Too many points......

[keysersosay#1]

left at the FT line..... just cannot afford to miss so many FTs.

Berry SHOULD have gotten an and 1 on the foul by Kennard but inexplicably misses the one and one as well as one other FT We just left too many points there
Dook is what they always have been and will be......... a 3 pt shooting team that, when hot like tonight, will burn you.,,why in God's name ANY big man would go there is beyond me.

 

[strummingram]

That's the whole loss, right there.

This team misses way too many FT's and it cost us the game tonight.

 

[coryfly]

Berry shouldn't have gotten the and 1 there. He should have just made the layup instead of trying to draw a foul. Rebounding was the biggest issue but Berry's bad awareness on defense and below average game on offense is second above our FT shooting for this game. He is our leader and we go as he goes. He has to be better for us to be better. Lot of responsibility on his shoulders and he wants that. With that come the expectations to be better than he was tonight and frankly better than he has been on the road all year.

 

[keysersosay#1]

Disagree on the berry foul.. It should have been an and1 anyway he tweets a moment ago that he let everyone down makes no excuses and took the blame Stand up kid and I am glad he is our PG.

 

[Heelicious]

Disagree on the berry foul.. It should have been an and1 anyway he tweets a moment ago that he let everyone down makes no excuses and took the blame Stand up kid and I am glad he is our PG.

I love that tweet from him. Maybe I am naive or sentimental..... but I think this game will strengthen this team and they will get focused and determined to play better down the stretch. I think Berry will bear down, and show more grit. I think they are in a bit of a funk right now.... not sure who is healthy, who should be playing what roles, etc.

In the end, I think if the Heels have to live or die as a team based on what Berry does - or does not do - I can live with that, more than if any other guy on the team were in that position. I love what all the guys bring to the team, but Berry is the best IMO in being a leader on both ends, and having the most overall talent on both ends. He just needs to focus, get out of the funk, and show it more.

 

[keysersosay#1]

We only have THREE games in the next 12 days...a good chance to regroup and get ready to rumble down the stretch

 

[coryfly]

In college that simply isn't continuation. I don't doubt he took responsibility and I love the dude leading the team. I think he'll show up big in March as well.

 

[tarheel0910]

In college that simply isn't continuation.

Exactly. That wasn't even close to being an and 1 call.

 

[Afamu]

left at the FT line..... just cannot afford to miss so many FTs.

Berry SHOULD have gotten an and 1 on the foul by Kennard but inexplicably misses the one and one as well as one other FT We just left too many points there
Dook is what they always have been and will be......... a 3 pt shooting team that, when hot like tonight, will burn you.,,why in God's name ANY big man would go there is beyond me.

Well, because they get drafted, play on a winning team, have an opportunity to win a NC along with a great education. Not sure why you would question them on that choice.

Pretty simple. If you deserve burn at Duke as a big man, you will get it.

 

[DSouthr]

Dukies with your nice new shiny accounts set up just to come here and rub salt in our wounds today can have your fun. But after you have keep this in mind, you have to face us again in OUR house and you may not be as fortunate as you were last night having our starting power forward out of the game and our floor leader have a bad night.

Your dukies played their best game, your dukies had to play their very best game, we didn't. So fill yourselves up with all the hot air you want because it simply allows us to deflate you more on the last saturday of the season, in our house! Pay back will be coming and guarantee ya when we serve it up it will be following a game with more meaning than last nights game had!

 

[Afamu]

Dukies with your nice new shiny accounts set up just to come here and rub salt in our wounds today can have your fun. But after you have keep this in mind, you have to face us again in OUR house and you may not be as fortunate as you were last night having our starting power forward out of the game and our floor leader have a bad night.

Your dukies played their best game, your dukies had to play their very best game, we didn't. So fill yourselves up with all the hot air you want because it simply allows us to deflate you more on the last saturday of the season, in our house! Pay back will be coming and guarantee ya when we serve it up it will be following a game with more meaning than last nights game had!

How does the next game have any more meaning than last night? Seems like an excuse for a loss to me.

Keep in mind that Allen got his 3rd foul with 17 left and went to the bench and that Jefferson was also in foul trouble.

