The seedings have been announced, the brackets are set, and the NCAA Tournament is about to begin. North Carolina got the #1 seed in the East Regional and they drew a pretty tough bracket. Xavier is the #2, West Virginia is the #3, and Kentucky is the #4. There was a report on one of the sports websites that stated Coach John Calipari of Kentucky is not happy with the #4 seed. He thought they should have been seeded higher. They lost eight games this season.
Most of the "experts" have Kentucky and North Carolina facing each other in the Regional Semifinals. In order for that matchup to occur, North Carolina will have to get by USC/Providence and Kentucky will have to get by Indiana/Chattanooga. In my perfect world, Kentucky will lose to Stony Brook, and all of his freshman will turn pro....again.
It is all about win and advance and Roy Williams said it best when he said that no matter who you play, you have to show up on game day and win. All of the teams have something to prove. North Carolina has to prove that the Virginia game was not an aberration. Indiana is out to prove that they are better than they were in the Big Ten tournament. Kentucky is out to prove that they are better than a #4 seed. That is why they play the game.
Showing posts with label North Carolina. Show all posts
Showing posts with label North Carolina. Show all posts
Monday, March 14, 2016
Saturday, February 27, 2016
North Carolina Vs. Virginia
The game between North Carolina is important on the national scene and could possibly go a long way as to who gets a #1 seed come NCAA Tournament time. This game however does not feel like a "rivalry" game. This game does not feel like The North Carolina-Virginia games in the early 1980's when it was James Worthy-Sam Perkins-Michael Jordan versus Ralph Sampson. Not too many people could name anyone else on Virginia's team. I remember Othell Wilson and Ricky Stokes and I think Jeff Lamp was a senior when Ralph Sampson was a freshman and that is really stretching my memory. Outside of Brogdon who is getting mentioned for ACC player of the year, I cannot name anyone on this Virginia team.
Virginia brings an undefeated home record into this game and a #5 national ranking. North Carolina brings the #1 conference record into the game. Virginia brings the defense and North Carolina brings the offense. Rivalry game or not, this should be a great game. Marcus Paige will be a big player in this game.
Virginia brings an undefeated home record into this game and a #5 national ranking. North Carolina brings the #1 conference record into the game. Virginia brings the defense and North Carolina brings the offense. Rivalry game or not, this should be a great game. Marcus Paige will be a big player in this game.
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Playing Georgia Tech
As a diehard Tarheel fan, I really hate seeing Georgia Tech on the schedule. Georgia Tech Paul Johnson's team runs the triple option offense and unless the 'Heels play one of the military academies, they are only going to see that offense once a season. Georgia Tech has put up video game like numbers on North Carolina's defense in the three seasons that Larry Fedora has been head coach at North Carolina. Georgia Tech started the season ranked in the top 15 but have lost two in a row, both on the road, but return home for this game. This game could go a long way in deciding the Coastal Division title.
In North Carolina's 48-43 win last season, Georgia Tech had over 600 yards of offense including almost 400 yards rushing. North Carolina has since switched to a more traditional 4-3 defense and the most points Gene Chizik's defense has given up this season is 17 against South Carolina.
This is the type of game that North Carolina's up tempo offense works against them. Georgia Tech is capable of going the length of the field and burning six to seven minutes off the clock. North Carolina's scoring drives only last two to three minutes on a long drive. North Carolina cannot afford to many three and outs in order to give their defense some rest. North Carolina's front four has to hold their own in this game and limit Georgia Tech's explosive plays and force a few three and outs of their own. On a wet field, North Carolina needs to force some turnovers and make Georgia Tech put the ball on the ground. I do believe that a wet field favors a team that can run the ball and North Carolina's running game has been much improved this season.
North Carolina's Marquise Williams put up 390 yards passing last season with four TD's and while he may not need those types of numbers, he needs to have a solid error free game in order to give North Carolina chance. It will be interesting to see how he responds after being pulled from last week's Delaware game. I look for North Carolina to try to establish Elijah Hood early on and try to open up the play action passes later on in the game.
In North Carolina's 48-43 win last season, Georgia Tech had over 600 yards of offense including almost 400 yards rushing. North Carolina has since switched to a more traditional 4-3 defense and the most points Gene Chizik's defense has given up this season is 17 against South Carolina.
This is the type of game that North Carolina's up tempo offense works against them. Georgia Tech is capable of going the length of the field and burning six to seven minutes off the clock. North Carolina's scoring drives only last two to three minutes on a long drive. North Carolina cannot afford to many three and outs in order to give their defense some rest. North Carolina's front four has to hold their own in this game and limit Georgia Tech's explosive plays and force a few three and outs of their own. On a wet field, North Carolina needs to force some turnovers and make Georgia Tech put the ball on the ground. I do believe that a wet field favors a team that can run the ball and North Carolina's running game has been much improved this season.
North Carolina's Marquise Williams put up 390 yards passing last season with four TD's and while he may not need those types of numbers, he needs to have a solid error free game in order to give North Carolina chance. It will be interesting to see how he responds after being pulled from last week's Delaware game. I look for North Carolina to try to establish Elijah Hood early on and try to open up the play action passes later on in the game.
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