Hello everyone.
How bad would that skull dragging have been if not for Manek's offense and Leaky's defense?
In 5 of the 7 games that we have lost, we have lost by an average of 18 points. What has been the common denominator in those 5 losses? Gary and Dtodd4475 both touched on it......, guard play. In today's game, as it has been for well over a decade, a team will go as far as the guard play takes them. When we look closely at those 5 losses mentioned, our guard(s) performed miserably in each contest. Overall, we are 0-7 in Q1 games. Not good for an NCAA resume, so you might start thinking about that as well. Will we make the tournament? If we can reach 20 W's, I think so, but will be a 10-12 seed.
There is a reality for all of us that needs to be settled in about this year's team, and that reality is that our guard play for the most part is well below the standard needed to compete with teams like dook and the other 4, who are head and shoulders above us in talent at the guard spot, and couple that fact together with being decidedly outmanned in talent overall and a very short bench, well....., what you see is what you get. If you disagree with these statements, just review the tapes on UT-UK-UM-WF & dook if you can stomach it and get back to me.
Also, if you are thinking that Garcia and Ant being available would have made the difference well...., maybe on the scoreboard, but not the final result.
And another thought for all......, if you think that our coaching is substandard and is a determining factor in our losing to these types of teams, then you need to think about that again. I think we all questioned why Armando was guarding Banchero to start this game, after seeing him go scoreless the rest of the 1st half with Leaky on him. It was the only option available at the time as Leaky was guarding the Steward kid.
We all saw what happened after the switch......, Leaky shuts down Banchero, and the Steward kid now being guarded by Love has his best game of the season with 27 points. Steward is a very good player and is lengthy and very quick and Love or any other player could not stay in front of him. Dook has more weapons than we have defenders that can check them and that reverts back to talent, which, as I mentioned, we lack.
I again want you to remember the last several years under a HOF coach. Were the issues with those teams coaching issues? No, it wasn't coaching, injuries along with not having the talent or the correct mix of talent resulted in those very lean years. We HAVE to infuse this program with TALENTED players at the key positions and those happen to be where the issues reside. Talented-athletic guards are essential in today's college basketball along with sharpshooting wings. You can get along without the dominating post player as long as you have a post player(s) who are serviceable. Although, a dominating post man is always a BIG plus.
Do not think that the Coaching Staff doesn't realize we are talent deficient. Hubert is working on the talent issues and look for a lot of action within the portal to find the missing links post season to add to the new ones for next year. If the 2 visitors we had last night (G.G. Jackson & Stevenson) did not see where they can help UNC after this debacle, then we will lose them both. Trimble and Nickel were there as well, but they have signed already and are in the program, although they might be having second thoughts after witnessing that display......, jk!
As far as the game went, I don't need to point out the good or the bad for any of you who watched it. I have come to one conclusion though, and that is Armando needs some glasses I believe. Many of his shots that he put up were horribly off line and off balance. Like the rest of the guy's sans Manek, they score well when the talent level is even or worse, but against superior talent, they cannot throw it in the ocean from the proverbial boat. Our guards cannot create their own shots when playing against the quick, bigger and more talented defenders.
One thing that is in our favor this year is that the League is way down talent wise and we are benefiting with wins over the teams that are even less talented than we are. The only game that maybe we should have won was the ND game, as I feel we are a tad more talented.
If you still think that coaching is an issue, that's your right to think it. This is Hubert's 1st year and overall, he is getting it done. I, for one, could do without his hyperbole and irritating and endless cheerleading for the players, but that's Hubert's personality, as he is optimistic to a fault some believe. Don't let that fool you at all, as he and this staff are very much aware of where the issues are and have to have the time and the players to fix it, and with the right recruiting acumen, he will get the players.
The problem as I see it with most Carolina diehards, is that they believe we are so much more talented and should be competing with the upper crusts in the league play. Well..., prepare yourself for more disappointments as we are going to get run out of several more gyms in the near future due to the issues at hand. The start to recovery begins with this year's recruiting class. Personally, I will hope for wins in every game left, but I also know what reality dictates to me.
I will end my diatribe by saying that, while I have never denigrated any one player in our program and will take umbrage when others do as it always creates caustic comments, and many times is unfair to the player(s). With these thoughts in kind, let me just say that our program will look entirely different next year, and it will be a good thing. A cleaner house is needed and the occupants will be of better quality.