I would say 12 out of the last 15 doesn't agree with your enthusiasm.

If your points help you get by last night that is fine, but that sure wasn't Duke's best game. Jefferson was non existent.

That all UNC had to do was make their FT's is an excuse. Duke made only 3 more than UNC.

And you should take a look at your schedule. When the two teams meet again, you will have more than 3 losses in conference, so not sure why games means more than this one.

 

[DSouthr]

Well, because they get drafted, play on a winning team, have an opportunity to win a NC along with a great education. Not sure why you would question them on that choice.

Pretty simple. If you deserve burn at Duke as a big man, you will get it.

After all the balley hoo of how great that dukie freshman class was, Tatum was the only one that really played like he even belongs in this league. Giles is playing himself in to the second round, Bolten isn't even that, and Jackson looks like he will enjoy his senior season at duke. Is that what you think the one & dones sign up for?

 

[DSouthr]

How does the next game have any more meaning than last night? Seems like an excuse for a loss to me.

Keep in mind that Allen got his 3rd foul with 17 left and went to the bench and that Jefferson was also in foul trouble.

I would say 12 out of the last 15 doesn't agree with your enthusiasm.

If your points help you get by last night that is fine, but that sure wasn't Duke's best game. Jefferson was non existent.

That all UNC had to do was make their FT's is an excuse. Duke made only 3 more than UNC.

And you should take a look at your schedule. When the two teams meet again, you will have more than 3 losses in conference, so not sure why games means more than this one.

It does not matter what we say, anything we say you are itching to use your excuse line so much that you would tell us that the sun coming up this morning is an excuse. Truth is we have made no excuses, is it not a fact that our starting power forward was not available for this game? Is it not a fact that our floor leader did struggle shooting in this game, of course those 2 things are facts and not excuses. Is it not a fact that duke played at the very top of their game last night, seriously doubt that tripster hits 7 treys every game, fact.

 

[HeelzLover]

I love that tweet from him. I think Berry will bear down, and show more grit. I think they are in a bit of a funk right now.... not sure who is healthy, who should be playing what roles, etc.

In the end, I think if the Heels have to live or die as a team based on what Berry does - or does not do - I can live with that, more than if any other guy on the team were in that position. I love what all the guys bring to the team, but Berry is the best IMO in being a leader on both ends, and having the most overall talent on both ends. He just needs to focus, get out of the funk, and show it more.

I love that tweet from him. Maybe I am naive or sentimental..... but I think this game will strengthen this team and they will get focused and determined to play better down the stretch. I think Berry will bear down, and show more grit. I think they are in a bit of a funk right now.... not sure who is healthy, who should be playing what roles, etc.

In the end, I think if the Heels have to live or die as a team based on what Berry does - or does not do - I can live with that, more than if any other guy on the team were in that position. I love what all the guys bring to the team, but Berry is the best IMO in being a leader on both ends, and having the most overall talent on both ends. He just needs to focus, get out of the funk, and show it more.

How many eye opening games do they need. That's 5 losses now with many tough games to go

 

[Afamu]

After all the balley hoo of how great that dukie freshman class was, Tatum was the only one that really played like he even belongs in this league. Giles is playing himself in to the second round, Bolten isn't even that, and Jackson looks like he will enjoy his senior season at duke. Is that what you think the one & dones sign up for?

Well, Giles had knee surgery in October, Bolden has not lived up to his 5* rating, Tatum will be a lottery pick and Jackson was never thought to be a 1 and done.

I hope they all stay as long as they like.

Keep in mind that Meeks, Hicks and PInson are the highest 5*'s still in college from their recruiting classes.

Maybe you can answer this question for real. With all the PT available and UNC fans thinking they are big man u, why have no 5*'s committed?

 

[Afamu]

It does not matter what we say, anything we say you are itching to use your excuse line so much that you would tell us that the sun coming up this morning is an excuse. Truth is we have made no excuses, is it not a fact that our starting power forward was not available for this game? Is it not a fact that our floor leader did struggle shooting in this game, of course those 2 things are facts and not excuses. Is it not a fact that duke played at the very top of their game last night, seriously doubt that tripster hits 7 treys every game, fact.

