...and the rivalry continues...
10:00pm: Using halftime to respond to text messages and BBM's. Don't say it people, don't even think it.
10:05pm: Smilin' Dan describes Hansbrough's style of play as a whirling derbish. Indeed. I wish the derbish had some eligibility left.
10:06pm: Bobby Frasor tweets in "pretty awesome to see his jersey in the front row". Yes sir, it is.
10:07pm: I gave Duke too much credit: 23% shooting in the first half. And they're ahead. 23% ain't happening again folks, it's just not.
10:09pm: Graves gives up a trey to Singler to start the half. I'm going to lose it.
10:10pm: Ginyard for three - bang. Do it, Marcus.
10:11pm: II with two terrible plays, as pointed out on TV. Roy is going to punch him.
10:12pm: Marcus on the break...pass it, oh no, ehhhh...yes!
10:15pm: Ginyard does a terrific job rotating on defense to deny a Chewbek dunk. That's what he does, kids, makes the plays you don't see in the boxscore.
10:17pm: Duke is killing it on the offensive glass. This never used to happen when #50 was inside. It's not just the talent drop-off, it is the toughness and intensity that we miss. Tyler would have bruised four Devils in the first half on rebounds and none of those guys would want a piece by the second half. No one does that anymore. Carolina needs a bruiser. I finally realized this. I think this is why Roy wanted Delvon Roe & Samardo Samuels two recruiting classes ago. Davis and Big Z are fine, but I wouldn't use "tough" to describe either at this point.
10:20pm: 19 offensive rebounds for Duke, proving the above point tenfold. Geez.
10:22pm: Dex should find the bench soon: a three-point brick and a stupid foul outside.
10:25pm: 43-39 Heels, timeout Duke. Gene and Psycho T high-five their approval. Roof about to go off the Dome.
10:28pm: We can't stop Singler. This is foreboding.
10:30pm: Does anyone know how much the Braves' offer to Johnny Damon is worth? I'm fine paying the guy $6 million on a one-year deal, just not $10 million. I guess it doesn't matter if it is only for one year, but I don't want July to roll around and the Bravos not be able to make a deadline deal because of finances committed to Damon, ya know? It would be nice to get a for-real lead-off hitter though and let Escobar or McClouth bat 2-hole.
10:34pm: Scheyer misses two free fros when he shouldn't have been at the line to begin with; Marcus fouled him on the floor, not the shot. Ball don't lie, Rasheed. Of course, Davis comes down and clanks two for the Heels too.
10:39pm: Tied at 45-45, eight-minute media timeout. Hokies are up on State 59-42 at the same point in the game. Beating State has not come easy for VT, so this would count as a decent win if only to get the monkey off their back.
10:44pm: "Grab a freakin' rebound Ed, %@&$#%^@"
10:45pm: The question now for the Tar Heels is who is going to make a play...cue Will Graves. We NEED you Will.
10:46pm: 54-48 Duke. Get out the fork...
10:54pm: and stick it in, we're done. Scheyer nails a contested three-pointer and a miss from Graves on a terrible shot. 59-50.
10:55pm: The "we're done" is not only for tonight, but for the season. Barring a miraculous turnaround and/or a run of four (yes, four) victories in the ACC Tournament, the Heels will miss the NCAA Tournament this year and are well on their way to missing post-season play all together. I really don't know if they will finish at .500 or above. It will be interesting to see how the team responds to being 2-7 and losing tonight in the only real chance to put a shot in the team's collective arm. Marcus played his ass off tonight, Larry & Will had their moments, and Henson was long...but it is just not enough.
Congratulations to Duke on a gutty win in a game in which they shot horribly. The Devils did a great job crashing the glass and were flat out tougher than the Heels, which has not been the case in recent years. I don't really think Duke is very good because they still struggle to control quick guards and get no point production down low (except when they're killing us on the glass and tipping the ball back in).
Carolina meanwhile continues to struggle late in games when the other teams tightens the screws defensively. It is like a collective panic ensues, shots are rushed, and no one is capable of stepping up and hitting the big shots when we absolutely need them. This season will not end pretty the way things are progressing right now.I agree with what Roy said about this team not playing hard enough, which just totally blows my mind. That characteristic, maybe more than the record and losing, is why the 2009-2010 Tar Heels are a total disappointment as of early February.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Dook vs Carolina Live Rundown 1st Half
It is 9:00pm and that means gametime is upon us. The Blue Team presents a Live Rundown full of intensity and passion: it's Duke vs Carolina.
9:00pm: UCONN at Syrcuse is bringing us a good finish that the Huskies just managed to screw up. A bad three-pointer and inability to stop the long pass over the top robs UCONN of an upset on the road at the Carrier Dome.
9:01pm: We've got Tim Brando and Smilin' Dan Bonner bringing us the action tonight from Chapel Hill. It could be worse. We are at least spared Vitale screaming all night about whatever he screams about. I just hear loud noise with him now. It all sounds the same.
