Merry Bracket Christmas: Revised

Slight revisions for the final edition of this year's prognosticated bracket. First, Mississippi St did end up winning the SEC Tournament, meaning the cowbell-ringing Bulldogs will be in the Big Dance. That means that someone had to go from the Field of 65, and I finally settled on excommunicating St. Mary's. Which really sucks, by the way. San Diego St. stays in, joining Minnesota, Maryland, and Wisconsin as my last four in. St. Mary's, Arizona, Creighton, and Penn St are the final four out.

I also exchanged Wisconin and Michigan within the bracket. While Michigan might not have been the ideal team to bump up so far on the S-curve, it was easier given their conference affiliation. With only half an hour before the selection show, moving one team could have forced a number of switches because of the high number of Big Ten teams between seeds eight and eleven. I left Ohio St where they were, as I had already bumped them this week from a ten-seed to an eight-seed given their run to the Big Ten tournament finals and win over Michigan St.

We'll see how this turns out. I reckon I'll have a few major mistakes, but oh well. It is fun either way. Holla holla.

Merry Bracket Christmas

In less than twenty four hours, we will not have to hear the term "bubble" for a solid eleven months. The brackets will be out and, after a couple hours of hearing every "expert" tell us who got screwed and left out of the tournament that should have gotten in, we can just sit back and dissect the actual road to the Final Four. Sadly, we will not get to sit through the annual Billy Packer/Jim Nantz attack on the tournament committee chairperson. I'll really miss that actually, highly entertaining.

Anyway, as many of you are well aware, I've been sitting around predicting the tournament field for the last six or seven years. It started out in college as a good way to stay awake in class from late-January through the tournament selection show and has evolved into a less-complicated-but-more-efficient Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Last year, The Blue Team hit home 63/65 teams, which is really an average performance. That dastardly Joe Lunardi nailed the entire field. Screw him and the horse he rode in on.

2009 is a new year though, and I'm here striving for perfection. Keep in mind that the bubble has shrunk considerably in recent days, thanks to Cleveland St, Temple, & Southern Cal winning their conference tournaments. Each of these teams "stole" a bid, and Mississippi St remains to try and do so on Sunday. As of now, here are your last eight teams according to seed who are at-large squads in the tournmament: St. Mary's, San Diego St, Minnesota, Maryland, Dayton, Michigan, Texas A&M, Oklahoma St., and those are listed from the bottom up. I have the "out" teams as Arizona, Creighton, Penn St, Providence, Auburn, New Mexico, Florida, listed from the bubble down.

Simple math would show that if Mississippi St wins the SEC Tournament, they will take St. Mary's bid away. However, I am still hedging on St. Mary's vs San Diego St vs Arizona. I've seen the Wildcats a bunch of times and I know they have the most talent of those three; the question, though, is do they have the best resume? I think San Diego St is solid, but I am also hesitant due to Arizona's head-to-head victory over San Diego St. Past history has shown us that does not really play a factor with the committee. As you may recall, last year, Arizona benefitted from this scenario, as they had lost two games to Arizona St, yet made the field of 65 just ahead of the disappointed Sun Devils.

Without really delving into the why's and why not's of things, let's just look at The Blue Team's Field of 65:

I am still waiting on a few automatic bids as I type this, so apologies for having to fill in a league instead of a team. Please note, again, that this bracket assumes Mississippi St does not win the SEC title on Sunday. Adjustments will be made prior to the Selection Show, which is a 6pm Sunday evening.

The briefest explanation possible for what you may be thinking: yes, three Big East teams as one-seeds. I am not convinced the committee will do it, but UCONN has better wins than Memphis, period. Strangely, they both played Syracuse and Georgetown: UCONN split with Syracuse but lost to Georgetown while Memphis lost to both. I really think UCONN has better numbers than the Tigers. Either way, I assume the two teams will be sent out west and will be the number four and five overall seeds based on the S-curve. For my bracket, I assumed the regions as East, Midwest, South, West in that order.

As a brief aside, my official Five to Thrive will be written this week as part of the tournament preview. The teams I selected two weeks ago: Louisville (not sure they count anymore), Florida St, Tennessee, Purdue, VCU. Three of these teams have already gotten kind of hot, so I guess the cat is out of the bag there. Oh well, that's what I get for being lazy and not writing.

Finally, I would like to point out that I selected the 65 teams at my house this evening. However, I put my bracket together, seeding the teams and placing them in their regions, at Big Al's, a bar in Blacksburg. So yes, I sat at a high-top table with a Diet Coke and scibbled on a piece of paper while my friends played mini-Shuffleboard and downed pitchers of beer, keeping an eye on Louisville's dominate performance. I am not sure if that is dedication or nerdiness, but either way, that's how it went down yo.

Merriest of Bracket Days to everyone. Enjoy the last few conference tournament finals and get ready for a fun three weeks of madness. Everybody dance now...

Let Every Heel Chill

Carolina lost to Florida St in the ACC Tournament Semi-Finals...and it's ok. Come on, say it aloud: it's ok. Now rinse, repeat. And again. There, you feel better?

The goal is to win every game; I understand that. But, the big picture goal is to win your last six games, cut down nets, and cry your way through "One Shining Moment". So get healthy, Ty Lawson. Remember that the ball can actually go IN the basket, Danny Green. And Roy, learning to make that "T" sign with two hands would indeed be nice (for a demonstration, please see Webber, Chris, circa 1993). Win your last six, and you get this:


After two hard-fought, emotional games in this tournament, a third matchup with Duke or forty minutes against a fired-up Maryland team could potentially do more harm than good. Remember, these guys, save the freshmen, have all won the ACC Tournament before (most of them twice). Winning it sure is fun, but getting out of the ACC Cocktail Party with your health and a high seed are more important THIS YEAR. For the record, I advocate playing hard in every game and trying to win this historic event with everything you've got. But, for THIS TEAM, a National Title is the ultimate goal. They've gone to Atlanta, played two gritty games, and hopefully learned what needs to be worked on this week.