Duke had players that did not play their best as well. It is why they play the games. Jefferson had 2 pts and 6 rebounds. He is a double double machine.

So, they played. Some played well, some played bad. Some were in foul trouble, some were hurt. Duke won. Move on.

I think UNC wins in CH. But only the team who wins the first game has a chance to sweep.

 

[IPSYCHOSIS]

Duke deff did not play their best game!..got nothing from the bigs..Carolina hasn't shot the ball the way they did all year if anybody played their best it's UNC y'all shot like 55 58%!! Sure y'all didn't hit ur FTs but how many times are you gonna get more FT attempts then Duke ? Lol..You keep saying if we would have hit our FTs we would have won..but what you fail to realize is y'all are a poor shooting team period.. That shot good last night..Duke won because we limited yalls strength ..rebounding!.Dukes ceiling is much higher then Yalls this year .Dukes just starting to get an identity ..I'd be worried by the time Duke faces y'all again..lol

 

[keysersosay#1]

I see we have the usual trash from UK east that shows up to spew their usual garbage after they squeak out a win. hey dookiebags, you can have that phony ahole of a coach of yours and that dirty POS player( punkson mctripper) that you love so much .

BTW Lance Thomas says hello and thanks to ALL of doochie nation again and again and again for the ongoing cover up of his $70k jewelry scam he ran during his days at UK EAST.

 

[Afamu]

I see we have the usual trash from UK east that shows up to spew their usual garbage after they squeak out a win. hey dookiebags, you can have that phony ahole of a coach of yours and that dirty POS player( punkson mctripper) that you love so much .

BTW Lance Thomas says hello and thanks to ALL of doochie nation again and again and again for the ongoing cover up of his $70k jewelry scam he ran during his days at UK EAST.

You have a great day. And thank you.

 

[coryfly]

Duke deff did not play their best game!..got nothing from the bigs..Carolina hasn't shot the ball the way they did all year if anybody played their best it's UNC y'all shot like 55 58%!! Sure y'all didn't hit ur FTs but how many times are you gonna get more FT attempts then Duke ? Lol..You keep saying if we would have hit our FTs we would have won..but what you fail to realize is y'all are a poor shooting team period.. That shot good last night..Duke won because we limited yalls strength ..rebounding!.Dukes ceiling is much higher then Yalls this year .Dukes just starting to get an identity ..I'd be worried by the time Duke faces y'all again..lol

I feel like you are intentionally trying to look ignorant.

Also, just ignore Phillfan (afamu). Even Duke fans think he is a tool.

 

[gunslingerdick]

How does the next game have any more meaning than last night? Seems like an excuse for a loss to me.

Keep in mind that Allen got his 3rd foul with 17 left and went to the bench and that Jefferson was also in foul trouble.

I would say 12 out of the last 15 doesn't agree with your enthusiasm.

If your points help you get by last night that is fine, but that sure wasn't Duke's best game. Jefferson was non existent.

That all UNC had to do was make their FT's is an excuse. Duke made only 3 more than UNC.

And you should take a look at your schedule. When the two teams meet again, you will have more than 3 losses in conference, so not sure why games means more than this one.

Duke can't play much better than they did. They're not going to shoot at that clip many games and they're never going to shoot at that clip away from home.

There aren't many people that come away from that game thinking duke is a better team than Carolina. You might. But you'd be in the minority. We're better built for a deep run than duke is. That's the plain truth. And the rest of the season will show that.

 

[gunslingerdick]

Duke deff did not play their best game!..got nothing from the bigs..Carolina hasn't shot the ball the way they did all year if anybody played their best it's UNC y'all shot like 55 58%!! Sure y'all didn't hit ur FTs but how many times are you gonna get more FT attempts then Duke ? Lol..You keep saying if we would have hit our FTs we would have won..but what you fail to realize is y'all are a poor shooting team period.. That shot good last night..Duke won because we limited yalls strength ..rebounding!.Dukes ceiling is much higher then Yalls this year .Dukes just starting to get an identity ..I'd be worried by the time Duke faces y'all again..lol

I'll try to look past the grammatical errors and just the general buffoonery of that post and address a few things.