9:03pm: #50 goes into the rafters tonight, last time anyone will don these digits. Shockingly it will read "Hansbrough" instead of "Bersticker".
9:07pm: Tip-off time. Go Heels.
9:07pm: Hess, Jones, & Ayers - good officiating crew in Chapel Hill.
9:08pm: I just realized the Virginia Tech vs NC State game has started. I doubt I focus on it too much tonight, but go Hokies nonetheless.
9:09: Duke is deflecting the ball left and right. Awesome. But Ed Davis dunks to put up the first points tonight for the Heels. 2-0 lead...stop the game now.
9:11pm: The 2-3 zone on the baseline out-of-bounds plays yields a Singler three-pointer. Heels have got to find another way to defense the in-bounds play, this is not working anymore.
9:14pm: 9-4 Duke at the first media timeout. I am rattled by this "type and watch the game" thing already. The Hokies are up 10-4 and I have no idea how anyone has scored. I do know that Ted Valentine is officiating this game, which makes me relieved that he didn't end up about 30 miles down the road tonight.
9:16pm: Chewbek misses a bunny and I get to roll out the first Chewbacca roar of the evening. Always a crowd pleaser.
9:22pm: James McAdoo is behind the bench. James, graduate early and enroll at CH now. Like tomorrow morning. PJ Hairston, I now see you too. Likewise, just come on over to Carolina and suit up. As I type this, Dex clanks a free fro.
9:19pm: Liesl BBM's in to say that she found ESPNUnavailable on her DirecTV package.
9:23pm: Henson channeling Sam Perkins and blocking two shots! Quietly, it appears John may be trying to get off the short bus and graduate to playing real live college basketball.
9:25pm: Completely sick of "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" Gatorade commercial. It was maybe kinda sorta ok the first time...the hundreth? Not so much.
9:26pm: VT is 10-10 from the field and leads State 26-7. Carolina is not 10-10.
9:27pm: Will Graves' lack of defense is killing the Heels as Dan Bonner points out. But his three-pointer from Burlington is not. He has to go for 25 tonight to get Carolina some points and off-set all the ones he gives up. Seriously, we need a big game from Will to have a chance.
9:30pm: Holy Henson Batman. John narrowly misses a steal, comes all the way back for the board, which leads to a Drew II layup. Follows with a spike on the next possession. John! Welcome to the party son.
9:32pm: Tie game. Fist pump. 20-20 at the media timeout. Crowd is good thus far tonight. Way to show up for the Duke game folks. I sat through every game of 8-20, least ya'll students can do is pull a not-so-good team through a few games here. *gets off soapbox*
9:35pm: Hokies are still rolling. I'm not sure what Seth Greenberg will have to yell about at halftime. In other news, ESPN is showing the VT/State game on the mothership in all Raycome markets. This could really drop the Duke/Carolina ratings in the Triangle and in Virginia. Not that any of you care, but still.
9:37pm: I think we have 95 blocked shots thus far. "Duke is having trouble finishing around the rim"...not the first time some of the Dookies have heard that one.
9:40pm: Henson, Gumby, and Good Heavens all in the same sentence from Smilin' Dan. Eventually settles on "Mr. Gadget" to describe Henson. Good heavens indeed.
9:41pm: Marcus Ginyard battles for a loose ball and saves a possession. Get up off that game haters. He'd die for this team to be good. Finishes the possession with a dunk to give the Heels their first lead since 2-0, 24-23 at the four minute timeout.
9:44pm: Float like a butterfly...
9:45pm: I think they should remake that commercial with pictures of Tiger Woods "stinging like a bee". Now THAT would make me buy Gatorade.
9:48pm: II misses a three which Deon rebounds clean. He manages to dribble, gets tied up briefly, and loses the ball cleanly to three Devils without ever diving on the floor. That is why, talented as he may be, Thompson has the reputation for PLAP.
9:50pm: Scheyer miss, scramble, three guys on the floor, scramble some more, Drew controls....and one, bitch.
9:51pm: 28-27 Duke at the half. I feel like we won the National Championship again. Ok not really. But the first half was just as ugly as Carolina needs to make this entire game in order to have a chance to win. This team ain't winning pretty (or at all recently), so they've got to learn to grind games out and do it on the glass and defensive end. Duke shot about 30% the first half I bet, including some open misses, which cannot be expected the rest of the night. The Heels have got to keep the intensity up and make some shots to win this one.
9:00pm: UCONN at Syrcuse is bringing us a good finish that the Huskies just managed to screw up. A bad three-pointer and inability to stop the long pass over the top robs UCONN of an upset on the road at the Carrier Dome.
9:01pm: We've got Tim Brando and Smilin' Dan Bonner bringing us the action tonight from Chapel Hill. It could be worse. We are at least spared Vitale screaming all night about whatever he screams about. I just hear loud noise with him now. It all sounds the same.