We'll analyze this team more in-depth this week. For now, I've got to complete my bracket prognostication and type it out on this blog. I leave you with a quote that sent me into three minutes of giggles and singing. Courtesy of Tim Brant, who announced today's game for Raycom with Mike Gminski: "There's a lot of bumpin' and grindin' going on (in the lane) down there".

You dang right, Tim Brant: there ain't nothin' wrong with a little bump and grind.

Score One for the Good Guys

Last week, The Blue Team took a break from the norm and journeyed to the depths of hell to analyze Coach K and his Evil Empire, the Duke Blue Devils. Now, after a longer-than-anticipated delay (sorry Kev), let's summarize Roy and the Boys' equally successful trip to Blacksburg. For the sake of brevity...

• An early arrival with tarheelpwin in tow. Woody and the Tar Heel Sports Network team are all in place. First Erin Andrews sighting, along with your favorite Dookie and mine, Jay Bilas. Erin > Jay.
• Tyler Hansbrough is famous for an extensive pre-game stretching routine. However, on this night, he nearly lost his life when he decided to lay outside the Carolina locker room for said stretching routine. A wayward employee was walking to the press room, turned around to glance back at Danny Green, and almost fell over a sprawled-out Psycho T. Lucky for Tyler, I'm quick like a cat and avoided him.
• Unlike Duke, Carolina does no such crazy tandem stretching or military-like pregame routine. Each player is focused in his own world for the most part. William Graves did manage to swish three straight baseline three-pointers standing about two feet out of bounds on the right side of the basket. I guess that's his spot...too bad it is indeed out of bounds and thus, useless in a game.
• JB Tanner is known within the Tar Heels community for his pre-game shooting displays, but it is really sick in person. The kid just rains three ball after three ball, none as much as touching the rim.
• The mosh pit in the hallway is hype. I did not make it to the Smith Center this year to see it on the videoboard, but it is still fun.
• It is fun to hear everyone boo the Heels on the road. They do not look tight at all, a good sign early.
• One thing that is in stark contrast to Duke is the size of the Carolina players. Everyone on this team is filled out and cut. Frasor is much thicker in person than I remember two years ago and Ty Lawson's calves are the size of my quads (not saying much, but still). What is odd is that Hansbrough is not beefy looking at all, very trim; however, his core strength was only display multiple times on this night as he powered through the Hokies defense.
• During the game itself, the Carolina bench is very much into the game. Pointing on assists, cheering on defensive effort, checking out dancers...
• Contrary to popular perception, Coach Williams may engage the officials as much or more than Coach K. Roy is similar in that he does not typically just scream at them, instead choosing to have one-on-one heated discussions. Maybe it is just because of their reputations and place among the nation's great coaches, but it does seem to me that both Coach K and Coach Roy are given the chance for interaction with officials more so than others. Of course, there are some coaches who just scream and yell and stomp and kick just to put on a show...not naming any names.
• Ed Davis is phenomenal. In this game, he probably made at least five plays that will not show up in a stat sheet, but made a difference for the Heels: a tipped ball here, an altered-shot there. He is athletic, but not out-of-this-world. However, he is definitely a coach's kid, as evidenced by his seemingly innate ability to make smart basketball plays and his understanding of the game. Love this guy.
• Tyler Zeller did not play a great deal, and frankly looked rough in his brief stint. However, he is definitely a legit 7-0 and is fast from end to end. Once he gets back into the flow of the game and slides his feet better, I think he can log some good minutes.
• From our courtside table, I have a wonderful vantage point for checking out the visiting team's shoes. The Heels are well-stocked with Air Jordans, my personal brand of choice. Quite partial to Bobby Frasor and Tyler Zeller's choice of the Team Jordans with the interlocking "NC" on the outer heel.
• After a scrum early in the second half, Davis grabbed an offensive rebound, gathered it in, and rose for a tremendous two-hand stuff. In his excitement, one of the Blue Teamers threw his gum in the air over his shoulder. It landed behind the bench on the front row of the Carolina seats, much to the amusement/dismay of the fans there.
• Speaking of which, one of the Carolina fans was an African-American gentleman roughly the size of my house. Seriously, this guy was easily 6-3, 300 muscular pounds and stood cheering after every made basket. Very nice guy, though I do not know which player(s) he belonged to. Maybe a father, maybe an uncle, not sure.
• Though this game was close off and on, it never felt like the Hokies had a chance to turn the corner. Carolina got in the lane (specifically Ty Lawson) at will, whereas VT had to work like crazy for everything they got. In the end, the Heels are just more talented and were able to win playing at about 85% focus/effort. I don't particularly have a problem with that honestly, as long as they recognize that the time to play at 100% focus/effort begins on March 19th.
• After the game, I made my way to the media room to listen to Coach Williams. I was joined by Dick Baddour, the athletics director at Carolina, who sat drinking Gatorade while Roy talked about how fortunate we were to win, etc. Roy was very calm and poised after the game, even taking the time to share a joke with Baddour and SID Steve Kirschner. How refreshing.

Though there are differences in how they approach things, both Duke and Carolina are highly successful programs. This level of success just serves as further motivation for the both program, each pushing the other along. It was fun to see both of them in person, especially one after the other. Of course, it was also fun to watch them battle it out last Sunday and prove just which blue is better. Duuuuh.

General thoughts on college hoops & my bracket prognostication are coming this weekend. Next week, we'll have picks, a Five to Thrive, and the steps Carolina has to take in order to secure a national championship. Until then...happy 311 Day.

