...and where have you been, my long lost friend?
Before I get started, let me make this perfectly clear: This game was won in the FIRST HALF, and more importantly, it was won by rediscovering Carolina basketball -- in particular, that the basket is in the PAINT, and the best way to initiate offense is via TRANSITION.
- thankfully, at least for this day, the faddish futility of the 5-out nonsense we've been screwing with was cast aside in favor of finally playing our All-American 5-man where he can actually do damage (and he did).
- and to that note, thus, the long-lost Carolina staple of Offensive Rebounding returned from a long nap. Mando was obviously still huriting in that shoulder, but still, of his 13 boards, 7 were of the offensive variety.
- most --- and I mean MOST --- important was the reanimation of our SECONDARY BREAK. That was accomplished by two very simple and fundamental things --- a commitment to transition (pushing the ball and getting in lanes), but paramount was the return of the first Big SPRINTING TO THE BLOCK instead of pulling up and clogging the works (as we've been doing).
- speaking of which, as I've been preaching like a broken record of a Dean Smith clinic lecture, that's the key element of the Secondary, as it forces a retreating defense to account for him, lest we get a rim-run dunk (which we did today, BTW), but also faciliates a triangle post-up opportunity that makes the D vulnerable to the dump pass off a perimeter swing (we got a few of those as well).
- here's the thing though --- we were downright RUSTY at it. I lost count of just how many times we MISSED an open post hand (part of that is not having a PG) or being late with the entry. Still?.... we scored 24 transition points in the first half alone (that's the actual count as opposed to the context-free box score number), with 15 (!!!) coming off Secondary action. THAT, folks, is Carolina basketball.
- on that note, going into the game I was reduced to just hoping Pastner would Zone us so we could run an offense, but he was having none of it (until we were about to blow it open and he slowed things down in the second half). Fortunately, the return of the Secondary foiled his Man plans. I mean, in all seriousness, with even a decent improvement in execution we could've had a 25+ halftime lead.
- on the defensive end I was not as happy. Our footwork is still lacking in spots, and even Leaky looked like he was sluggish today. We did however clean the glass, and how 'bout little RJ mixing it up on the D-boards? I was also disappointed that the promised scrambles didn't materialize, but at least it's lurking (hopefully).
- finally, before I say "thank you, sweet baby Jesus" for the encouraging parts of today, this game needs to be taken by the staff and team as step toward RETURNING to where we need to be. We need to work, work, work on quicker ball-movement and feeding the post without hesitating and/or telegraphing. So PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE... commit to continuing and getting this right over the next few weeks!!!
Anyway, this was much -needed and encouraging --- even a Washington sighting with what I believe will be his patented turn-around J at UNC --- just let it continue!.... 
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