My mind is going to mush because my body runs entirely on fast food.
OOTB Carolina Basketball Discussion Thread
- Thread starter carolinablue34
- Start date
Understandable. Go get you a taquito from the Sheetz
I'm just going to say what we're all thinking. If Roy would have played Maye more we would have won by 30.
Well, I think they sell gas too...
I just don't see this as a title team. Other than experience, this team doesn't really have much that impresses me. Berry is a baller and Jackson is when he wants to be, but outside of those two, it's just ordinary.
Meeks is soft and that's well known, and Hicks has regressed and doesn't look like he'll be the star big that successful UNC teams tend to have.
Seventh Woods and Brandon Robinson are non-factors, and Tony Bradley doesn't even play, for reasons nobody seems to know. At least we have Luke Maye, who is that white guy for Davidson who always drops 30 on us, and we always wonder why we can't get a guy like him every once in a while.
Meeks is soft and that's well known, and Hicks has regressed and doesn't look like he'll be the star big that successful UNC teams tend to have.
Seventh Woods and Brandon Robinson are non-factors, and Tony Bradley doesn't even play, for reasons nobody seems to know. At least we have Luke Maye, who is that white guy for Davidson who always drops 30 on us, and we always wonder why we can't get a guy like him every once in a while.
I thought Robinson played pretty well tonight. They have to get it together for sure though. If we can correct turnovers and get our bigs to just make the easy ones we can be pretty potent. Those two things seem to be consistent issues lately though.
Explain something to me. How can Meeks blocks several shots but has a hard time touching the net when he jumps? I think I have more vertical and I have 2 bad knees, a couple of herniated disk and about 40 lbs overweight.
This team is missing g that dominate inside presence and a scoring g shooting guard.
Berry went off tonight, but made several boneheaded plays. I just knew he was going g to get a T for slamming the ball I to that table.
This team is missing g that dominate inside presence and a scoring g shooting guard.
Berry went off tonight, but made several boneheaded plays. I just knew he was going g to get a T for slamming the ball I to that table.
Isn't this an annual cycle? Every year, regardless of the team -- even the daunted 2009 team (which started ACC play 0-2) :
1. Team steamrolls some no-name early season tourney
2. Team loses a trap game they should typically win easily, opposing player has career night
3. Team loses a few (or squeaks by) should-be-easy games in December / January.
4. Team is accused of being soft as poundcake / no killer instinct / can't guard the perimeter / (insert any I'm forgetting here)
5. Team seems to get it together down the stretch -- ACC Tourney is a toss up (you know, b/c Ole Roy hates the tourney anyway... sure)
6. Team crushes first game in the NCAAT...survives scare in Round 2
7. Toss up on the 2nd weekend...but generally half the time UNC gets through it and reach the FF...other times we lose by some internally-controversial reason (maybe the refs were targeting our big guys unfairly)
When they break thru this cycle in March is when UNC has a tough-as-nails PG who refuses to lose...it's no coincidence the Felton / Lawson teams won the NCAAT. I am cautiously optimistic that Berry has this same potential. I never thought Paige did, but mostly due to his lingering foot issues.
Relax folks...this is all part of the annual plan.
1. Team steamrolls some no-name early season tourney
2. Team loses a trap game they should typically win easily, opposing player has career night
3. Team loses a few (or squeaks by) should-be-easy games in December / January.
4. Team is accused of being soft as poundcake / no killer instinct / can't guard the perimeter / (insert any I'm forgetting here)
5. Team seems to get it together down the stretch -- ACC Tourney is a toss up (you know, b/c Ole Roy hates the tourney anyway... sure)
6. Team crushes first game in the NCAAT...survives scare in Round 2
7. Toss up on the 2nd weekend...but generally half the time UNC gets through it and reach the FF...other times we lose by some internally-controversial reason (maybe the refs were targeting our big guys unfairly)
When they break thru this cycle in March is when UNC has a tough-as-nails PG who refuses to lose...it's no coincidence the Felton / Lawson teams won the NCAAT. I am cautiously optimistic that Berry has this same potential. I never thought Paige did, but mostly due to his lingering foot issues.
Relax folks...this is all part of the annual plan.
Felton and Lawson had much better players surrounding them than berry. They where total juggernauts shaped into Roy's style of game. Both of those teams problems revolved around defense. I'm sorry, this team does not have the talent those teams possess. We will win a bunch of games and barring an injury, we will go deep. It's a crap shoot after that. There are several teams I think that are better than we are.