Analysis of the Evil Empire

One of the many perks of working for ISP here at Virginia Tech is the chance to sit courtside for a minimum of eight ACC men's basketball contests per season. After an internship at Carolina, a season of hoops at Clemson, and three here at VT, it is almost odd watching a game from anywhere else; less stressful, yes, but not quite as good a vantage point. Besides not having to worry about a 6-6 guy standing in front of you or a sorority girl screaming at the wrong time behind you, an All-Access pass allows you to see and hear things not many are priviledged to; sometimes, it also leads to a 6-6 guy tumbling over the table into your lap, but that's another story. Anyway, it is easy to get a read on how focused a team is watching the pre-game warm-ups and "get hype" mosh pit in the tunnels. It is always entertaining to hear the coaches during the game. And finally, it is fun to see a team celebrate a big win or tough to watch them grieve a heart-breaking defeat.


On Saturday, Coach K and the 2008-2009 version of the Duke Blue Devils rolled into town for a matchup with the Hokies, a nationally televised contest and a shot for VT to make a move off the NCAA Tournament bubble in the positive direction. This Wednesday night, Carolina comes calling, extending the same opportunity to Seth Greenberg's squad. I thought that the rare chance to see two programs of such stature would be a good way to compare and contrast them. Here are my thoughts and observations of the Duke Blue Devils, up close and personal:

• Saturday started for Team Duke around 1:30pm when the team bus arrived at Cassell Coliseum. The Dookies were off the bus and out to shoot around early, each player loosening up at his own pace after ankle tapings and such. All of the players were dressed exactly the same: short-sleeved blue and white Nike Elite shooting shirts and black shooting pants. No one was in shorts or a different shirt or an extra layer of clothing. A reflection of Coach K's military training no doubt.
• I came back out from a Hokie Club function with 75 minutes on the pre-game countdown. Duke's players were just finishing their individual work. The team huddled for a brief moment, then lined up across the baseline. Paulus led the players as they walked baseline to endline and back, with jogging, high knees, shuffling, etc. Everyone then gathered (after Gerald Henderson slapped hands with every team member - he is definitely the leader here) in pairs to stretch each other out. I watched as each player went through seven or so different stretches, counting loudly in unison to ten or fifteen depending on the stretch. Another influence from the military days.
• The Blue Devils did not whoop it up in the locker room much before the game. Some synchronized clapping, then a short talk from what I could hear. They did circle up in the tunnel and mosh for ten seconds or so before running out to a chorus of boos. Nothing fancy, no craziness...just focus and confidence. LOTS of confidence.
• Nolan Smith sat on the bench in a team jumpsuit with earplugs to alleviate the pain that the noise of the fans could cause post-concussion.
• Coach K, in the early part of his career, was known for really screaming at the officials. However, following two decades of excellence, he has earned the ability to just plead his case with a few quick words. It is quite rare nowadays to see him fly off the handle and just go balistic about a call. There are other coaches in the ACC that I cannot say the same for...not naming any names of course. One call on a ball out-of-bounds did not go his way and all he said to official Bob Donato was "that's impossible", meaning the ball could not possibly have gone off his player and landed over the inline. And, he was right. Of course, he can still go off at any given moment like he did during a timeout late in the second half. K actually picked up a chair off the bench like he was about to throw it or break it due to his frustration with his team's ability to stop the ball.
• Assistant coaches Steve Wojohousekey (sic) and Chris Collins catch a lot of flack from opposing fans (two careers of filling the "annoying white guy on Duke" role will do that for you), but there are likely not two more intense assistants in the ACC. Wojo was out early watching the players closely during pre-game and had a couple of pep talks with inidividuals during the game. Collins, who looks more like his father, Doug Collins, everyday, worked the officials on behalf of Coach K a few times. Included in this was an incorrect protest of not allowing substitutions to enter the game, to which he admitted his mistake with a "my bad, I messed up".
• Chris Carrawell and Nate James, both on the Blue Devils' staff now following Johnny Dawkins leaving for the head gig at Stanford (I am actually typing this in a Stanford shirt and shorts...thanks), could both suit up and play right now. James worked a good bit in pre-game with the guys on the floor, as a post-up defender, passer, and rebounder. Carrawell, a grad assistant, observed intently from the sideline most of the afternoon.
• Yes, the entire army of goons travels with Duke on the road, or at least it seems like it. Duke added five additional chairs to the end of their bench (leaving one manager nearly sitting on our table courtside), plus had three folks behind the bench in charge of the coolers and towels. Not to mention four more of the traveling party who sat in the first row behind the bench.
• Speaking of, there was a particularly attractive Dukette on the second row of the Blue Devils' seat. Blond, athletic, and not obnoxious from what I saw. So yes, they do exist. Who knew?
• As for the players themselves, I was surprised at how small the Blue Devils are. Yes, we all know they do not have much height on their frontline, but none of their guys are bulky either. Singler must be incredibly strong in his core and legs to bang in the post as much as he does, because it sure is not obvious on the rest of him. Scheyer looks like a marathoner more than a basketball player (and a douchebag more than a marathoner...oops, sorry). This is in stark contrast to a team like Georgia Tech, which has the thickest frontline players I've ever seen. Too bad only one of them has a lick of basketball skills (that will change next year when Derrick Favors pairs with Lawal - oh my).
• When I say Duke has no height, I mean none except for Brian Zoubek. Chewbek, as I have called him for three years now, is a giant. When Neil Fingleton and his 7-6 British mullet patrolled the grounds at UNC my freshman year, people gawked at him. Chewy got a similar reception from the Virginia Tech fans on Saturday. He's not much better than Fingleton, but I did have a friend who thought Fingleton would play in the NBA. Gotta love Jarhead. By the way, click on the Fingleton link, it's worth five minutes at least.
• Gerald Henderson is on another level as an athlete, but he is still a bit streaky. VT really clamped down on him in the second half, playing him with one-and-a-half defenders (allowing Singler to kill them...awesome). Henderson had three dunks and a block that were nuts, including a Stackhouse-esque reverse on the baseline that made me jump out of my seat (way to stay professional, I know).
• VT students chanted "T-bag Paulus" every time he entered the game and serenaded Singler with "you're a p****". Hokies Respect!
• I am not at all one to whine and complain about officiating, and I am not about to right now. I will acknowledge that Duke "gets" a lot of calls, especially in the block/charge department. There were nine (I think) offensive fouls called on the Hokies, including six charges to just one block. This has to do with two factors that stem from Coach K's defensive philosophy. First, Duke rotates on defense better than any team in the ACC, year in and year out. Second, they sell the charge and are willing to step in to take it. Every. Single. Player. Tough, smart, and solid gamesmanship. Do I think all of those calls were right? I'd say the odds are no. But, you have to give the Devils credit for their efficiency on the defensive end.

