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Sunday, March 19, 2006
11:50:48 PM EST
Feeling Surprised
In Shock
I don't know what to say, this season jsut came to a very abrupt ending so I'm just give you the article off the school site.
North Carolina Falls To George Mason, 65-60, In Second Round
David Noel led the Tar Heels with 22 points in the contest.
March 19, 2006
Final Stats
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) - Michigan State? Gone. Defending national champion North Carolina? Gone, too.
Any more questions about whether George Mason belongs in the NCAA tournament?
Didn't think so.
The upstart Patriots turned Carolina a whole different shade of blue Sunday, knocking the third-seeded Tar Heels out with a 65-60 victory that set up a mid-major matchup in the round of 16.
George Mason (25-7) will play Wichita State on Friday in the Washington Regional semifinals, pitting the Colonial Athletic Association against the Missouri Valley's regular-season champion. The Patriots won 70-67 at Wichita State last month.
"There's been talk about the Missouri Valley all year," said Lamar Butler, who led the Patriots with 18 points. "Hardly anyone has talked about the CAA. It's hard to believe we're both in the Sweet 16."
Not for Michigan State or Carolina, the two pedigree programs that got upset - if that's the right term - by an at-large team from an overlooked league. George Mason is the first Colonial Athletic team to make the round of 16 since Richmond did it in 1988, and only the third overall.
This one has everything it takes to play with the big boys. That was coach Jim Larranaga's message to his green-uniformed team before the opening tip.
"The last comment I made to them was, 'What color is kryptonite?"' Larranaga said. "They said, 'Green.' I said, 'Look at your jerseys. You have everything you need to win this game."'
Carolina showed it wasn't anything like the super team that won the NCAA tournament last year. The Tar Heels (23-8) lost their top seven scorers from that team, forcing coach Roy Williams to use four freshmen much more than he'd prefer.
 Three of them were on the floor at various times Sunday, and played down to their age for the first time since early in the season.
"We're going to cry about it, be sad, but it just wasn't our time," said senior forward David Noel, who was on the floor for the final seconds of last year's title game.
Nimble forwards Will Thomas and Jai Lewis dominated up front, and the Patriots shocked the Tar Heels by going to a newly installed zone defense in the first half to climb out of a 16-2 hole.
In the second half, the Patriots went back to their man-to-man and beat the Tar Heels straight up, making most of the clutch shots. Their poise and balance helped them make a point.
"I think a lot of experts expected them to dominate us," Larranaga said. "We have enough faith and confidence in ourselves that we're not listening to the experts and the so-called prognosticators."
Carolina faded down the stretch, missing four straight shots and repeatedly fouling. George Mason went 9-of-12 from the line in the final 3 minutes to pull away.
It was yet another second-round stunner for Williams, who suffered one of his worst in the same arena 16 years ago. His Kansas team was considered a title contender in 1992, but got knocked off by Texas-El Paso in the second round.
Williams was so upset as it wound down Sunday that he picked up his folding chair and slammed it down courtside. He tried everything, even yelling at his team during a timeout to try to fire it up. Nothing worked.
He also made a significant coaching mistake, putting his team in a press during a late timeout because he thought Carolina was down by three. Instead, the score was tied at 54. George Mason broke the press and Butler was fouled, going to the line for two free throws that put the Patriots ahead to stay.
Williams sniffled while he recounted his late-game blunder. Then, he thought about what his young team had accomplished.
"They're an unbelievable group of kids that took me for a great ride," Williams said.
This one will leave the Tar Heels blue for some time. That quartet of freshmen had them thinking another deep tournament run was possible, especially after they scored Carolina's last 29 points in an opening-round win over Murray State.
On Sunday, they combined for only 20 and looked like freshmen in the second half, which started with a tone-setting 8-0 run by George Mason.
Thomas and Lewis repeatedly drove for layups and bank shots against Carolina's front line, sparking the comeback. The Patriots also took Carolina forward Tyler Hansbrough out of the game by double- and triple-teaming him.