At the end of the day, March is about match-ups. All the cinderella crap is just forced down our throats for TV ratings. A lot of the lower seeds are top 25 / top 30 caliber teams most of the year. UNC should be favored in most of the matchups. Roy's teams are built for March, not December. JMHO...and I've always felt this way.
And this year's team is basically last year's team, minus Paige and Henson of course. I really don't care about much except seeing them give their absolute best. Outside of the first two minutes, the best stretch of fundamentals came from the bench players while the starters sat.
They won a tourney resume building game tonight. I'm glad they didn't fold in the last three minutes of regulation. But I can't help but think it berry had some help late in the game, we would have won by ten. Clemson seemed to focus on shutting him down and our scoring simply trickled in. They played good D the last few minutes and that is what won the game
They won a tourney resume building game tonight. I'm glad they didn't fold in the last three minutes of regulation. But I can't help but think it berry had some help late in the game, we would have won by ten. Clemson seemed to focus on shutting him down and our scoring simply trickled in. They played good D the last few minutes and that is what won the game
It's not nearly as loaded as last year. And, there's no "beast man" like Hansbrough, Sean May, Brice Johnson, Tyler Zeller. We have the driver- Joel Berry. But, he's not a Felton, Lawson, Marshall assist guy. He might get there... but, I don't think he has the usual lineup that those great teams had. Jackson doesn't consistently hit 3's. Kenny Williams and Nate Britt get one occasionally. Jackson hits one or two more. Hicks seems to have no real dominance, except making sure he has 2 or 3 fouls by halftime. He might occasionally slam one. Meeks does some mop-up, but he's no alpha.
Last year's team was much better. It had this year's team, plus Paige and Johnson! The 3 new guys and whatever "maturity" from the guys who are left can't shore-up the Brice/Marcus factor. It's been said often, but Brice Johnson willed us wins last year. Reminds me of George Lynch or Worthy. Those guys that just carry it.
This group will bring us some good times and good wins. They might even run the table on the dookies for once. But, they're not National Championship level.
Last year's team was much better. It had this year's team, plus Paige and Johnson! The 3 new guys and whatever "maturity" from the guys who are left can't shore-up the Brice/Marcus factor. It's been said often, but Brice Johnson willed us wins last year. Reminds me of George Lynch or Worthy. Those guys that just carry it.
This group will bring us some good times and good wins. They might even run the table on the dookies for once. But, they're not National Championship level.
I agree with your general premise as it's usually true. However, as strum points out, last year we had Brice Johnson. He basically carried us through March because he was an unstoppable offensive force inside (giggity). Who the heck is going to be that for us this season? Unless Bradley somehow gets there, we'll have none. Hicks and Meeks won't become that.
Therefore, I'm more worried about this team. I just don't see us flipping the switch this time.
We should give some credit to Clemson. They're a tournament team this year I think. The ACC is loaded this year and blowouts on the road are going to be uncommon. It wouldn't surprise me if the team that finishes first has at least five conference losses.
Nice humblebrag from G7 for Berry. Says he needs to criticize him for something and it turns out to be that he needs to shoot more cuz no one can guard him
Given the way he was playing last night I would have to agree with that one. 7/10 from three. You've got to ride the hot hand.
@Blue2010 is killing everyone in this thread. He's clearly the smartest of the bunch. A few other thoughts:
- I agree that this team doesn't have as many good players surrounding Berry as Lawson and Felton (and Marshall) had. This team is not as good as those teams. But it doesn't have to be. This team, when playing to potential, is as good as any team in the country. I'd say Nova is the only team I would be scared to face in the tournament.
- Clemson is a pretty good team. To beat them in their house when they circled this game on the calendar is a good win. It didn't look pretty and there are things we need to work on for sure. But a road win in the ACC is a good win regardless of who we're playing.
- Blue is absolutely right. This is Roy's M.O. Play well out of the gate, lull in Dec and Jan and then play our best ball late in the season. That's what Roy does. And while it's maddening at times, I think we're all pretty happy most years with the end result. March is all about match ups. And I watched KU last night struggle with K-State at home because their frontcourt is weak. Meeks, Hicks and Bradley would eat that KU frontcourt alive. Would we beat them? Who knows? Josh Jackson is a special player. But KU has some glaring deficiencies. They can't protect the rim and they're a terrible FT shooting team. And they're the #3 team in the country.