Shooting - We shot a high percentage from 2 point land - like we always do. We missed some 3s that our percentages say we'd usually make. The percentages also say that we're a better FT shooting team than what you saw last night. Your statement of "y'all are a poor shooting team" is just not accurate. You could have said that in years past. But this year, we're shooting the ball fairly well. As far as getting more FTs than duke, uhh, we usually do. We play inside, where fouls are more likely to occur. Y'all are a jumpshooting team so it stands to reason that the team that plays in the paint is going to get more FTs. As far as rebounding, duke did a nice job. But make no mistake, not having our starting PF was a big deal. Hicks isn't an exceptional rebounder (he's ok), but his offensive prowess would have required duke to send help leaving Meeks alone for weakside rebounds. That's why we're such a good rebounding team - because we have two skilled offensive post players that require attention leaving the basket exposed for offensive rebounds.

As far as your ceiling, at the beginning of the season, I would have agreed. But Giles is a shell of his former self and will never be what anyone thought he would - at least not in his time at duke. He contributed very little last night and there's just not much you can point to that would make you believe he's going to make a big jump in the last month of the season. Bolden too. He can give you a good play here and there but his offense is garbage and he doesn't understand defensive principles yet. Y'all are about at your ceiling. Sure, you'll gel a little more and roles might be more defined. But you have 3 players - Allen, Kennard and Tatum that will have to carry you. They can do a pretty good job of that like they did last night. But you can't shoot like that every game. You can't even shoot like that most games. And when y'all can't shoot well, you're not a good enough team to rely on defense or rebounding to save you. We're a better built team - more balanced and more capable of beating different styles. We're better equipped for a run at a title than duke is.

I'm still saying we'll win the regular season.

 

[DSouthr]

Duke had players that did not play their best as well. It is why they play the games. Jefferson had 2 pts and 6 rebounds. He is a double double machine.

So, they played. Some played well, some played bad. Some were in foul trouble, some were hurt. Duke won. Move on.

I think UNC wins in CH. But only the team who wins the first game has a chance to sweep.

BS, when you are hitting open treys all night there is not a lot of need to get it to your bigs and not a ton of rebounds to be had.

 

[gunslingerdick]

Duke had players that did not play their best as well. It is why they play the games. Jefferson had 2 pts and 6 rebounds. He is a double double machine.

You have to go back 12 games - to Dec 10th against UNLV - to find Jefferson's last double-double. And that last one he had way back then was only his 6th of the season. A real double-double machine.

 

[Heelicious]

You have to go back 12 games - to Dec 10th against UNLV - to find Jefferson's last double-double. And that last one he had way back then was only his 6th of the season. A real double-double machine.

GSD - awesome fact check. Maybe ShAqmille O'Neal Jefferson's double- double machinery is counted in double digits minutes played and double digits on his jersey....

 

[GoNtheDistance]

Amile Jefferson is absolute trash. He nearly fouled out in a game in which our primary post scorer didn't even play. He also didn't rebound worth a crap against a much smaller line up than we usually throw on the floor. I said he was trash before the game and last night showed exactly why. Anybody who acts like Dook gets consistent production from their interior is flat out full of shit.

 

[SKYBLUEWITCHEESE]

Duke deff did not play their best game!..got nothing from the bigs..Carolina hasn't shot the ball the way they did all year if anybody played their best it's UNC y'all shot like 55 58%!! Sure y'all didn't hit ur FTs but how many times are you gonna get more FT attempts then Duke ? Lol..You keep saying if we would have hit our FTs we would have won..but what you fail to realize is y'all are a poor shooting team period.. That shot good last night..Duke won because we limited yalls strength ..rebounding!.Dukes ceiling is much higher then Yalls this year .Dukes just starting to get an identity ..I'd be worried by the time Duke faces y'all again..lol

When the perimeter guys shoot 44 of the 57 shots, there is no room for anyone else. That was Duke's A game. Probably the best they will play all year. Peaking early in true Duke fashion.

 

[imajericho]

Amile Jefferson was awesome. He doesn't seemed to have recovered from his last injury well.