Hansbrough, who set a Carolina freshman record with 14 20-point games this season, was only 4-of-11 from the field when he went to the bench with his third foul and 13:08 remaining. He finished with 10 points on 5-of-13 shooting.
"They sent a lot of guys after me," Hansbrough said. "That was part of their plan."
There was some nice coaching by George Mason, too. Larranaga installed a zone defense last week, figuring his man-to-man team would need it to keep up in the tournament.
He unveiled the zone after Carolina's opening 16-2 run, and the Tar Heels bogged down. North Carolina shot 36 percent from the field and got to the line for a total of four free throws in the game.
Afterward, Larranaga remembered what he told his team before the NCAA selection show one week earlier at his home.
"If we make the tournament," he told his players, "we'll be given an opportunity to prove ourselves in front of the entire nation."
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Thursday, February 23, 2006
10:04:59 PM EST
Feeling Happy
Hearing Dancing With The Stars (Go Stacy)-Drew's gonna win
A Look At A Rising Star
You want to talk about the reasons that we've exceeded everyone's expectations, including ourselves? Look no further than our 6'9 245 pound freshman power forward. Everyone knows he's was one of the top recruits in the country and it was huge news when he committed to UNC, but no one, and I mean no one on god's green earth new he was going to have the kind of impact that he's had on this basketball team. Now I haven't been watching college basketball long enough to know this for a absolute 100% fact so some would be prompted to argue with but based on what I've seen and what I know (which is a lot) I don't think that there has ever been a better Freshman season than the one this man is having. I mean c'mon he's already on NBADraft.net, and he's a freshman, and not one with Marvin Williams projections at that.
 The inch and 25 pounds he's gained since getting to North Carolina cannot possibly amount to how much he's gained to lead UNC
Some one has even decided to dedicate his own to site, Tyler50.com, to him, now how many freshman in the history of sports have gotten their own site midway through their freshman year? I can with certainty answer no. Because no one had lead his team like Tyler has in his freshman year. And why not? When a freshman can pull off 18.8 points per game with 7.5 rebounds as a freshman, plus lead his team with low expectations to be ranked and definitely in the NCAA tournament her deserves his own site.
And his efforts have not been ignored by the mainstream college basketball either. He's virtual lock for ACC rookie of the year and NCAA rookie of the year. I mean he's only won it for the week year 5 times, including three weeks in the row 1/3/06-1/16/06. He's being talked about as a mid-late 1st round draft pick as freshman, and he still continues to do his thing with all this attention on the defending national champions.
And the best part this guy is that he's on the floor. He's Tim Duncan in the way that he has a knack for rebounding and scoring on the low block and uses his strength well to create space. Yet he's not Tim Duncan in the way that'll he'll sit back and bore you to death. He's an exciting player to watch just his style he's doing things and every time you look up he's done something else (he even shot a 3-pointer), and a lot of what makes him exciting unlike Tim Duncan is that he's a scrappy player who hits the glass hard on both sides of the floor, Tim Duncan on the other hand you get your rebounds and aggressiveness but it's really the same old stuff. Which is actually not necessarily bad because the one thing NBA and all pro scouts look for is consistency but you get the point.
 You see what he's done on the court, no wonder UNC's rank has moved up to 21st in the nation and has gotten back some respect
His résumé on the court this year speaks for itself and we might have to wait until he gets to the NBA (or wins the John Wooden Award) and becomes a national icon to really see the person under the shorts, and shoes because you know a freshman going to be mild-mannered and act humble (he's a freshman what do you expect). But I'm sure his good reputation that is well known in Carolina will spread through nation after everyone knows his name in maybe a Cinderella as Dicky V. would say in the big dance. No matter what happens this year, you will be hearing from Tyler Hansbrough.
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Tuesday, February 7, 2006
6:34:59 PM EST
Feeling Ecstatic
Hearing 106 & Park
UNC vs. Duke Is there really anything else to say?
