There has been a lot of discussion about what constitutes "Carolina Basketball"
Any coach or team that doesn't buy into playing "hard, smart & together" are not going to be successful . Several posters alluded to this in their posts. Every team has to play hard, smart & together and it's not, as some believe, our birthright in defining what Carolina Basketball is about.
What is the definition of "Carolina Basketball"?
To understand this, you have to know it's birthplace and its architect, DES.
The initial fast break offense was designed and implemented in 1967. Secondary
break came the next year 1968 with 20,22,24 offenses w/ 20 being dismissed later. The 42, & 44 variations on defense came in 1970. Over the subsequent years, Coach Smith made tweaks on both sides of the ball and, of course nomenclature changed, and I never had an inclination to keep up with-it but enjoyed watching it though.
The key to offensive success was the speed in which the players got down the court with forwards running sideline to opposite corners, and the Center up the middle and PG working on an off guard dragging a screen, if needed. Once at the top of the key the PG was to see where the weak point of the defense was and attack that position with a dribble drive and then either take a shot, if open, or pass left or right to the forwards, if open, and if not, the ball goes to the 2G to re-set or take a shot, if open once you get a collapse by the defense which happened quite frequently.
What we have been watching is not Carolina Basketball, but a poor variation of it. When this team can inbound the ball and get it in their basket 94 feet away without the ball ever touching the court, that's Carolina Basketball guys. It's like poetry in motion or watching a ballet when that happens. Knowing Coach, he would flip over in his grave most likely if he had to watch us weave in and out and burn up time and energy dribbling without a purpose. I understand that the game has evolved over the years and with today's athletes it seems that they are not as interested in winning as they are in showing out.
Take, for instance, acknowledging your teammate's pass that got you a score. That was a staple in DES's offense, and if you did not thank your teammate by pointing him out to the fans and TV watchers, you got pulled and had a seat on the bench with the others for a while. Huddling at the F/T line and making sure everyone had time & score and knew what defense we would be in. I miss those and other things that have disappeared from our Carolina Basketball.
I miss my era.