Viewership for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament is still slightly outpacing last year. Saturday’s North Carolina vs. Michigan State second-round game ranks as the most-watched of the tournament thus far with a 5.0 and 10.02 million on CBS, up 2% in ratings and 5% in viewership from Arkansas vs. Kansas in the same window last year (4.9, 9.50M). (Sports Media Watch)

Well I have been reading listening and watching and nobody not even Computer Models are picking any ACC Schools to win there Sweet 16 Games. That's why they Play the Game. You know Carolina is the Weakest 1 seed, F them Survive and Advance.

Posted Mar 26, 2024
Every March, college basketball officials know their jobs will earn a higher level of scrutiny from everyone: players, coaches, fans, and league executives. Only the best officials in the pool are allowed to officiate these games. And if they're good in the first round, they can advance to the second and so on to the Final Four, when the NCAA picks the top crew. (ESPN.com)

a dozen full games this season, and I watched them live at the SEC Tournament. Here are some early thoughts. They are what you think they are offensively. It is a new age style that consists of 99% three-pointers and shots at the basket. Mid-range jumpers are out of the equation. They shot well for much of the year, but went through a bad slump towards the end. The looked like a tired team. They lost three of four, and four of six down the stretch, and were competitive twice against Florida, and Tennessee. The Charleston game Friday is the first time they have shot well in a while making 13 of 23 three's. They reverted against Grand Canyon. They made 8 of 31 three's. Take Mark Sears out of the equation, and it was 3 of 20. Bama could be getting more Sears dependent. He is their R.J. Davis, and is one of the top guards in the country.

It doesn't matter how low they shoot, they will not forsake the game plan. Don't be surprised to see 30 three-pointers. There will be lots of dribble penetration then kicks to shooters. I don't think they have an answer for Armando Bacot. The posts are not big and physical. That means much like in the Michigan State game, the double teams may come. The Tar Heels were ready for it, so they should be prepared for any traps Alabama comes with.

I gotta say it might be mine

Im 30 so I was spoiled by the Roy era most of my life. But this team is different

would not even be the 10th most talented UNC team in my lifetime, but its like this team was put together in Dean Smith’s vision

No egos, no selfishness, everyone plays their role, and everyone wants to win above all else, and more importantly everyone knows if they dont give 100 everytime theyre on the court they wont play

I'll start by saying these GIFs are skewed because I got them from the game highlights. So those highlights will generally be scoring plays or blocked shots. We obviously played well on both sides to get a convincing win. I'm just taking what I had access to.

Starting with the positives:
The defense lays off of Cadeau from the 3PT line. After Ingram gets the ball to Bacot, Cadeau sets a screen for an open Ingram 3. High IQ play from Cadeau as his defender was in no-man's land. His defender did a poor job not aggressively doubling Bacot, but heady play by Cadeau. A few times per game, this should be an option to counter defenses giving Cadeau a ton of space.
Login to view embedded media
Terrific post play by Bacot. He knows the double is coming from the middle and spins baseline. Great cut by Ingram on the weakside wing that occupies Ryan's defender when Ryan heads to the corner. Good timing on the cut. Bacot with a nice pass for the corner 3. Excellent cut by Ingram.
Login to view embedded media
Although this was a bucket, I thought it was defended pretty well. Clearly the gameplan was to not double, but good job by Ingram IMO to get Hall to dribble towards his help defender (Bacot). This didn't happen the entire game as will be documented. But despite the score, I thought this was defended well. However, it takes a lot of discipline to keep defending that way even if your opponent is scoring.
Login to view embedded media
Just wanted to add this set play for RJ that leads to a Washington put back jam. Clearly a play Hubert likes. It's a play he goes to a lot when he feels like he needs a bucket. We'll see this several times. Love the pace RJ comes off the stagger. And I like that RJ starts from the corner then goes in a couple of steps, then runs off the screen. That way, his defender can't go over the first screen (Cadeau), then under the second screen (Ingram). He has to go under both, which puts him in a trailing position. Good action with good details.
Login to view embedded media
Awesome pass from Cadeau. Might have been my favorite one from him this season. Seeing the game in advance. Just an awesome pass.
Login to view embedded media

His shooting has never looked this good, hopefully it carries over into the season. If it does he will be a 2024 draft pick.

Login to view embedded media

Yep, posting this because it's relevant now.


Login to view embedded media

...and as the old watch commercial goes, we took a lickin' and kept on tickin'.

So yeah, scary scenario early --- MSU being allowed to play their game and shooting outta their minds (at he start of BOTH halves), but our guys responding to adversity:

- got stuck with a zebra crew who were allowing mayhem, but that's when it's good to have our own tough-guys. And after some early, um... encouragement from Hubert, our guys gave it right back.

- we got ourselves in trouble early by letting them run their deep curl actions without much challenge, but once we brought our defense higher and made their Guards have to work for a living, they got less and less out of that.

- MSU is a "flash" opportunity team in transition, meaning they'll try to get a quick shot when it's there, but then they're gonna grind tempo. The best way to disrupt that was to get in our own transition game, and sure enough, it was key. We didn't get enough for my taste, but our bursts forced just enough tempo to make them uncomfortable.

- Nice adjustment to their block double-teams, sending Withers baseline opposite --- which convinced them to stop that noise and Mando got some nice one-on-one looks down the stretch

- despite missing too many close shots, both Mando and Ingram were grown-ass men in the trenches, and honsestly EVERYBODY who played flat got after it in the scrums for rebounds and loose balls. You hafta put on a hard-hat vs these guys on the boards, and we lost the battle there, but we cleaned the glass at crucial times in the second half.

- defense was key again... can't say enough about Mando on that end. Big guy had some key blocks, and Seth had a big stretch of saving blocks (when we had lost continuity and let them back in the game) --- even Cormac and EC got in on the block party.

- Good energy minutes again by Pax and JWash.

- Man, RJ is a tough little nut. He got the crap beat out of him and once again delivers.

- Damn... if Eliot can just get past the yips on the 3-ball. MSU basically laid his guy into the paint. I can stiill remember some teams would do that to Butter and he had to hit the occasional 3 to keep them honest --- c'mon EC, just 1 or 2 a game would make a huge difference!

- with that said, anybody who thinks he was "ineffective" must've been watching another sport. Eliot played a brilliant floor game on both ends, and once again, when he is out for any length of time our continuity disappears. For example, down 26-14 at the 9 minute mark, Eliot returns and we finish on a 26-5 run for our halftime lead, then in the second half, after letting MSU get as close as 3, he returns at the 6:57 mark and we get a 17-10 run (once stretching it to a 17 pt lead) to be up 14 by the time Hubert starts subbing offense/defense in the last 2 minutes.

- Finally, there are no gimmes and every team is dangerous. Moving forward, we need 40 minutes of the effort we put out once Hubert got the guys' attention!

Anyway, good to know we have guys who can play like a Ferrari but also drive the tank into the trenches. Good win and on to LA!...