All in all, I was very impressed with Duke. They are organized, team-oriented, and a group with one singular focus: winning games. This is not a national title team this year, probably not a Final Four team either. But, watching the way Coach K runs his ship and the way the players and coaches respond is really cool. Remember, Darth Vader had some good qualities too and made Luke Skywalker that much better, just as Duke serves this purpose for North Carolina. But also remember who's the Dark Side and which side wins out in the end.

More from the lighter and brighter shade of blue after Wednesday night's game. Hopefully we'll have a chance to analyze the college basketball landscape soon before the end of the regular season, and I promise a look at the Tar Heels as it relates to the big picture and their title hopes before the Big Dance. It's back to sports, specifically college hoops, here at The Blue Team for the next month plus. March Madness is finally upon us and it's going to be one heck of a fun ride.

Bench Press, Pull-ups, and Pat Benatar

Two consecutive posts that have nothing to do with sports...this has to be some kind of record. Today's topic: Soft Rock Hell.

I am a member of New Tech Fitness here in Blacksburg, VA. It is best described as a local gym where you see more or less the same folks every time you work out. The kind of place you assign nicknames to people you don't know and, once you do meet them, learn what their actual nickname is and call them by it. From "Cheeseburger" to "Tank", they're all regulars. Another thing you can count on in a gym like this is controversy over little things. For instance, the weight room was just re-arranged, quite well I thought, but some people had to get all upset over it. The musical selection has been a long-standing issue. We've gone from satelite radio to internet radio to local radio and back, classic rock to alternative rock to techno. But never have we entered Soft Rock Hell...until Tuesday.

I arrived at the gym to find the radio tuned to local station Q99 out of Roanoke, VA. As I changed in the locker room, "Borderline" by Madonna came blaring through the speakers. At this point, I thought it was kind of funny - I had my ipod, so no worries on the music. I finished changing, grabbed my ipod, and headed to my workout. On my way, I paused at the front desk and made the comment to my friend working behind said desk that playing Q99 is the kind of thing that will make people cancel their membership, or at least make sure they never forget their ipod. We laughed and I went on downstairs to prepare for chest and back. I smiled as the voiceover came on the radio: we play the best hits of the 80s, 90s, and today, from Elton John to The Eagles to Nickelback, here on Q99!. "Thank God for my ipod," I thought to myself as I slid the headphones through my shirt. And then...nothing happened.

My headphones went dead. Not like I-might-need-new-headphones dead, but like you've-got-to-be-kidding-me-these-things-are-completely-dead dead. I frantically took them out, put them in...tried it again...nothing. For the first time in the three years I've been at New Tech Fitness, they are playing soft rock on the radio...and I've got dead headphones. So here I was, trying to super-set chest and back in Soft Rock Hell.

I went about my workout following a couple of choice words muttered under my breath. Flat bench and pull-ups to John Mellencamp and Kelly Clarkson, incline bench and seated cable rows to Jimmy Buffet and Cyndi Lauper, weighted dips with Mariah Carey. Let me be the first to tell you, there's nothing like some good Mariah Carey. But listening to "Hero" while you try to push yourself up on the fourth set of dips is not encouraging. Duncan Shiek, John Mayer, Pat Benetar, Carrie Underwood, and The Eagles (they did promise) rolled me along through most of the remainder of the workout.

At this point, I should tell you that there were two problems. First, of course, were the songs themselves. Second though, is that I will sing along to almost anything. Somehow, over the course of my 26+ years on this earth, I have learned many of these songs despite never listening to Lite 102.9 during my youth in Mint Hill, NC. But, between trips to the dentist and doctor, long rides on elevators, and being stuck in the car with my mom and aunts, I've learned the lyrics to these songs. But it's not just me. I can remember a couple of nights in college that Rhino and I sat there rolling on the floor in laughter listening to Delilah and singing along to these crappy songs. Somehow two hicks from Mint Hill learned this crap, it's ingrained in all of us, slowly killing our masculinity. Anyway, so there I sat between sets on the incline hammer strength machine mumbling the words..."fathers be good to your daughters, and daughters will love like you do..."

Finally, "Follow Me" by Uncle Kracker came on and I nearly went over the edge. My last exercise, chest flys on the pec deck, and I am subjected to one of my least favorite songs ever. "This could not get any worse," I thought to myself.

Then, suddenly, an angel came and rescued me from Soft Rock Hell. The station changed! I had been forgiven for my musical sins and extended a second-chance on this day at the gym. We were switched over to 105.3 The Bear for some new rock. Then, to my dismay, my angel turned out to be a product of Satan himself. Why? Because as soon as we switched to 105.3, a new song came on.

"Something in Your Mouth" by...Nickelback. My all-time least favorite band. It was then and there that I decided this workout session belonged on FMyLife.

Needless to say, I am making the trip to nearby Christiansburg for a new set of headphones prior to the next workout. And, should I ever be without my ipod again, I will never, ever remain at the gym for another day of Soft Rock Hell.

Follow me everything is alright...

Baby Addi Got Back

There are not many topics that lead The Blue Team astray from the basic topics of this blog: sports, music, pop culture, and the occasional politics. But today? Babies. Because sometimes God does something so insanely magnificant that it just has to be shared.

