If what? What makes next year a success for the Heels?
For me, because of the recent struggles on the court due to the Great Unpleasantness, I'm asking for a lot. Here's what it's going to take for next year to be a success to me.
Scenario A
- A national championship - if this option comes to fruition, I don't care about anything else. We could have double digit losses again, go into the tournament as an 8 seed and get swept by duke. But if we bring home the ultimate prize, then I won't care at all about that other stuff. Granted, I might pull some hair out on the way. But if it ends with a title, then I can get over that.
Scenario B
- Win the ACC regular season.
- Win the ACC tournament
- Make the Final Four
- Sweep duke
- No more than 5 regular season losses
That's it. So for me, we either have to win the ultimate prize or we have to do a bunch of other great stuff. I mean, it's obviously awesome for duke fans that their team is in the Final Four. But as we all know, there are no guarantees. And if they lose, then what did they accomplish this year? They didn't win anything of importance. They swept us and that's kind of a big deal. But they won no championships. And schools like duke and UNC base success off of winning championships. When you make the Final Four and you don't win it, it's a huge letdown...unless, it's a Final Four that your program is building upon. For example, when we went to the Final Four and got our doors blown off by Kansas in 08, it was a building block to a championship. For duke, that's not going to be the case. And if we make it next year but don't win it, the window will have closed. Because Marcus, Brice and JP will all be going (and maybe Jackson too) and we'll be in somewhat of rebuilding mode where a Sweet 16 appearance will be viewed as successful. So the letdown of losing in the Final Four will hurt less if (1) it's a step towards the next year when you'll be back (and hopefully win it all) or (2) you have the consolation of other championships that you would have won during the year.
Now, would I be happy if we lose once to duke but win the ACC regular season and then flame out in the ACC tournament? I mean, I'd be happy that we won something, but I'd still look at the year as dissatisfying. Same with a sweep of duke but no championships. I'd be happy to have swept duke, but to not have any hardware at the end will be pretty damn disappointing. There are several combinations of the listed accomplishments for which I would be happy. But unless it's all the secondary accomplishments or the ultimate prize, then I'm not sure I'll be satisfied. Is that bad?
What will it take for you to see next year as successful?
For me, because of the recent struggles on the court due to the Great Unpleasantness, I'm asking for a lot. Here's what it's going to take for next year to be a success to me.
Scenario A
- A national championship - if this option comes to fruition, I don't care about anything else. We could have double digit losses again, go into the tournament as an 8 seed and get swept by duke. But if we bring home the ultimate prize, then I won't care at all about that other stuff. Granted, I might pull some hair out on the way. But if it ends with a title, then I can get over that.
Scenario B
- Win the ACC regular season.
- Win the ACC tournament
- Make the Final Four
- Sweep duke
- No more than 5 regular season losses
That's it. So for me, we either have to win the ultimate prize or we have to do a bunch of other great stuff. I mean, it's obviously awesome for duke fans that their team is in the Final Four. But as we all know, there are no guarantees. And if they lose, then what did they accomplish this year? They didn't win anything of importance. They swept us and that's kind of a big deal. But they won no championships. And schools like duke and UNC base success off of winning championships. When you make the Final Four and you don't win it, it's a huge letdown...unless, it's a Final Four that your program is building upon. For example, when we went to the Final Four and got our doors blown off by Kansas in 08, it was a building block to a championship. For duke, that's not going to be the case. And if we make it next year but don't win it, the window will have closed. Because Marcus, Brice and JP will all be going (and maybe Jackson too) and we'll be in somewhat of rebuilding mode where a Sweet 16 appearance will be viewed as successful. So the letdown of losing in the Final Four will hurt less if (1) it's a step towards the next year when you'll be back (and hopefully win it all) or (2) you have the consolation of other championships that you would have won during the year.
Now, would I be happy if we lose once to duke but win the ACC regular season and then flame out in the ACC tournament? I mean, I'd be happy that we won something, but I'd still look at the year as dissatisfying. Same with a sweep of duke but no championships. I'd be happy to have swept duke, but to not have any hardware at the end will be pretty damn disappointing. There are several combinations of the listed accomplishments for which I would be happy. But unless it's all the secondary accomplishments or the ultimate prize, then I'm not sure I'll be satisfied. Is that bad?
What will it take for you to see next year as successful?