 

[coryfly]

I think Jefferson isn't healthy. He was pretty good earlier in the year. He also defended Meeks pretty well when he was in, which is one reason Hicks is so important. Jefferson can't guard two people. Regardless, as much as the Dukies made fun of Maye I wonder what they think about him showing better than either one of their stud freshman bigs who combined for about six minutes.

 

[Archer2]

The two main points made by the OP said it all. FT's are very often the difference in close games and we simply didn't make ours.

Why Roy continues to allow too many open looks from beyond the arc is mind boggling. He has got to be one of the most stubborn coaches I've ever seen with regards to not calling TO's and leaving perimeter shooters open. The only way dook beats us, even with Isaiah out and Joel struggling, is to beat us from outside. And we play right into their hands by helping down and leaving two very good shooters wide open.

Also, Nate played entirely too many minutes. IMO, 7th should have played more, as should have Tony. Poor coaching job by Roy, I'm not going to sugar coat it. I am very disappointed in him right now. His adamant refusal to adapt his strategy to specific teams is a serious flaw and he doesn't appear to know it.

 

[gobblercalls]

The two main points made by the OP said it all. FT's are very often the difference in close games and we simply didn't make ours.

Why Roy continues to allow too many open looks from beyond the arc is mind boggling. He has got to be one of the most stubborn coaches I've ever seen with regards to not calling TO's and leaving perimeter shooters open. The only way dook beats us, even with Isaiah out and Joel struggling, is to beat us from outside. And we play right into their hands by helping down and leaving two very good shooters wide open.

Also, Nate played entirely too many minutes. IMO, 7th should have played more, as should have Tony. Poor coaching job by Roy, I'm not going to sugar coat it. I am very disappointed in him right now. His adamant refusal to adapt his strategy to specific teams is a serious flaw and he doesn't appear to know it.

I'm just a fan of about 50+ years, not a coach or expert by any means. What everybody is suggesting is a complete revamp of the defense the team has been taught, some of them for 4 years. Is that a good idea when you're going into your rivals gym? Also, we were already 1 big man starter short and our "inside" defense was relying on a walk on, a freshman, and a player just returning from an injury.Is it a good idea when that's your situation to try to force the other team to beat you inside? If Meeks gets 2 fouls early what then? Roy's method gave us the chance to win. If the players on the court had executed UNC probably wins that game.

 

[Archer2]

Gobbler, I'm merely a fan of 50+ years as well. My opinion is simply that.

As for us being short handed inside, there's some truth to that. But Kennedy, Luke, and Tony only played 61 minutes combined and had 6 PF's between them.

As for the difficulty of changing your defensive help philosophy, it really is pretty simple. Tell your guards to stay within 5 feet of their man at all times, close enough to recover back out and contest treys. Our kids are plenty smart enough to handle that.

I'm tired of losing to dook because Roy won't adjust his defense to limit the effectiveness of dook's forte, which is perimeter shooting. It was my biggest issue with the way Dean coached defense and Roy inherited that belief that teams won't consistently beat you from outside. But some can and will, dook being the prime example. We play to their strength versus limiting it. Makes no sense to me.

I love Roy as our coach, I'm one of his biggest fans. But his refusal to alter his gameplan for specific teams and adapt to the increasing role of the perimeter shot drives me crazy. One of the common themes when discussing the upcoming game was the necessity of us guarding Allen and Kennard behind the arc. Several people mentioned it as a key. If we can see that, surely Roy should.

 

[jeans15]

All coaches adapt their defense to who they are playing...was that a serious comnent..lol...UNC only can win a championship when the players are good enough to win it on their own....2005 and 2009 had overwhelming talent...this team is not smart enough to win a NC on its own.

 

[DSouthr]

Gobbler, I'm merely a fan of 50+ years as well. My opinion is simply that.

As for us being short handed inside, there's some truth to that. But Kennedy, Luke, and Tony only played 61 minutes combined and had 6 PF's between them.

As for the difficulty of changing your defensive help philosophy, it really is pretty simple. Tell your guards to stay within 5 feet of their man at all times, close enough to recover back out and contest treys. Our kids are plenty smart enough to handle that.