My cousin Lindsey and her husband Jason had a baby girl last week. Addison Charlotte High was born on Tuesday, February 17th (Michael Jordan's birthday, which is why I took that date in the baby pool. Somehow my Mom mis-reported my selection and I did not receive credit, but whatever) and weighed in at 7 lbs, 7 ounces. Doctors feared some health issues prior to the birth, but she came into this world just as healthy as she could be. My cousins (Lindsey, Whitney, and Caroline) and I are all very, very close; thus, baby Addi is just about the coolest thing we've ever seen. Plus, she has really energized all of our parents.

I personally have not spent much time around wee little children, so I am very much learning on the fly how to interact. However, I felt it necessary to share this little bit of personal life because I just think it is another example of how amazing God is. I do not really understand where babies come from on the scientific side, but I can assure you this: they come from the heart of God. We all do. We just fall dead to our own sin and fail to remember this fact as we become corrupted by the world. But every so often, we get a sweet and real reminder about who God is when a newborn enters this world.

We've all been praying for Addison for months, but just because it was God's will for her to be healthy do not mean that the prayers cease. On the contrary, our prayers as a family must multiply, for she is now surrounded by sin in this world. Her innocence is no more, so our prayer is for God's continued protection of her soul. I cannot wait until she learns about Christ and asks Him into her heart, for that rebirth will be the most important day of her life. But for now, we just pray for her and love her as much as we can. Don't get me wrong here - she is not my child, so I have no idea the depth of the love Lindsey and Jason have for her right now. But, I think she is so awesome and I'm really excited to see our family grow.

Ok, onto pictures. I'm sure these will make it to facebook at some point (some already have - thanks Whit). Yeah, I'm totally obsessed/stoked/awed.

Her debut shot reminds me of Simba in "The Lion King"

She's an Earnhardt fan I think

First time in a Carolina hat and she loves it

Teaching Addi "Rah-Rah Carolina"...seriously

Addi's first "look"

Are you stinkin' kidding me?

Welcome to the world, Addison Charlotte High. God's love is in the house.

4-0

Thanks in large part to Tywon Lawson's second half and the poise of experince, the Boys in Baby Blue managed to make it four straight victories at Cameron Indoor Stadium with a 101-87 win. There are a few things to take away from this game as it relates to the big picture:

1) Anyone who tries to run with Carolina will eventually get run out (of the gym). There was not a great deal of consternation in my recliner at halftime (which lasted 17 seconds thanks to my DVR) because Duke was more than willing to try and run. Possessions were rushed and shots were flying quickly, and not always from the right player/spot on the court for Coach K's squad. Though Duke played more guys, the Devils seemed to tire out more quickly than Carolina. I don't think that is the only reason for missed jump shots, but it certainly plays a factor.

2) 15 points. That's what is needed from the bench. The total output of Frasor, Drew II, Davis, and Copeland needs to be approximately 15 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, a couple blocks (thanks Ed), great defense and minimal turnovers. Wednesday night saw 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, a block, good defense and 3 turnovers. Very close across the board. Depth is not as important in college basketball except to combat injuries and foul trouble. I hope the Heels are done with injuries, but foul trouble is sure to come at some point. Regardless, the depth that this team does have should be counted on for these types of numbers moving forward. Chalk that up as another reason for victory.

3) Carolina = W when Ty Lawson > Point Guards X, Y, Z. Prior to the UVA game in Charlottesville, coming off two straight league losses, a friend in Blacksburg inquired about the struggles of "my boys". I told him that Carolina will go as far as Ty Lawson takes us. When asked about the game prior to Wednesday night, I said "I feel like we go as far as Ty Lawson carries us". In the two losses thus far, Lawson was badly outplayed by Rice and Teague. For Carolina to achieve its goal of an NCAA Tournament Championship, Lawson will have to be at his best against the best point guards. Any team without a great point guard really does not stand much of a chance. Which brings me to Duke...

4) Duke cannot win a title with a mediocore point guard. College basketball is dominated by point guard play. They control the tempo, distribute the ball, and run rampant in the lane. Duke has not had a great point guard since Chris Duhon. The team has failed to make the Final Four since 2004, when their point guard was...Chris Duhon. Coincidence? Much is made of the Devils' lack of a great big man, and for good reason. A good center scores you easy buckets in the lane and rebounds the ball, securing important possessions. But a great point guard can dominate a game (see Lawson, Ty) and Duke has not had the luxury of one in five years.

5) The secret is back out I'm afraid. Carolina had sort of sunk under the radar for a while, toiling behind other teams who notched the number one ranking, both nationally and in the league. Now alone at 8-2 on top of the ACC standings, the Heels are back to having a huge bullseye on their backs and plenty of sweet musings in their ears. Dealing with the expectations was tough back in January and it will only get worse as this season rolls on. Even though fans have been encouraged to Enjoy the Ride, the media will have none of it. I personally have no problem with this team putting it on cruise control at times as long as they understand what it will take to win those last six games. Hopefully they will continue to get better defensively and get their minds right for what is sure to be a pressure-packed final six weeks.

While last night may not go down in Carolina/Duke lore as one of the all-timers, it was certainly a highly-competitive game, well-played, well-coached, and well-officiated. Everyone brought their A-game. For now at least, Carolina's A-game is better than Duke's. We'll see what happens when the rivalry renews on what is sure to be an emotional evening in Chapel Hill on March 7th Until then, I've still got eight classic Carolina/Duke games on my DVR to get me through the days.

Rah Rah Caro-lina-lina...

Carolina > Dook: My Top Ten Games

Happy Beat Dook Week to fellow Tar Heels 'round the world. There is nothing more fun than the two regular season matchups between these two giants of the ACC and college basketball - the hype, the talent, the coaches, the fans, the trash talk, and, of course, the games. Many of you reading this are no doubt alumni of the lighter hue of blue and have lived through this rivalry as a student - count yourself fortunate. See, it is easy to forget that most people's perception of Carolina/Duke is far different than ours. Their perspective is that of an outsider - maybe an ACC fan, maybe not. Maybe they have a preference of one team versus the other, or maybe not. While I do think most fans of college hoops appreciate the rivalry for the players, coaches, and games, I highly doubt they understand the anticipation and hype that surrounds it.