- We need more from the bench. Right now our bench isn't offering much. Pinson will help that problem by sending Kenny to the bench and he'll be better because he doesn't have to play as many minutes. Nate too. And Tony needs to get healthy or out of Roy's doghouse. Honestly, Luke Maye might be our most productive bench player right now.
- I agree that this team doesn't have as many good players surrounding Berry as Lawson and Felton (and Marshall) had. This team is not as good as those teams. But it doesn't have to be. This team, when playing to potential, is as good as any team in the country. I'd say Nova is the only team I would be scared to face in the tournament.
- Clemson is a pretty good team. To beat them in their house when they circled this game on the calendar is a good win. It didn't look pretty and there are things we need to work on for sure. But a road win in the ACC is a good win regardless of who we're playing.
- Blue is absolutely right. This is Roy's M.O. Play well out of the gate, lull in Dec and Jan and then play our best ball late in the season. That's what Roy does. And while it's maddening at times, I think we're all pretty happy most years with the end result. March is all about match ups. And I watched KU last night struggle with K-State at home because their frontcourt is weak. Meeks, Hicks and Bradley would eat that KU frontcourt alive. Would we beat them? Who knows? Josh Jackson is a special player. But KU has some glaring deficiencies. They can't protect the rim and they're a terrible FT shooting team. And they're the #3 team in the country.
- We need more from the bench. Right now our bench isn't offering much. Pinson will help that problem by sending Kenny to the bench and he'll be better because he doesn't have to play as many minutes. Nate too. And Tony needs to get healthy or out of Roy's doghouse. Honestly, Luke Maye might be our most productive bench player right now.
Why? That seems as stupid as many of the poasts over there.
Brice also was a suspect defender at times last year. Sure, he got a lot of blocks and protected the rim well at times. But even as a senior, he was out of position a lot. Offensively, he was definitely in a zone for the last couple months and you're right in that he carried us on some nights where we might have lost without his game being that good. But Berry and Jackson have shown they can do that this year.
I disagree with much of that. This year's team is a better 3 point shooting team than last year. Brice didn't will us to wins as much as a Marcus did. Brice was a good player that had a great season. But he was never a leader. Marcus and Berry were the leaders. But as much as I love Marcus (maybe my 2nd favorite Tar Heel of all time), he wasn't very good last year. He pressed a lot because he was trying to regain his sophomore year form. He turned the ball over. He didn't shoot well and he became a ball-stopper on the offensive end at times. We all stood around and waited for Marcus to do something and on many nights, he didn't. Put it this way, for all of Brice's greatness and the legend of Marcus Paige, without Berry last year, that team doesn't sniff the Final Four.
That's what I was talking about in another poast of mine. This team has - as many of Roy's really good teams tend to have - an NBA mentality. They play the game just waiting on winning time. And you saw the defense really pick it up late. If they would play that way for the first 35 minutes, there'd be no reason to play that way for the last 5. But that's the nature of teams that have "been there, done that". They know how to identify "winning time". Most nights, it will work. We'll pick it up at the right time and go on to win. But that won't always work and we'll lose a game here and there because we were sleepwalking until winning time and we just couldn't dig ourselves out of a hole or the other team plays really well down the stretch and gets some breaks. I hope Roy can motivate them to play hard defensively for longer stretches because that's the key for this team. I think Pinson's energy will help.
The rumor is that @TarHeelNation11 has been known to stir up trouble before and is considered an ass by everyone. I'm not saying it's true, but the facts suggest it is. Hope this helps and welcome to the board!
He's on his own now. Only way I venture back to raider is if the raidarians pop off ITT.
I've never shared an opinion with the purpose of pissing people off. I don't care enough about y'all to attempt those mind games.
Then seriously, why do you continue to poast at raider? Do you feel that God has called you to steer that board in the right direction? You'll have to beat Butter to it.
I have no doubt that is not your purpose, it's just you are a natural asshole. Nothing wrong with that and you seem to do a good job embracing that fact.
He's too young to just be an asshole. That kind of mentality is developed over time. Plus, he doesn't have kids or really any major bills to speak of sooo,...what the hell is he all bent about? UNC football?
We have a thread that lists these things. Maybe you missed it since your new here.
If I was new hear, would I know that you purposely used incorrect grammar in the above quoted poast?
Not sure what your talking about. It hasn't sunk in yet. You should of done a better job of explaining it. Not that big of a deal though because I could care less about this whole conversation.
