fans, it allows us to more easily take it one game at a time because the specter of an undefeated season has gone by the wayside.
I thought Danny was very articulate and I don’t really agree that he was nonchalant. I like the the approach that we heard than a “we’re ready to kick everybody’s A$$ now” type of interview.
That doesn’t serve anyone and gives the opposition bulletin board material.
The main concern I have and I think I am on record as being the least reactionary UNC fan you will find is this is a pattern of behavior we have seen before. In my mind it was not simply an issue of playing poorly because yes, teams had bad games. There is an undercurrent with this group that they either fail to show up at times or fail to answer the bell when an opposing team absorbs a challenge. I think it is a complacency issue and what was said all summer about not letting the Kansas game happen again is a salient point. The problem I see is this team needs to be kick in the pants by a loss to get their heads on right and that should not be the case. At some point the lesson needs to be learned and stick otherwise we are sitting around waiting for the next game where they come out fat and happy which results in a season ending loss.
As for Green, that is the way he came off to me. Could be just me.
This is off subject, sorry. Does anyone know of an internet site broadcasting tonight’s game? For some reason I cannot pick up FSNS here in Florida. Thanks for any help.
The best option for that would be to check:
http://www.justin.tv/cbb2k8
There is no schedule posted but check there during the day or close to game time and see if he is streaming it. There are no other internet video feeds I am aware of for this one.
I will be liveblogging tonight.
“The problem I see is this team needs to be kick in the pants by a loss to get their heads on right and that should not be the case”
I DO agree with this. My point was that in a public interview with someone savvy like Dave Glenn, I thought Green said the right things in the right tone. Remember it was Green who said he “wanted a close game”…..(HP shakes head)
Watching BC this year will be interesting from now on out.
Watching BC this season will be like watching Maryland last season. I honestly hope the Eagles validate themselves better than the Terps did.
Maryland’s big center Osby seemed to disappear after his game against us. I think Rice is for real but I’ll bet either the freshman Jackson or Rakim Sanders just had the game of their lives…….
And I am not sure Grevis Vasquez played another game with that few turnovers the rest of the season.
Great points made here. I only have a couple things to add.
1) If the Heels had pulled this game out we’d be basking in the glow and talking about where it ranked on the all time comeback scale. As it was they came very close but just like the Kansas game they were just too far behind to complete the comeback. We’d still have the same issues with lack of focus and times when they went on cruise control but we’d feel a lot better about it. As has been said, hopefully this will shake the guys up a little bit and make them just a little bit more hungry. Even though a perfect season shouldn’t have been one of their goals I’m sure it was in their minds. Everyone wants to be remembered as “one of the best”.
2)I was pretty happy with the way Danny conducted his interview. Especially given the way he is prone to saying whatever is on his mind at the time (see “testing the waters ‘08″). I would have been surprised if he had shown any more passion or fire than he did. I believe this interview is one Roy would have approved of. Then again I am very old school. I’d rather see what you have on the court than listen to you tell me about it.
Why does it matter if BC validates itself? Santa Clara sure didn’t back in 2005. I think they ended up with a losing record that year. Gonzaga wasn’t all that great in 2007 nor was NCSU.
I agree with your point about the motivation issue, THF. If the only issue in the game had been poor shooting, then I think you can write that off somewhat. Here, there were just a whole host of mental mistakes and sloppy and lackadaisical play. It is one thing to lose, but to go from a two point deficit to a fifteen point deficit, that quickly at home, is kind of strange.
Having said that, perhaps the two greatest teams in the history of the ACC also had some puzzling outings. NC State back in 1974 got annihilated by 18 points by UCLA on a neutral floor during the regular season, after Maryland only lost to the Bruins by one point at UCLA. State also almost lost to Purdue and needed a huge rally to get past them. The Boilermakers were decent but ended up in the NIT.
The 1982 Tar Heels needed to go to overtime to beat Penn State in the Cable Car Classic! They also lost at Virginia by 16 points, which was a considerable margin back then and barely beat James Madison in Charlotte in the NCAA tourney.
Maybe a step behind those two were the 1993 Tar Heels, but the 1993 Heels also simply annihilated many rivals. They beat South Carolina by 31; they beat Texas by 36 and Ohio State by 20 in Columbus. They beat NC State by 33 and 46 points; they beat Maryland by 28, 14 and 36 points; they beat Virginia by 22 and 20 points; but then the 1993 Heels had a three game interval where they could do very little right.
The Heels fell behind FSU by twenty-something points and had to stage a huge rally to get an ugly win at home; they then lost by 26 points to Wake Forest and 14 points to Duke. With the exception of a close loss in the ACC finals, (without Derrick Phelps and where Donald Williams shot horribly) the Tar Heels would not lose again during its final 18 games.
william,
i would like BC to validate itself similar to how i want the team who eliminate my team in a tourney to go ahead and win the whole darn thing. then i can say we lost to the eventual champ. it doesn’t make my team any better but i do feel the loss is at least slightly more justified.
more practically speaking: if we’re caught at the end of the regular season in a situation in which we’re one of 5 or 6 teams with multiple losses all vying for the #1 seed, then it may help if BC ends the season highly ranked.
but you’re right in that BC’s validation is not a requirement. especially if the tar heels take care of business (doesn’t mean undefeated) going forward.
Heeledsoul,
I hate your picture.
Well, I am not sure BC is validating itself tonight against Harvard and they may pull it out in the end, but I won’t be rooting for Mr. Skinner. I just don’t care for him or his team a whole lot.
down by 10 with 3 mins to go. doesn’t look good for bc.