I am a fan of Major League Baseball, specifically the Atlanta Braves. I love the history of the game and the atmosphere of a nerve-wrecking playoff pitcher's duel. But Yanks/Sox? Don't care. Hate them both, always have. I certainly do not understand the preferential coverage the rivalry receives and why I have to watch all 19 regular-season games on television (I actually watch only a few of those games, but they are always televised nationally). While college sports are definitely different from professional sports, I imagine that there are people out there who feel the same about Carolina/Duke that I feel about Yanks/Sox.


Blame ESPN, blame Dickie V and Billy Packer, blame the snotty, obnoxious fans of both schools, blame whoever you want for the overexposure of the rivalry. But, after you're done whining about it, watch the games and appreciate the energy and passion with which they are played. And call me following a classic contest to tell me about the chills you got after it was over.


So in honor of this rivalry, let's get nostalgic and count down The Blue Team's Top 10 Carolina/Duke Games. The criteria are pretty subjective - I have to have a positive memory of the game. This is my blog, I own it like Psycho T owns Paulus, so I chose MY Top 10. The only real criteria was that I made this list from 1990-present. While I vividly recall the intense 1989 ACC Tournament Final, most of our readers will not. And yes, we have all seen the 1984 home game on ESPN Classic (it was on Monday at 1pm, the DVR was set again this year), but we were not cognizant for it (I am, however, certain that I pooped my diaper after Matt Doherty hit the game-tying shot). So, without further adieu, I present to you:


The Blue Team's Top 10 (or so) Carolina/Duke Memories


Close-But-Not-Quite-Top-10 - 1990 Game at Duke (Duke was good, Carolina was not, yet the Heels swept the season series), 1996 game at Carolina (Calabria's shot for a 73-72 win, but neither team made it to the Sweet 16), 2000 game at Carolina (Forte sends it to OT, Heels lose 90-86), 2001 game at Duke (Haywood's free throws secure an 85-83 win), 2004 game at Carolina (Jawad Williams' 3 sends it to OT, McCants' 3 ties it late, but Duhon goes coast-to-coast to break the Tar Heels' hearts), 2007 game at Carolina (Henderson's overhead smash breaks Tyler's nose).


#10: 1991 ACC Tournament Final in Charlotte - #6 Carolina 96 #7 Duke 74. My first of 11 Carolina/Duke games in person ended with seniors King Rice, Pete Chilcutt, and tournament MVP Rick Fox cutting down the nets in Charlotte. This was the first time I got to see nets get cut down in person and I have since been obsessed. Both teams would make it to the Final Four three weeks later, with the Heels being upset by Kansas before Duke pulled off an unbelievable victory over undefeated UNLV, followed by beating KU in the finals for the Devils' first national title.


#9: 1994 game in Chapel Hill - #2 Carolina 89 #1 Duke 78. This game was also on as part of ESPN Classic's countdown this week. 1 vs 2 with a ton of hype in a matchup of the past three NCAA champions and an eye toward gaining the number one seed in the East Region. The talent in this game is off the charts for both sides, but all I can remember is the unbelievable performance by the Duke Team Barber. Seriously, Marty Clark, Cherokee Parks, and Chris Collins all three had ridiculous bowl cuts. Duke eventually lost in the national title game to Arkansas and the Heels...um...yeah...anyways.


#8: 1992 game in Chapel Hill - #9 Carolina 75 #1 Duke 73. The Montross Blood Game. An ugly defensive struggle in which Derrick Phelps hit two free throws for the final margin. As a nine year-old, I was ready to go GI Joe on every Dookie in sight. I was also up well past my bedtime no doubt. Duke avenged this defeat twiceover, including a blowout in the ACC Tournament final before my young eyes and eventually won its second consecutive national title. Man, that team was sick.


#7: 2002 ACC Tournament in Charlotte - #3 Duke 60 Carolina 48. What? A game the Heels lost? You bet. This was the last game of the 8-20 season under Matt Doherty. The Heels had been destroyed five days earlier at Cameron Indoor Stadium by the defending national champs and most expected a similar performance in the tournament quarterfinal. Instead, Coach Doherty used a stall tactic of milking every bit of the shot clock to limit the number of possessions. From the last row of the Charlotte Coliseum, we watched as the Heels hung in it for 36 minutes. An inopportune turnover dashed any hopes of an upset and, mercifully, the nightmare season ended. But, I distinctly remember discussing with the boys that one day soon, we'd be kicking Duke's butt again. It was the low of lows in my four-year college basketball journey.


#6: 2006 game in Durham - #23 Carolina 83 #2 Duke 76. Psycho T dropped 27 on the road and the Baby Heels pulled off a shocker on the Senior Day for JJ Redick and Shelden Williams. The win also spawned this from The Blue Team.

#5 2003 game in Chapel Hill - Carolina 82 #10 Duke 79. Matt Doherty's last regular-season home game turned into his first Battle Royal after a hard foul by Dahntay Jones on Raymond Felton. Coach Doherty and Duke assistant Chris Collins nearly came to blows, leading to Duke scrub Andre Buckner shoving Doherty and a melee. The Heels hit a ton of threes to combat the lack of a big man and Jones' halfcourt heave was a half-second too late. Carolina students rushed the court and I had to hold up a crying roommate. This was the first win over Duke at home for every four-year student in attendance. Shockingly, the seniors did not claim every available ticket for the game, leaving a small number the Monday morning after ticket distribution. Therefore, the suitemates and I camped out in the twenty-something degree night to claim our tickets, and I actually slept on the ticket window counter. We can each proudly say that we did not miss a Carolina/Duke home game in our four years at school thanks to this frozen adventure. We were also each able to bring our fathers to this game, which made the victory 100x more special. There is truly nothing like sitting on the last row of the Dean Dome and watching a victory like that with your Dad and your best friends. Nothing.