Tonight is the only night where I can't love the ground J.J Redick walks on. Well actually I can since they're playing it at Chapel Hill (I love that floor anyway). This is the first time they've played since I started up this blog so I feel that I should go through the history of these two teams. There is truly no rivalry in all of Sports the UNC-Duke. PLease don't give me that Yankee-Redsox or even Michigan-Ohio State anyone who is a true fan of college basketball know that comparing the rivalries every respective sport can tell that UNC-Duke is the biggest and the best.
 See look they're literally going toe to toe.
Now to the most important point, that being UNC is clearly better. THe stats tell the story and before we get to the stats these stats are albiet Duke (and I hate to say this) has more prestige with the main stream than UNC which is why they always have a better recruiting class. That being said, you should know:
-Carolina leads the all-time series with Duke, 124-95, despite the fact that Duke has won 15 of the last 18 games
-The Heels are #2 in wins. Duke is #4
-Carolina is 31-30 against Mike Krzyzewski-coached Duke teams
-Carolina has been ranked in the AP poll in 97 of the previous 119 games. Duke was ranked in 74 of those 119 match-ups
-Carolina has won the ACC regular-season title 24 times, including in 2004-05. The Blue Devils are second with 17 regular-season crowns
-Carolina has won 16 NCAA Regional championships and played in an NCAA-record 16 Final Fours. Duke has played in 14 Final Fours
There's more than the shear numbers there's the history in general of these two teams that can be enjoyed whether you're the Tarheel blue or the evil shade. These are the two most storied basketball teams in sports. here's a certain beauty if you can use that word to that rivalry. When you look at we both have the two best college coaches of all-time Mike Kryzewski ( no I didnot just that up) and Dean Smith. You have the big time private school versus the first public university. You think about the name that went to each school (we also happen win that but whatever) you think about Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Antwan Jamison, Vince Carter, Christian Laettner, Jerry Stackhouse and the list goes on and on. Which is part of why you know your getting something special, in my almost professional opinion I think we're watching at least two future NBA stars in J.J. Redick (yeah like it took a professional for that one) and Tyler Hansbrough (man he's still only a freshman!).
I do have to get to the actual but being fellow tarheels fan I'll turn that on over to Sportz Assassin: Carolina-Duke :
Duke heads into this game as a decided favorite. They are the #2 team in the country with their only loss coming to a rabid Georgetown team.
Carolina heads into this game on a modest win streak, with an impressive win in Maryland to boot. However, the Heels have been less than stellar at home of late.
But, while Duke will walk into Chapel Hill with such a stellar record....they have squeezed by a bit this season. They had to beat Virginia Tech at home with a half court buzzer beater. They also let Florida State take them to overtime in Cameron. North Carolina beat both of those teams on the road already.
You will see someof the top freshmen in this game. Duke has Josh McRoberts....the top rated player in the Class of 2005.....and Greg Paulus. North Carolina brings in possible freshman of the year Tyler Hansbrough...as well as Bobby Frasor, Danny Green and Marcus Ginyard.
But the biggest names will be on Duke's side. JJ Redick is a Player Of the Year candidate and Sheldon Williams is a fierce inside presence on both ends of the court. How North Carolina deals with these two guys will set the tone for the game.
In the past....UNC has done a masterful job negating these two. Williams has had to deal with Carolina's Sean May who ended last season with a Final Four MVP award. May also had the game of his life the last time these two met....he had 26 pts and 24 rebounds in the Tar Heel win.
Redick hasn't had a huge game against the Tar Heels [shooting a combined 25-of-71]....mainly because defensive hawk Jackie Manuel did the best job in the nation at getting in his face and staying there. Manuel, like May, is gone so the Heels will have to find guys to do the job.
Those "guys" are freshmen. The true test of Hansbrough will be in this game against an older, wiser center. Heels fans [like me] may hate to admit this....but Hansbrough plays like a Dookie in his passion and can-do attitude. That will be a good thing against Duke: he won't be intimidated.
As for Redick, I'm very scared of what he may do. The best Heels defender is Ginyard...but he doesn't start and, again, maybe to young to understand the nuances of defending Redick as Manuel did. The key is to fight thru the screens....and Ginyard must do so if he wants to stick to JJ.