I'm tired of losing to dook because Roy won't adjust his defense to limit the effectiveness of dook's forte, which is perimeter shooting. It was my biggest issue with the way Dean coached defense and Roy inherited that belief that teams won't consistently beat you from outside. But some can and will, dook being the prime example. We play to their strength versus limiting it. Makes no sense to me.

I love Roy as our coach, I'm one of his biggest fans. But his refusal to alter his gameplan for specific teams and adapt to the increasing role of the perimeter shot drives me crazy. One of the common themes when discussing the upcoming game was the necessity of us guarding Allen and Kennard behind the arc. Several people mentioned it as a key. If we can see that, surely Roy should.

Just re-watched this game, saw some specific problems, we defended a little better than I initially thought. This was a tight game but we started to unravel in the last 5mins and the last 2 minutes stuff just went against us.

First, Tatum had a stretch where he really abused Luke in that second half, Luke just could not stay with him. Kennard did some of the same to Nate, just played over him. Thou Kenny did try to make it hard, Kennard was able to play over him as well. BRob came in and put a blanket on kennard, his length really bothered Kennard and once forced a TO on tripster as well. He gave us something that I think could have helped us in that second half, his wing span was effective.

gary told me the assists from 7th just happened? No, one really nice behind the back dribble to avoid a charge and sweet execution of the break, 2 really nice no looks, and a nice slip. Had one nice slip to Luke that Luke could not finish to go along with a couple really nice finishes on drives. Kid was solid, please don't down play that.

Problem in that first half, duke was looking to drive and either finish or kick back out to spot up shooters, we sagged in as if we were worried about their big men and just left the outside open. Truth is duke didn't take advantage of as many of those as they could have, they had shooters without anyone within 10ft of them running around by spreading us out and driving the lane.

IN that second half, we got burned several times on attempted traps, let them play 3 on 4 when they broke our traps. Justin was slow to close out on shooters multiple times, Joel was as well. But this was a tight game in to the last 5 mins but Joel missed the front end of a 1 & 1, then missed the front end of a 2 shot foul, took a really bad shot that lead duke to a break out op, didn't get to a couple long rebounds, as the clock ticked down we had to foul and they made their freebys.

Felt we should have put more ball pressure that would force them to initiate their offense closer to the mid court stripe, our guards should have been able to stay in front of them but we let them come in to deep and they got the mismatches way to often, hurts when the ball is around top of the key and Joel is inside the paint. They were looking constantly to take meeks off high ball screens and they killed him with that.

Duke was well drilled on how to attack us, spread us and isolate bad matchups, dive draw or freeze help and kick back out to spot up open shooters. Bad shots, missed free throws and unfortunate ball bounces hurt us in the last 5 mins.

 

[Archer2]

All coaches adapt their defense to who they are playing...was that a serious comnent..lol...UNC only can win a championship when the players are good enough to win it on their own....2005 and 2009 had overwhelming talent...this team is not smart enough to win a NC on its own.

Couldn't disagree more.

 

[gunslingerdick]

All coaches adapt their defense to who they are playing...was that a serious comnent..lol...UNC only can win a championship when the players are good enough to win it on their own....2005 and 2009 had overwhelming talent...this team is not smart enough to win a NC on its own.

I was gonna disagree but you really sound like you know what you're talking about.

 

[DSouthr]

All coaches adapt their defense to who they are playing...was that a serious comnent..lol...UNC only can win a championship when the players are good enough to win it on their own....2005 and 2009 had overwhelming talent...this team is not smart enough to win a NC on its own.

I absolutely not all coaches adapt what they do based on who they play. Bennet is going to play his pac man defense no matter who they play, Bohiem is going to use that Syracuse zone no matter who the opponents are and if you see Roy's team in a zone you know he went to it kicking and screaming.

Now when we say "UNC only can win a championship when the players are good enough to win it on their own..." that is IMO, both true and false in the same sentence. Absolutely true UNC needs to have great players to win championships but that is not unique to UNC, that is pretty much a statement that applies to every D-1 program. K does not win with less than great players, same true for Ky, same true for any championship program.

