I wasn't at Cameron Indoor Stadium Wednesday night, but watched Duke-UNC on TV like a whole lot of other folks. A few postgame thoughts:
1) It's a pleasure listening to Mike Gminski as the color analyst. Gminski has such a history with this rivalry, but also stays neutral and incisive -- always. The G-man can also pull up arcane basketball knowledge, like the time he noted that Seth Curry looked like he was committing an "up-and-down violation" on his pump fake, but that in reality he always kept his toes on the ground. Dell Curry made that pump-fake move the exact same way, as Gminski noted. Raycom's telecast in general was very solid -- when you have Rob Reichley as the director, as this game did, you can count on that.
2) Can we please stop underrating anyone in the Curry family at this point? Surely Seth's 22 points in this rivalry game means that he won't go overlooked anymore. He is way past that now, just like Steph was about 4 years ago. I'm sorry Dell missed seeing this one in person -- his TV duties with the Bobcats keep getting in the way.
3) When the Tar Heels play Duke again in March at Chapel Hill, they have got to find someone who can stay in front of Nolan Smith (who was sensational with 34 points). That's where UNC missed Larry Drew II -- not on offense, where he's limited, but because of his defensive quickness. But Drew II quit on his team, so he wasn't available.
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9 years ago
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Scott - thanks for noting that it's Dell's TV duties with the Bobcats that kept him away. My wife asked me why Seth's mom was there and Dell wasn't, when Dell was always prominent at Steph's games. I figured it was just because Davidson was closer than Durham, enabling him to attend more often.
I hardly think having Larry Drew II on the floor would've been a positive for UNC. I think Smith would've still eaten him alive and he would've probably contributed at least a few more turnovers for Duke to convert into points. Carolina is a better team without him.
I like listening to Giminski as well, but I wouldn't give the overall broadcast rave reviews. Raycom uses less replays than almost any producer today. Part of the tv viewing is analyzing close calls, whether its a block/charge or who tipped a ball out, etc. I have to use DVR more often than not to see it again at the original angle.
Why do they shy away from replays?
biased much?
I felt blessed to be able to watch the Raycom telecast instead of espn, which I'm sure featured Dick Vitale's mouth. Can't stand the guy. As to replays, now that I think about it, the "lack of" was a refreshing break from the ad nauseum of seeing a play time after time. I just enjoyed watching a great game without a lot of audio and visual interference. And as a Tarheel (tarhole to you wolfpackers, hah) fan, I do believe the boys are BACK! Kendall Marshall is gonna be a great one. Suddenly the team has leadership on the floor.
Drew was not the difference, Stricklands foul trouble was the difference. He's the best on ball defender the heels have but that BS charge call against him forced him to sit and then he was not as agressive when he came back in.
Curry and Smith played lights out and no one on the heels really played great yet the game was close. Bullock & McDonald combined for 1-9 from 3pt land. They will not both be that off in Chapel Hill next time around. Either Duke is over rated or UNC is underated b/c based on what I saw they are nearly equal.
Scott, I'm a UNC grad and agree with you completely about Giminski. He does a wonderful job staying neutral, which can't be easy when your jersey is hanging from the rafters.
I wish we could have pulled it out last night, but wow, Marshall is something else to watch. Some of his passes were almost unbelievable. Now if he can just get the ball in the basket...
As a UNC Grad and Fan, my takeaways are this: It took the best game of Smith's career and the best game of Curry's young career, and home cooking in the last three minutes, to beat us by 6. I feel confident that Heels will hold serve at home and would on a neutral site such as Greensboro. I think we are playing better team basketball than they are even after losing the game. They just had shooting nights from two guys that won't happen very often. Heels would take 6 or 7 out of 10 games at a neutral site at this point IMO. Marshall needs backup, but he didn't look winded at any point last night that I recall. He doesn't exert as much energy because he moves the ball with the pass not with his feet. That kid is already very good. Bring on the comments...
"Home cooking..." PLEASE. You really gonna pull out that card? What are you 12 years old?
You forgot to mention that Kyle Singler played perhaps the worst game of his career (3-17 fg). Heels got vastly outplayed in the second half, FACE IT.
Duke would never blow a 16-point lead, even without Kyrie Irving in the lineup.
Re: the "home cooking" there were some suspect calls (Strickland's "charge," Henson's second travel call) however both Smith and Curry played phenomenally for Dook. Had the Tar Heels played as well in the second half as the first, they wouldn't have been in a position for a few questionable calls to affect the outcome of the game. Nothing but respect for the way the Dook players came back to win, but the good guys will get them in Chapel Hill.
If Duke would have played the first half like they played the second half, what do you think the outcome would have been? I just love you TARHOLE fans, worst fans ever!
