Thank you Hubert

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I’m not suggesting it should be based on whether I want to have more games to watch-it should be much smarter than that. And if the choice is watch a mediocre team play two meaningless games or go harder towards fixing things that’s an easy choice. It’s much easier than understanding that having them flame out against ND on Wednesday in spectacular fashion could end up being better for the program in the long run, but there is clearly an argument for that as well.

A few days in NIL/portal land could be enormous.

I get what you're saying but with all the new staff on board, I don't think it's a binary choice. It's not either go to the NIT or do well in the portal. It's go to the NIT and do well in the portal.

If I'm right, that means we fans get to enjoy watching our team play more games. It could also be good for the future careers of a few of our players. All without hurting our chances next season.

Now if we have some players who don't want to play in the NIT - maybe they're in a hurry to enter the portal, or try out overseas - and that doesn't leave us with a credible team, that could change my thinking. It might affect whether we get that NIT offer, as well.

 

[superstar57]

This year with no bigs, I would watch us in NIT, and be happy if we won it. This team is not a bad team at all, we just have no quality bigs on team.

Remember our 6 game winning streak, I like our chances against a NIT field. This team has not given up playing, the last team that declined NIT was done playing and you could see it.

I know I'm in the minority, but I think it would be a good look if we won NIT, we have more 5 stars coming in. Powell could come back. We should look attractive to forwards in the portal, who know they are going to play.

I am not mad at this team, a couple of years ago, I was mad watching that team. NIT/NCAA I'm watching this team

 

[NorCalTarheel]

Carolina should NEVER play in the NIT or anything other than the NCAA tournament - IMO.

I do not want a subpar season performance to become normalized, standardized, celebrated, or remotely accepted. If we are not good enough to make the NCAA tournament, that should be a wrap on our season.

There is absolutely no upside, other than a few more games for fans to watch mediocre basketball, for Carolina to go to the NIT. Best case scenario, we win the tournament. Can anyone, without cheating, tell me who has won the last two or three at nit championships?... Me neither. Worst case scenario is we lose to Nobody State University in the first or second round and further entrench the mediocrity and negativity currently attached to our program.

We are Carolina and we HAVE to be better than this.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

There is absolutely no upside, other than a few more games for fans to watch

That is absolutely enough upside for me. Not the only upside, but totally sufficient to justify playing in the NIT.

Look at it this way: If we win, that's great; whereas if we bomb out, we have more to bitch about. What's not to like?

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Worst case scenario is we lose to Nobody State University in the first or second round and further entrench the mediocrity and negativity currently attached to our program.

So we should hide because we're afraid of embarrassing ourselves by losing?

That's even more embarrassing than losing.

 

[NorCalTarheel]

WWJD- I totally understand and respect your opinion but couldn't disagree with it more. I don't want to accept a consolation prize when we miss the mark as badly as we have.

As for "hiding" as to not embarrass ourselves, we have embarrassed ourselves plenty by not playing well enough to make the NCAA. No need to pile on.

 

[Oak ridger]

What is really sad is the team that is #1 in this week's poll.

 

[superstar57]

For the next 30 days the sports world is focused on college basketball. We need to be playing somewhere!

 

[superstar57]

WWJD- I totally understand and respect your opinion but couldn't disagree with it more. I don't want to accept a consolation prize when we miss the mark as badly as we have.

As for "hiding" as to not embarrass ourselves, we have embarrassed ourselves plenty by not playing well enough to make the NCAA. No need to pile on.

What was the expectation for this year is my question? What was so bad that anyone who reads this board did not already know. We hoped Washington was ready, we hoped Whithers had another gear. I wanted to make tournament but knew it would be shaky, and last check we ain't out of the big dance yet. We talk about embarrassment, how you going to feel watching us lose by 20 to a team with height . I could see a 12 vs 5 seed and us getting whipped.

 

[NorCalTarheel]

I guess I see the NCAA tournament as a minimum standard. We've lost in the first round before and, you just never know...

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

WWJD- I totally understand and respect your opinion but couldn't disagree with it more. I don't want to accept a consolation prize when we miss the mark as badly as we have.

As for "hiding" as to not embarrass ourselves, we have embarrassed ourselves plenty by not playing well enough to make the NCAA. No need to pile on.

Fair enough.