But it is the "win it on their own" portion I can't agree with. First, of course, a coach can only take things so far, at some point the players have to take it on themselves (applies to every program). Players have to execute while in any game, players have to work on their skills, take the jump shots, get and maintain that fitness, put in the many hours of off season work.

But the way you phrased it makes it seem that Roy is of little help on the side lines during games. Now Roy as a coach, just like a player, IMO has great games and games that disappoint, case in point this last duke game I do not feel was one of his best but games vs FSU this season, NC State this season stand as examples of solid coaching decisions. There are things that Roy's teams do not do that I wish he would reconsider but far more that I watch is us play beautiful basketball, amazing structure with 5 players on the same page on the court.

As much as Roy hates his teams playing zones, you still see it at times, maybe not as much as I would like but I am not in the hall of fame, Roy is for a reason. But point is Roy does make solid adjustment far more than not. It is the fate of all coaches, it does not matter as much to fans if the quality of what the coach wants done is great or not, what matters more to them is the players production even if it does not reflect great coaching. Example, a bad shot that goes in, Justin makes a lot of those, Joel does as well. Guarantee ya, Roy is not fond of 35+ ft jumpers with a hand in your face early in the shot clock, few coaches would be because it is the text book bad shot but it is loved when the ball goes in. Fans look at results is my point, not so much the quality the drives those results.

 

[jeans15]

I absolutely not all coaches adapt what they do based on who they play. Bennet is going to play his pac man defense no matter who they play, Bohiem is going to use that Syracuse zone no matter who the opponents are and if you see Roy's team in a zone you know he went to it kicking and screaming.

Now when we say "UNC only can win a championship when the players are good enough to win it on their own..." that is IMO, both true and false in the same sentence. Absolutely true UNC needs to have great players to win championships but that is not unique to UNC, that is pretty much a statement that applies to every D-1 program. K does not win with less than great players, same true for Ky, same true for any championship program.

But it is the "win it on their own" portion I can't agree with. First, of course, a coach can only take things so far, at some point the players have to take it on themselves (applies to every program). Players have to execute while in any game, players have to work on their skills, take the jump shots, get and maintain that fitness, put in the many hours of off season work.

But the way you phrased it makes it seem that Roy is of little help on the side lines during games. Now Roy as a coach, just like a player, IMO has great games and games that disappoint, case in point this last duke game I do not feel was one of his best but games vs FSU this season, NC State this season stand as examples of solid coaching decisions. There are things that Roy's teams do not do that I wish he would reconsider but far more that I watch is us play beautiful basketball, amazing structure with 5 players on the same page on the court.

As much as Roy hates his teams playing zones, you still see it at times, maybe not as much as I would like but I am not in the hall of fame, Roy is for a reason. But point is Roy does make solid adjustment far more than not. It is the fate of all coaches, it does not matter as much to fans if the quality of what the coach wants done is great or not, what matters more to them is the players production even if it does not reflect great coaching. Example, a bad shot that goes in, Justin makes a lot of those, Joel does as well. Guarantee ya, Roy is not fond of 35+ ft jumpers with a hand in your face early in the shot clock, few coaches would be because it is the text book bad shot but it is loved when the ball goes in. Fans look at results is my point, not so much the quality the drives those results.

Adjust...If you don't. You lose games you shouldn't.

You don't give a team that likes to shoot 3s good looks at the 3.

Hoping teams miss is not a sound strategy.

My biggest deal is why play 10 people if you are not going to play pressure defense.

 

[DSouthr]

Adjust...If you don't. You lose games you shouldn't.

You don't give a team that likes to shoot 3s good looks at the 3.

Hoping teams miss is not a sound strategy.

My biggest deal is why play 10 people if you are not going to play pressure defense.

No argument from me, I agree !

 

[jeans15]

Couldn't disagree more.

Great talent also has to have the smarts to win championships. It's not just this team tbh. There are a lot of teams out their like that. A teams ability to anticipate or lack of reflects in that.

There is a reason we lose to Duke and it's not talent.

Having said that...Roy's best coaching jobs are in when he has less talented or experienced teams.

Oklahoma in the regional finals in 2009 was his best coaching in a game performance. He was on point.