After reading the "maybe we should hope for dook to win" piece, I felt I needed to express an opine - first, not that it matters any, but I've been a Tar Heel supporter probably longer than 90% of those who post on these boards. First of all, Duke showed why they won and we didn't - GRIT! For next year's dream team to succeed, they'll need to get tougher than they were this season! Without beating a dead horse, so many of you have identified areas where we need to improve, deepen, and excel. I'm confident that Coach Williams and the entire team are aware of those as well. Few if any of us are UNC basketball lettermen, and I listened to Kenny Smith give congratulations grudgingly.
But I grew up an ACC fan from the beginning of the League, and I pulled for each of the four Big Four teams against all comers in the great Dixie Classic! We never lost to an outside team as a champion, and there were some really great teams that rolled into Reynolds Coliseum between Christmas and the New Year. This year, Duke was representing their university and the conference. Their win made the ACC 6-1 against the Big 10 in NCAA championship games. Our loss to Indiana, a disappointment, is the one failure.
As I looked at this championship game:
1. Wisconsin defeated UNC, and they deserved to win, but I hated the loss.
2. Wisconsin defeated UK, "the greatest team in history" and "the greatest accumulation of athletes" since the modern Olympics ;-))
3. Duke defeated MSU, another ACC vs. Big 10 matchup that leaves the ACC 6-1 against them, and remember how "down" the ACC was this year all the naysayers claimed across national TV! Only 5 ACC teams made it to the Sweet 16!
4. Duke then defeated Wisconsin and their POY, another ACC vs. Big 10 matchup, and somewhat payback for our loss.
5. But most of ALL, Duke defeats Wisconsin who defeated UK, and had the "greatest team of all time" and the "great group of athletes since the modern Olympics" - 38-1 is their magic disappointment - and then, UK had to watch their most hated opponent of all time, Duke, win the national championship they felt they were ordained for! I haven't heard one word from any of my UK friends of any sort.
Go Heels!
But I grew up an ACC fan from the beginning of the League, and I pulled for each of the four Big Four teams against all comers in the great Dixie Classic! We never lost to an outside team as a champion, and there were some really great teams that rolled into Reynolds Coliseum between Christmas and the New Year. This year, Duke was representing their university and the conference. Their win made the ACC 6-1 against the Big 10 in NCAA championship games. Our loss to Indiana, a disappointment, is the one failure.
As I looked at this championship game:
1. Wisconsin defeated UNC, and they deserved to win, but I hated the loss.
2. Wisconsin defeated UK, "the greatest team in history" and "the greatest accumulation of athletes" since the modern Olympics ;-))
3. Duke defeated MSU, another ACC vs. Big 10 matchup that leaves the ACC 6-1 against them, and remember how "down" the ACC was this year all the naysayers claimed across national TV! Only 5 ACC teams made it to the Sweet 16!
4. Duke then defeated Wisconsin and their POY, another ACC vs. Big 10 matchup, and somewhat payback for our loss.
5. But most of ALL, Duke defeats Wisconsin who defeated UK, and had the "greatest team of all time" and the "great group of athletes since the modern Olympics" - 38-1 is their magic disappointment - and then, UK had to watch their most hated opponent of all time, Duke, win the national championship they felt they were ordained for! I haven't heard one word from any of my UK friends of any sort.
Go Heels!