#4 1995 game in Durham - #2 North Carolina 102 Duke 100 (2OT). Coach K is missing from the Duke sideline and the Blue Devils had their version of an 8-20 season without him. On the other hand, the Heels featured Rasheed Wallace, Jerry Stackhouse, Jeff McInnis, and 1993 Final Four MOP Donald Williams on a team that would notch a one-seed in the NCAA Tournament and make the Final Four. Naturally, the Heels jumped out to a big lead, lost the lead, and ended up in overtime against a vastly overmatched Duke squad. After Serge Zwicker missed the front end of a one-and-one, Duke's Jeff Capel drove just past halfcourt and launched the most famous shot in this storied rivalry (at least from the Duke perspective - anyone else think 8 points in 17 seconds and Walter Davis' shot make this look average?) and Dickie V absolutely loses his mind. The Heels eventually won in the second overtime thanks to Jeff McInnis' heroics. Of course, this game also featured The Dunk. I mean, seriously. On a related note, enjoy these dunks as well. Thank you David and Danny.

#3 1998 series - Wow. Just a memorable three games by these two squads. First, the Tar Heels won a 1 vs 2 matchup in Chapel Hill 97-73. The hype prior to the game was off the charts, but the contest itself ended up becoming a route late in the second half. Antawn Jamison had 35 & 11 on 14-20 shooting, despite only touching the ball for like 34 seconds total. Duke won the rematch in Durham on the last day of the regular season 77-75 to earn a share of the league title. The Heels missed four free throws late that would have tied the ballgame. On a sidenote, I listened to this game on my Walkman, sharing an earbud with Erich on a camping trip on South Mountain. Somehow we did not get in trouble for disappearing for two hours or bringing an electronic device on the excursion. Finally, the rematch in the ACC Tournament Final in Greensboro the next Sunday was set to decide who would earn the one-seed in the East Region. The Heels prevailed 83-68 behind 27 & 18 from Jamison and a hot shooting performance by senior Shammond Williams, who then led the Tar Heel pep band in the fight song following the game. What made this particular season unique was the fact that the Blue Devils were ranked #1 all three times the two teams played. Duke suffered a shocking loss in Charlotte to Providence the following week and the Heels made the Final Four where they...awww, nevermind. Next game please...

#2 2005 game in Chapel Hill - #2 Carolina 75 #6 Duke 73. The Devils had survived a ridiculously intense defensive struggle in Durham a month earlier, a game that ended after the Heels could not get off a shot to win the game (a meltdown that changed the season - thank you Raymond Felton). A back-and-forth game eventually saw Duke take a 73-64 lead with just over three minutes remaining. Senior Day seemed ruined...until The Comeback (go ahead, I'll give you five minutes to click the link, watch the finish, and dry your eyes). Jawad, Marvin, and Sean all converted buckets to cut the lead to 73-71. Eventually, Raymond Felton hit a free throw and tipped his missed second free throw to Marvin Williams who converted a three-point play to put the Heels ahead 75-73. Subsequent misses by Redick and Daniel Ewing allowed the home team to survive and the senior class of Melvin Scott, Jawad Williams, CJ Hooker, Jackie Manuel, & Charlie Everett to go out on top as ACC Champions (and eventually, National Champions). An emotional victory, complete with tears of joy, lots of man hugs, and, eventually, a dash to Franklin St. How does one possibly top this?

#1 The Next Game. You see, this is what is so great about the Carolina/Duke rivalry. There's always another great game or great moment that is to come. The players change, the coaches (eventually) change, and the results change, but the stakes never do. It's always the biggest game of the regular season and always played with tremendous passion. Carolina is Carolina because of Duke, just as Duke is Duke because of Carolina. The true fans understand this and appreciate the other institution and respect the other team for making them better. What makes Carolina/Duke so much fun is the anticipation of the Next Game because of the unknown - all you know is that it will be as fun and intense as college basketball can be.

Rah Rah Car-o-lina-lina...go to hell Dook.

A Sports Scene Quickie

Let's hammer out three series of thoughts on the world of sports. The topics: Carolina Basketball, ACC Hoops &, the Super Bowl.

1. Carolina Basketball: The Heels came off an exciting but ugly victory vs FSU on Wednesday night to play at rival NC State on Saturday. Each season, I take a look at the schedule and try to identify games that the Heels will struggle with that one might not expect. The FSU/State back-to-back jumped out at me for a couple of reasons. Carolina typically seems to struggle after a break (the Heels had last weekend off) and any time you play a "rival" who gets up to play you more than you get up to play them, there can be problems. Without question, the Florida State game was awful from a Tar Heel perspective, minus the ridiculous conclusion. Somehow, instead of coming out completely flat, the Heels survived a sloppy first seven minutes to dominate the first half and go into halftime with a comfortable lead. But, instead of pulling away, Carolina struggled to be strong with the basketball and had no answer for the screen and roll, allowing the 'Noles to take a three point lead with two minutes remaining. From there, however, the Heels showed what it takes to be a great team - buckle down and find a way to win on a night that you can do nothing right. Missed dunks, terrible team defense, an off-night from your All-American...most teams do not survive such issues. But Carolina got a steal and-one from Danny Green, played unreal defense on consecutive possessions against Toney Douglas and got the ball back with 3.2 incorrect seconds remaining (how in the world did the officials blow this? Should have been 4.3 seconds. I watched it five times on my DVR to make certain on Friday night during my Tar Heel Rewind segment of the week). Ty Lawson's buzzer-beater was superb, as the Seminoles tried really hard not to foul. As a collegue of mine mentioned, "Florida State had this game wrapped up until Leonard (Hamilton) started to coach." Just piss-poor late-game execution by FSU, and a team that knows how to win doing just that. For the record, I watched this game in near-complete silence in my hotel room in Winston-Salem, NC, at an ISP Sales Academy in which nearly everyone else was pulling for Florida State (they are an ISP school, and a great one at that). And I never thought the Heels would lose. I promise. Somehow, I managed to not be kicked out of the hotel after the last shot, as I am pretty sure that everyone watching at the hotel bar still heard me screaming and whopping from the eighth floor of the Marriott.