Have you considered what would have happened if UNC played the way they did in the first? Curious isnt it? FACE IT, it took a career night for fook to squeek out a victory in their own backyard. Feeling very confident about a Heels regular season ACC title right now...
UNC-CHeat.
Imagine the 3/5 rematch with Kyrie Irving in the line-up. Could happen, and would make it a very different game.
Does is slip yalls mind that the reason Smith and Curry had career games was because the Tarheel defenders COULDN'T GUARD THEM. We all know they both are good shooters. K game planned to get them the ball and it worked. Its not like they just got lucky. Face it, youre team didnt hold a lead like they were suppose to. Take it like a man and accept the loss. Quit blaming it on "carrer games" and "home cooking" calls. I fuilly expect the game in Chapel Hill to be a good game, with a chance Carolina will win. Theyre getting better for sure. But to all you Tarhell fans that are trying to make excuses, let it go. Duke was just better tonight. Plain and simple.
Greg
While Nolan had a career high, it's not like that's the only time he's gone for 30+. He's been doing it all year. As for Curry - there's a good chance he or Dawkins will hit clutch shots. As for Singler - he's not going 3-17 next time. Curry was just the guy to step up and K made a wise move by sticking with the hot hand. (how great is it that Duke's depth was the key to them winning...glad to finally see that)
As for the refs, I agree Duke got a few breaks, but I don't think it was that lopsided. Duke (Singler in particular) was hammered in the first half and nothing was called. Zeller (whom I really like) gets away with a lot of contact as well. Everyone things their team gets hosed on the calls.
Bottom line is the experienced defending champs stepped up their intensity and defensive pressure in the 2nd half, hit some clutch shots, and UNC wilted under the pressure. You don't win games by missing layups in the lane and letting the likely ACC POY go 94 feet uncontested for a dunk in the final minute.
UNC is improving, but they've still got some growing up to do. I'd be pleased if I were a UNC fan after the garbage they put out on the floor last season. If Kyrie plays the next game, we will run UNC out of the gym! If Kyrie Irving isn't back yet, I expect the next game will be another classic.
I'm not a Duke or UNC fan, but UNC fans make excuses for every little thing. No one in the ACC let alone the NCAA is going to stop Nolan Smith from getting buckets. He is an NBA point playing against college kids. 4/5 starters for duke shoot the 3 ball at over 36%, and those were "lucky" shooting nights? Get out of here. A handfull of homecourt calls don't whipe out a 16 point lead over the course of a game. If Irving comes back, as much as I hate to admit it, we might as well chalk up another NCAA crown to Duke.
Didnt we see enuff of Dell Curry with the NBA? He was OK but the media is too much hype for both his sons as if anybody gives a good rats behind.
Hype gets old. The Duke Curry is not that good period. One OK game is not worth all this hype.
I have 3 thoughts for y'all.
1) Great game. Much like I've come to expect
2) Both teams are contenders for a post-season run.
3) Thursday morning point guards are as useless as Monday morning QBs.
No..Wait. Make that 4 thoughts:
4) If you have nothing good to say about either team, shut the cake hole.
Um...anonymous...quit whining and just be glad you didn't get beat by 32 again! It took UNC's best half of the year to have a 14 point lead at half. Perhaps if they were better conditioned they could have played a full 40 minutes, and not just 20.
This was a fantastic game no matter how you look at it. It's good for the ACC and the rivalry.
@ anon 9:37
it wasn't conditioning, it was foul trouble that kept our guys on the bench
and to all the duke fans talking about K Irving being back, think how good Marshall will be for UNC by then, after continued reps with the starters. Great passing pg, like Chris Paul without the shooting touch. Should be a good matchup next time around.
And, why do you think Singler had his worst game? It's because Harrison Barnes played great defense on him. In fact, it was a war out there between Barnes and Singler. It was basically a draw between the two, although Singler shot a whole lot worse percentage than Barnes did.
The only way dook can win at Chapel Hill next time is if their bigs step up and neutralize Zeller and Henson. If they don't, Henson and Zeller will dominate again, insuring the Tar Heel victory. Smith can play as good as he can, but I doubt seriously he'll have another career night at Chapel Hill like he did in Derm. Neither will Curry.
So UNC-Durham beats UNC-Chapel Hill. Big deal. Both even steven. UNC-CH will take the tourney from UNC-D.
On another note knucklehead Tom Sorehead says Rivera wants SSmith part of his game? Huh? Boy get off the crack. Smith is finished busted all up scared to get hit & sewed together with screws & pins. Find a middle school to coach & let the Panthers hire a good young healthy WR at least 5 ft tall preferably above 6 ft & change. Rivera has made his 1st moron comment no doubt due to hanging out with TS.
Coach K had the refs right where he wanted them in the second half and the Blue Devils got he crucial calls.Not taking anything away from Dook but we do play again so we will see how the Tarheels come out in that one.
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