Another key match-up will be the point guard spot....where both teams start freshmen. Bobby Frasor will have to deal with that rabid Duke pressure. He cannot make too many mistakes or Duke will run away with this one. On the other side, Paulus has had his ups and downs too....and will have to deal with Carolina's defensive intensity and getting back on defense to limit Tar Heel transition points....something that must be there for Carolina to win.
...You will get your prediction from me though...
Pick with your head not with your heart. Duke wins 71-63, you'd think it would be a blow out but the defense of UNC and the lack of by Duke is what's going to keep the Tarheels in it. By the way if we do win on my re entry I'll apologize for not believing in us which I do, it's just I have to pick a winner, Duke and J.J. Redick. I'll apologize when maybe we win.
Written by y2cooljadeegssj1
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Tuesday, January 10, 2006
8:40:04 PM EST
Feeling Ecstatic
Hearing UNC vs. Virginia Tech on ESPN2
North Carolina C'mon and Raise Up
"North Carolina c'mon and raise up! Take your shirt off, put it in the air, spin it around like a helicopter!" As Petey Pablos song goes and if you're a UNC fan you should be doing that right now. I'm going to talk our hot streak, each win, finally getting into the Top 25 rankings and moving up, and tonight game which is currently going down in Blacksburg vs. Virginia Tech.
The Streak
 Roy Williams and co. have been killing 'em
For a three game win streak you can't get much bigger than this. I already told you about our absolute thrashing of UNC Asheville. But we also beat Davidson 82-58 and I'll get to that game right now. In that game freshman Tyler Hansbrough led us with a season-high 23 points to lead us to the victory. We also had a solid defensive performance and managed to force 13 steals, with freshman Marcus Ginyard having 4 of those. Overall we expected to win big, we won big and that was only a tune-up for the game that was coming next.
This was the game that was our gut-check. The game that in many peoples mind was the game that showed whether we we an over-achieving young team who had no chance to really make any noise or whether we could could be repeat Cinderella. Not only did we should up the critics we shut down the number 13 ranked team in the country and one of our many huge rivals in our way that was NC State. This was made out to be some kind of big huge game UNC turned it into nothing. "We have to play for now. The games we won last year and the year before that weren't going to help us win this game. We just put all that behind us and went out and played." said David Noel. This was a very spread out offensive bid also, freshman point guard Bobby Frasor led the team to a win his 17 points. Hansbrough dropped 20, while and David Noel contributed 14. Overall one team scored the first 11 points, the other had the final 13. In between, No. 25 North Carolina did just enough to continue its recent domination of North Carolina State.
 North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough, center, puts up a shot against NC State's Andrew Brackman (40) left, and Ilian Evtomov (3) during the second half of their Tobacco road rivalry win against NC State
Our current standing is better than anyone expected. Where 9-2 and 1-0 in the ACC with our last win. We also cracked the Top 25 at number 25 with our predictable win against Davidson. We have a lot of ACC games coming up including Virginia Tech tonight (which is playing itself as supposedly a great match-up just 'cause they're in Blacksburg), Miami, Florida State and BC all in the next 5 games. If we win all those and the Blue Devils make one slip up we could find ourselves right at the top of the ACC.
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Thursday, December 29, 2005
2:58:24 PM EST
Feeling Ecstatic
Attack Of the Tar Heels!
I never thought I'd turn on a basketball game and see the score 50-15. UNC more than redeemed themselves for the loss to USC. They made it look like coach Mayfields White Plains Tigers high school team (we're #1 in the state, yeah boy!) were playing a certain varsity team in Corpis Christi. I siad we could rool over those guys in our sleep I knew we'd come back in aveng but I had no idea we were going to absolutely murder UNC Ashville they way we did, it was just an onslaught. Everyone scored but the cheerleaders.
I mean with all the turn overs, it was slam, after slam, after slam it was painful to watch...if you ever went to UNC Asheville. Then again I guess you'll get a lot of chances to dunk when your opponent gives up 22 turnovers in the first half. After not having a defensive player award for the firs time in two years the defense really stepped up and it translated into an incredible offensive performance.