 

[NorCalTarheel]

What was the expectation for this year is my question? What was so bad that anyone who reads this board did not already know. We hoped Washington was ready, we hoped Whithers had another gear. I wanted to make tournament but knew it would be shaky, and last check we ain't out of the big dance yet. We talk about embarrassment, how you going to feel watching us lose by 20 to a team with height . I could see a 12 vs 5 seed and us getting whipped.

SS- The expectation one is a very good and fair question.

If I think back to the start of the season, we all knew that we whiffed on getting a quality big that could have propelled us into the upper echelon of teams. I think my expectation was that we run, press, run some more, and try to generate a large portion of our offense via the fast break. My expectation was that, since we did not have quality bigs of our own, we would run theirs ragged and create foul problems.. our back court was to be the best in the nation and our team makeup was to be deep enough to recreate "40 minutes of hell".

No need to drone on about what we got instead. We have all lived it.

All of that being said, the fat lady has yet to sing on our season. I will root as hard for the heels through the ACC tournament as I have for the past 40 years!!

It's always a GDTBATH!!!

Oh, and ...stay classy Mrs Flagg!

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I guess I see the NCAA tournament as a minimum standard. We've lost in the first round before and, you just never know...

If Roy had retired a couple of years earlier - which he absolutely should have, imo - his record would not include ever losing in the first round. His record would also not include a losing season.

It makes me sad when I think of that. I'm reasonably sure he hung on as a favor to Hubert, but it was a high price to pay.

 

[RP12]

For the next 30 days the sports world is focused on college basketball. We need to be playing somewhere!

If there was a tourney lower than NIT, and then another lower than that, would you want to be in it? The year is over with a loss in the NCAA tournament or not getting in. The lower half of bowl games are an obvious analogy and do nothing for the program.

 

[JuleZ '02 HEEL]

You're forgetting that it's supposed to be about the college athletes. I don't care if we roll out Russell Hawkins, John Holbrook, Elijah Davis, and Dante Mayo, if we have an opportunity to participate in more college basketball, we should participate in more college basketball. Say it's a worst case scenario and all of the NBA prospects and transfers sit out. Think what it'd mean to the rest of those kids who really do bleed Carolina blue to be able to compete for their school. Hell, I'd watch.

 

[gunslingerdick]

You're forgetting that it's supposed to be about the college athletes. I don't care if we roll out Russell Hawkins, John Holbrook, Elijah Davis, and Dante Mayo, if we have an opportunity to participate in more college basketball, we should participate in more college basketball. Say it's a worst case scenario and all of the NBA prospects and transfers sit out. Think what it'd mean to the rest of those kids who really do bleed Carolina blue to be able to compete for their school. Hell, I'd watch.

Good point.

I'd be excited for those guys. But I wouldn't watch.

 

[KeeLo]

If there was a tourney lower than NIT, and then another lower than that, would you want to be in it? The year is over with a loss in the NCAA tournament or not getting in. The lower half of bowl games are an obvious analogy and do nothing for the program.

Interesting point. I have a pro keep-playing-no-matter-what opinion, but your point influenced the thought that acceptance of a lower tourney also means that a smaller program, much more in need of exposure, money, and development, would be excluded.

In that respect, maybe the Heels are "too good" for the NIT. Hadn't thought about that before.

 

[DSouthr]

If what this team has earned is a NIT bid then I want them to play in it. I would not just watch therm play in the NIT, I would actively be behind them. The only exception would be if this team had quit, I believe it did quit year before last, I don't see that now.

I would like to see, if we do end up in the NIT, less usage of the seniors and any guy that is already set to enter the next NBA draft (Jackson and maybe Drake). get guys like James Brown, Tyson starter level minutes, at least solid minutes for development. Use Seth as the back up PG, use JWash at the 4 and have him jump shooting. Couple guys on blue steel, kid like Mayo, give them some minutes lets see what they can do.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

This year with no bigs

I agree with your post but would like to reconsider this part. My current view is that our bigs - while not up to the standard we are used to - are actually pretty good.

I wonder how much better they might be if Hubert had started using them earlier the way he's been using them recently.

That's not as much of a dig against Hubert as it may sound. Bringing along Ian and Drake certainly made sense. And putting your best players on the floor - whether or not they fit - is sometimes the right plan, too. But spending so much time trying to make small-ball work was the wrong decision, imo.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

If there was a tourney lower than NIT, and then another lower than that, would you want to be in it?