Saturday, the game at NC State was emotional only twice - pre-game during ceremonies for the late Kay Yow, and at the end of the game as Mike Copeland tried to assault Ben McCauley after first being legally assaulted during a "hard foul". My rule for the Heels is now official: if Ty Lawson is head-and-shoulders above the opposing point guard, Carolina wins. Hands down. When everyone was panicking following the earlier back-to-back losses and fretting about the trip to UVA, I was not worried in the least. The reason? I had just seen UVA in person here in Blacksburg and can tell you that Lawson is much, much better than either of the 'Hoos lead guards. Same goes for today, as Degand and Mays were no match for #5. Of course, it did not help that the NC State bigs played matador style defense, ole-ing nearly every time a Carolina player got near the rim (mostly Hansbrough, but happened to the benefit of others as well).

So where does that leave the Boys in Blue? In a better place than they were three weeks ago, that much is fo' sho. Unfortunately, I do not think the ailments have been magically healed. The issues are consistent: lack of a perimeter defender (Dear Marcus, Get Well Soon. Love, Kyle), the inability (still) to be able to defend the screen and roll for crap, the tendency to get caught up in one-on-one battles instead of working the ball for a good shot, and little bench production whatsoever. I just imagine how much better the team could be having Ginyard at 100% (not including if Zeller were healthy). Three of those four issues would be solved in all likelihood, plus his leadership might help the one-on-one problems. I personally believe he will come back in a couple weeks and try his best to contribute for the late-season, March Madness run. Between really wanting to finish up with his classmates and the desire to win a national title, I predict a return. Unfortunately, if he's not 100%, it just won't matter.

By the way, I think we all entered this season assuming Lawson and Ellington would leave with the seniors. I'm not sure that will happen now. Ty might go anyway, but Ellington might end up having to stay. If both came back and Ginyard had to redshirt, only Green and Hansbrough would be lost from the starting lineup. Therefore, next year's team could potentially start Lawson, Ellington, Ginyard, Davis/John Henson and Thompson, with a bench of Zeller, Travis Wear, David Wear, Davis/Henson, William Graves, Larry Drew II, Leslie McDonald, and Dexter Strickland. You tellin' me that team ain't a Final Four favorite? Wow. I think I just shat myself.


2. ACC Hoops: The big story in the league right now is the top four. Clemson and Wake Forest have clearly separated themselves from the remainder of the league, along with the Dookies and Heels, and are national contenders. Of course, most folks are skeptical of Clemson, and rightfully so. Three consecutive years of hot starts and subpar finishes will do that to you. I do think they are legitimately good this year, and hungry to prove people wrong. I could see another 5-seed for the IPTAY backers. Wake Forest is really, really good. Unfortunately, I think we have seen their flaws the last couple of weeks. There are times the Deacs just do not defend the ball well, they have trouble executing on offense late in games (hint: get Teaguethat ball by letting him run the point and put Ish Smith on the pine), and they have some complete mental breakdowns by key guys (McFarland and Johnson, The Blue Team is looking at you). They might have enough talent to override these issues, but I think the problems will continue to rear an ugly head against some inferior opponents and again in the NCAA Tournament.

In the middle of the league, it seems that four teams are battling for a couple tournament bids: Virginia Tech, Boston College, Florida State, & Miami. They all have ugly losses, but also have some quality wins. Personally, I think a couple teams do just enough to sneak into the NCAA Tournament, but I would not put money on who it will be. By the way, for people who want to argue that the ACC is better than the Big East, I implore you: shut up. The top four ACC teams are Clemson, Duke, North Carolina, and Wake Forest. The Big East top four are probably Pittsburgh, UCONN, Louisville, and Marquette. The next four ACC teams? FSU, Miami, VT, and BC. The Big East? Georgetown, Syracuse, Notre Dame, and WVU. Do you really think VT can play with Georgetown? BC with Syracuse? FSU with any of those four teams? This is where the Big East is unquestionably better. As for the top four teams, we'll decide that in March.

One other quick note - Chas McFarland, the 7-footer for Wake Forest, is quickly earning a reputation in the league for being a complete and total douchebag. He whines, flails, flops, elbows, and bitches his way through every game, drawing the ire of fans and opposing players alike. This is not new - it's been going on for a couple of years now. But now that Wake Forest is actually good, people are taking notice. Chris Chase, a Wake Forest alum over at Player Hater's Ball has pointed this out already, so I'm just echoing the fact: McFarland is due to really hurt his team with his antics before this season is over. If nothing else, he's at least going to really piss people off and be remembered for being a jerkoff instead of a solid player.

3. Super Bowl XLIII: Steelers vs Cardinals. Thus far in the playoffs, my picks are at 7-3 (Colts, Panthers, and Titans were the losses, Scout's Honor). Not a bad year for sure. I have to say, I've picked some Super Bowl underdogs in the past. My backing of the Chargers prior to the beatdown of the century that allowed Steve Young to get the monkey off his back went down in infamy. On the flip side, my belief of the Pats against the Rams (and at the beginning of those playoffs mind you) are that of legend. But this ain't a year for the Dog...

I am going with the Steelers for a few reasons. First, I do not think Arizona can run on the Pittsburgh defense, period. The Cards were at least able to move the pigskin two or three yards in their three previous playoff games, but the Steelers will have none of it. Second, I think Big Ben will be able to hit the deep ball against an Arizona defense that likes to take some chances. Two or three big plays will be enough to give Pittsburgh good field position or to score. Third, Kurt Warner is due to struggle a bit. He's had some complete stink bombs this season to go with his great games, and I think Dick LeBeau can scheme Warner into struggling on Sunday. Last, the Steelers will not panic in this contest. A close game for a half, then Pittsburgh pulling away a little bit, and a key turnover will be enough. Of course, it does not hurt that I picked the Steelers before the season started...

The pick: Pittsburgh 30 Arizona 17