9:03pm: #50 goes into the rafters tonight, last time anyone will don these digits. Shockingly it will read "Hansbrough" instead of "Bersticker".
9:07pm: Tip-off time. Go Heels.
9:07pm: Hess, Jones, & Ayers - good officiating crew in Chapel Hill.
9:08pm: I just realized the Virginia Tech vs NC State game has started. I doubt I focus on it too much tonight, but go Hokies nonetheless.
9:09: Duke is deflecting the ball left and right. Awesome. But Ed Davis dunks to put up the first points tonight for the Heels. 2-0 lead...stop the game now.
9:11pm: The 2-3 zone on the baseline out-of-bounds plays yields a Singler three-pointer. Heels have got to find another way to defense the in-bounds play, this is not working anymore.
9:14pm: 9-4 Duke at the first media timeout. I am rattled by this "type and watch the game" thing already. The Hokies are up 10-4 and I have no idea how anyone has scored. I do know that Ted Valentine is officiating this game, which makes me relieved that he didn't end up about 30 miles down the road tonight.
9:16pm: Chewbek misses a bunny and I get to roll out the first Chewbacca roar of the evening. Always a crowd pleaser.
9:22pm: James McAdoo is behind the bench. James, graduate early and enroll at CH now. Like tomorrow morning. PJ Hairston, I now see you too. Likewise, just come on over to Carolina and suit up. As I type this, Dex clanks a free fro.
9:19pm: Liesl BBM's in to say that she found ESPNUnavailable on her DirecTV package.
9:23pm: Henson channeling Sam Perkins and blocking two shots! Quietly, it appears John may be trying to get off the short bus and graduate to playing real live college basketball.
9:25pm: Completely sick of "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" Gatorade commercial. It was maybe kinda sorta ok the first time...the hundreth? Not so much.
9:26pm: VT is 10-10 from the field and leads State 26-7. Carolina is not 10-10.
9:27pm: Will Graves' lack of defense is killing the Heels as Dan Bonner points out. But his three-pointer from Burlington is not. He has to go for 25 tonight to get Carolina some points and off-set all the ones he gives up. Seriously, we need a big game from Will to have a chance.
9:30pm: Holy Henson Batman. John narrowly misses a steal, comes all the way back for the board, which leads to a Drew II layup. Follows with a spike on the next possession. John! Welcome to the party son.
9:32pm: Tie game. Fist pump. 20-20 at the media timeout. Crowd is good thus far tonight. Way to show up for the Duke game folks. I sat through every game of 8-20, least ya'll students can do is pull a not-so-good team through a few games here. *gets off soapbox*
9:35pm: Hokies are still rolling. I'm not sure what Seth Greenberg will have to yell about at halftime. In other news, ESPN is showing the VT/State game on the mothership in all Raycome markets. This could really drop the Duke/Carolina ratings in the Triangle and in Virginia. Not that any of you care, but still.
9:37pm: I think we have 95 blocked shots thus far. "Duke is having trouble finishing around the rim"...not the first time some of the Dookies have heard that one.
9:40pm: Henson, Gumby, and Good Heavens all in the same sentence from Smilin' Dan. Eventually settles on "Mr. Gadget" to describe Henson. Good heavens indeed.
9:41pm: Marcus Ginyard battles for a loose ball and saves a possession. Get up off that game haters. He'd die for this team to be good. Finishes the possession with a dunk to give the Heels their first lead since 2-0, 24-23 at the four minute timeout.
9:44pm: Float like a butterfly...
9:45pm: I think they should remake that commercial with pictures of Tiger Woods "stinging like a bee". Now THAT would make me buy Gatorade.
9:48pm: II misses a three which Deon rebounds clean. He manages to dribble, gets tied up briefly, and loses the ball cleanly to three Devils without ever diving on the floor. That is why, talented as he may be, Thompson has the reputation for PLAP.
9:50pm: Scheyer miss, scramble, three guys on the floor, scramble some more, Drew controls....and one, bitch.
9:51pm: 28-27 Duke at the half. I feel like we won the National Championship again. Ok not really. But the first half was just as ugly as Carolina needs to make this entire game in order to have a chance to win. This team ain't winning pretty (or at all recently), so they've got to learn to grind games out and do it on the glass and defensive end. Duke shot about 30% the first half I bet, including some open misses, which cannot be expected the rest of the night. The Heels have got to keep the intensity up and make some shots to win this one.
Blue vs Blue Live Rundown Upcoming
I don't expect much from tonight's battle of the blues, so I think I can type and think while also watching the game. Thus, we're going for a Blue Team Live Rundown tonight, as Carolina vs Dook is also joined by Virginia Tech vs NC State. I don't recall ever publishing a rundown during a Tar Heels game, so this will be a first. Could be a last too. And if you think I'm striving for a Bill Simmons special reverse jinx, you dang right.
Prediction: Dook 83 UNC 69
Prediction: Dook 83 UNC 69
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)