Absolutely. I'm a fan. I want more games. Period.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

In that respect, maybe the Heels are "too good" for the NIT. Hadn't thought about that before.

If that were true, I would count that as an argument against going to the NIT. But when was the last time we won the NIT? A quick check suggests never. Dean went a few times (yes, the NIT was better then). Matt got us to the quarter finals. Roy got us to the championship game.

If you look at the NIT lineups, they get good teams. No shame playing against that caliber of opponent.

 

[NathanFielder]

I agree with your post but would like to reconsider this part. My current view is that our bigs - while not up to the standard we are used to - are actually pretty good.

I wonder how much better they might be if Hubert had started using them earlier the way he's been using them recently.

That's not as much of a dig against Hubert as it may sound. Bringing along Ian and Drake certainly made sense. And putting your best players on the floor - whether or not they fit - is sometimes the right plan, too. But spending so much time trying to make small-ball work was the wrong decision, imo.

Well, Hubert started 2 bigs in the beginning of the season up until Alabama. And this team got blown out in the first half against Kanas, Dayton, Auburn, and Michigan State. He started Trimble, Withers, and Washington at the 3-5 until he started Powell at the 4. I'm not sure anyone here thinks Powell was ready to start at the 3 from day one so Trimble was probably the only at the 3 day one.

Now clearly Jalen Washington isn't good enough. I think he's a second big off the bench against a good team. He's more of a specialist than any semblance of being a complete big. So that's a miss on this coaching staff. Number one thinking he's good enough to be C1 on day one.

So are you questioning that UNC would be a lot better if Lubin started from day 1? Because Hubert played reasonably big early on and in those games, I think Kansas, Dayton, Auburn, and Michigan State all had double digit first half leads.

 

[DSouthr]

If that were true, I would count that as an argument against going to the NIT. But when was the last time we won the NIT? A quick check suggests never. Dean went a few times (yes, the NIT was better then). Matt got us to the quarter finals. Roy got us to the championship game.

If you look at the NIT lineups, they get good teams. No shame playing against that caliber of opponent.

Have to say, Dean did have several teams in the NIT but that was in a time where only the winner of the ACCT was invited to the NCAAT, no other ACC team was allowed in. Back then the ACC was extremely powerful, any team in the ACCT could knock you out. Many times the play in the ACCT was BETTER than what you saw in the NCAAT.

 

[DSouthr]

Well, Hubert started 2 bigs in the beginning of the season up until Alabama. And this team got blown out in the first half against Kanas, Dayton, Auburn, and Michigan State. He started Trimble, Withers, and Washington at the 3-5 until he started Powell at the 4. I'm not sure anyone here thinks Powell was ready to start at the 3 from day one so Trimble was probably the only at the 3 day one.

So are you questioning that UNC would be a lot better if Lubin started from day 1? Because Hubert played reasonably big early on and in those games, I think Kansas, Dayton, Auburn, and Michigan State all had double digit first half leads.

And yet, we made it a nail biter vs Kansas, beat Dayton, lost to Auburn by 13 wasn't it, went to OT with Sparty? Isn't that what happened, you are talking blow outs and yet tell only half of the story that spins this team in a negative light?

 

[NathanFielder]

And yet, we made it a nail biter vs Kansas, beat Dayton, lost to Auburn by 13 wasn't it, went to OT with Sparty? Isn't that what happened, you are talking blow outs and yet tell only half of the story that spins this team in a negative light?

Oh come on. You know that they played much differently in those games early in the season. They got to the FT line 31x against Kansas, 34x against Dayton, 21x against Michigan State. It wasn't because the bigs suddenly became good. They defended, their guards attacked and Cadeau/RJ/Seth were shooting like 8 FTs/game (something that didn't sustain).

And other counter.... They certainly didn't come back at Duke. They certainly didn't come back at Clemson. And they come back against Duke and then lose by double digits. So should I give them credit for the come back, while losing convincingly?

 

[KeeLo]

If that were true, I would count that as an argument against going to the NIT. But when was the last time we won the NIT? A quick check suggests never. Dean went a few times (yes, the NIT was better then). Matt got us to the quarter finals. Roy got us to the championship game.

If you look at the NIT lineups, they get good teams. No shame playing against that caliber of opponent.

I'd still be for accepting an NIT invite, but despite my own comment about wanting bball season to extend as long as possible, there is a clear separation of the NIT and CBI.