 Tyler Hansborough finished with 8 steals one of the team record. Which is probably where the knicks who had no steals last night steals went. Your figure you can get one by accident.
This is what Eddie Biedenbach, the UNC Asheville head coach had to say: "Well, Carolina had some of their doldrums before the Christmas break against Southern Cal and we had ours after. This will be a great learning experience for us. We didn't learn anything playing out here tonight except that you can't be flat playing against somebody. You've got to come out with emotion and play every play like it's the last play. We didn't do that. We didn't execute. We didn't move without the ball. We just didn't play. It wasn't that our guys didn't try hard. Our guys tried all week.
...how do you lose like that and try hard, what did you put a JV team against them? these are still the defending National Champions, come on now...
 (Eddie Biendenbach) Cheer up, think of this way, technically you're still UNC. Ha! Ha!
"Sometimes you need an easy game, especially coming off a loss," David Noel said but easy was and understatement you figure a bunch of middle-schoolers could contest them better than that, actually no about the same. I said that we could roll over them in our sleep but we could've crushed them in a coma. Overall it was just a sweet game an one that will not soon be forgotten.
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Wednesday, December 28, 2005
2:57:36 PM EST
Feeling Chillin'
Gamely Report Cards
While the official North Carolina Men's basketball website it came to my attention that after every game coach Roy Williams gives his players report cards. Though the article by Adam Lucas... was actually abot the embarrassing 74-59 loss to Southern Cal that now puts them at 6-2 he did really tell you about the report card system. Very interesting.
 Maybe this system should help Rashawn Terry and company to bounce back in their next game agains UNC Asheville - Not really, we could roll all over those guys in our sleep.
When coach Roy WIlliams gives out the reports it's not a computer made report with comments on it, he hand wrotes all comments and shows the "good checks" and "bad checks". Let me further explain, Roy WIlliams and his staff watches game film about 1 hour per half (you might be confused, remmber no commercials) and give shis players good checks and bad checks on every possession. They get checks for things like boxing out on passes, hustling, staying on their man while playing defense, getting on the ball on defense, smart passes, things like that.
All this is not for nothing because there are award winners for eveygame as long as the players good check to bad check ratio is 2:1. As you might imagaine the game against USC was the first time in quite a while that there wasn't a couple of awards. According to coach Williams "It was the first game in two years that we haven't had a defensive award winner or a good plays award winner."
 When you have plays looking like that there are no good plays plays period, USC defense isn't that good.
However, when there are awards a player who get it recieve two "plus points". "Plus points" are pointsthat can be used throughout the season for players to be excused from post-practice conditioning. I think that kind of award has an upside and downside. Any baketball player who has a coach who does that can tell you it's absolute hell. You do enough running during practice and you're worn out so the last thign you wo't to do is conditioning afterwards. On the other hand, if you're are going to do something a team shoudl be one unit and players shouldn't be excused from the unit like their special. Maybe not though because basketball involvesthe least team unity other than on the court than any other sport and since your job is to win it's extra motivation which your team play and be better.
I just thought that this was interesting method and something that should be shared with UNC fans like myself. And this could probably help a lot some peoples (...hmm...) team out so they can perform better on the court.
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12:37:54 AM EST
Feeling Ecstatic
Beginging of a New Era
Welcome to Carolina Tarheel Roundball Blog where it's all Tarheels all the time. Since have no interest in the New York Knicks and college basketball is more fresh and interesting than than the pros I've have decided to dedicate my tam and my heart to this new blog. Considering we lost Sean May, Raymond Felton, Rashawn McCants and Marvin Williams we're doing a great job and that's a testament to Roy Williams.
Dwelling on last year National Championship is something that you'll hear here. Though that night so perfectly shown above was a sweet one it is about moving forward. And believe that the fact they one last year but most of the players still hear were bench-warmers is motivation for those players to try to step up and do it with them in the spotlight. I don't exactly how this year is going to go down. It's just going to be very interesting.
 won't be the ones feeling blue when it's all said and done this year it'll be a team of a darker shade. I think you guys can figure that one out.
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