This Week in the ACC: 12/11-12/17

[pfrduke]

Just a quick rundown of the (very slow, exam-filled*) week ahead.

*exams relevant at only 14 of 15 ACC institutions

Monday
[28]Louisville (-29) hosts [332]Bryant (7:00, ESPNU)

Tuesday
[84]Boston College (-12) hosts [222]Columbia (7:00, ACCNE) - I swear, if BC follows up Saturday by laying an egg against Columbia....

Wednesday - Friday are dark

Saturday
[15]Miami (-10) at [158]George Washington (12:00, CBSSN)
[28]Louisville (-12) vs. [159]Memphis in Madison Square Garden (12:00, ESPN2)
[77]NC State (-7) hosts [119]UNC-Greensboro (12:00, ACCNE)
[57]Syracuse (-1) at [93]Georgetown (12:30, CBS)
[31]Virginia Tech (+6) at [14]Kentucky (2:00, ESPN2)
[3]Virginia (-14) hosts [79]Davidson (2:00, ACCNE)
[25]Florida State (-6) vs. [54]Oklahoma State in Sunrise (2:00)
[152]Pittsburgh (-14) hosts [326]McNeese (2:00, ACCNE)
[18]Notre Dame (-8) vs. [82]Indiana in Indianapolis (2:30, FOX)
[34]Clemson (+4) vs. [21]Florida in Sunrise (4:30)

Sunday
[84]Boston College (-17) hosts [314]Central Connecticut State (1:00, ACCNE)
[9]North Carolina (-1) at [23]Tennessee (3:00, ESPN)
[91]Georgia Tech (-18) hosts [338]Florida A&M (4:00, ESPNU)

ACC Non-Conference Record: 113-27**
ACC v. Power 6: 24-15
America East: 3-0
American Athletic: 4-2
Atlantic 10: 10-1
Atlantic Sun: 2-0
Big East: 1-2
Big 12: 1-5
Big Sky: 1-1
Big South: 6-1
Big Ten: 13-5
Big West: 1-0
Colonial: 3-0
CUSA: 1-0
Horizon: 2-0
Ivy: 2-0
MAAC: 3-0
MAC: 3-1
MEAC: 6-0
MVC: 1-2
MWC: 1-0
NEC: 9-0
OVC: 2-0
Pac 12: 3-1
Patriot: 7-1
SEC: 6-2
Southern: 9-1
Southland: 1-0
Summit: 2-0
Sun Belt: 1-1
SWAC: 3-1
WAC: 4-0
WCC: 1-0
Non-D1: 1-0

**for comparison purposes, the Big 12 has 15 losses, the Big East has 18, the SEC has 29, the Pac-12 has 36, and the Big Ten has 37 (non-conference).

[devildeac]

Just a quick rundown of the (very slow, exam-filled*) week ahead.

*exams relevant at only 14 of 15 ACC institutions

Monday
[28]Louisville (-29) hosts [332]Bryant (7:00, ESPNU)

Tuesday
[84]Boston College (-12) hosts [222]Columbia (7:00, ACCNE) - I swear, if BC follows up Saturday by laying an egg against Columbia...

Wednesday - Friday are dark

Saturday
[15]Miami (-10) at [158]George Washington (12:00, CBSSN)
[28]Louisville (-12) vs. [159]Memphis in Madison Square Garden (12:00, ESPN2)
[77]NC State (-7) hosts [119]UNC-Greensboro (12:00, ACCNE)
[57]Syracuse (-1) at [93]Georgetown (12:30, CBS)
[31]Virginia Tech (+6) at [14]Kentucky (2:00, ESPN2)
[3]Virginia (-14) hosts [79]Davidson (2:00, ACCNE)
[25]Florida State (-6) vs. [54]Oklahoma State in Sunrise (2:00)
[152]Pittsburgh (-14) hosts [326]McNeese (2:00, ACCNE)
[18]Notre Dame (-8) vs. [82]Indiana in Indianapolis (2:30, FOX)
[34]Clemson (+4) vs. [21]Florida in Sunrise (4:30)

Sunday
[84]Boston College (-17) hosts [314]Central Connecticut State (1:00, ACCNE)
[9]North Carolina (-1) at [23]Tennessee (3:00, ESPN)
[91]Georgia Tech (-18) hosts [338]Florida A&M (4:00, ESPNU)

ACC Non-Conference Record: 113-27**
ACC v. Power 6: 24-15
America East: 3-0
American Athletic: 4-2
Atlantic 10: 10-1
Atlantic Sun: 2-0
Big East: 1-2
Big 12: 1-5
Big Sky: 1-1
Big South: 6-1
Big Ten: 13-5
Big West: 1-0
Colonial: 3-0
CUSA: 1-0
Horizon: 2-0
Ivy: 2-0
MAAC: 3-0
MAC: 3-1
MEAC: 6-0
MVC: 1-2
MWC: 1-0
NEC: 9-0
OVC: 2-0
Pac 12: 3-1
Patriot: 7-1
SEC: 6-2
Southern: 9-1
Southland: 1-0
Summit: 2-0
Sun Belt: 1-1
SWAC: 3-1
WAC: 4-0
WCC: 1-0
Non-D1: 1-0

**for comparison purposes, the Big 12 has 15 losses, the Big East has 18, the SEC has 29, the Pac-12 has 36, and the Big Ten has 37 (non-conference).

Can BC pick up their second win in 8 days against the Blue Devils?

http://www.ccsubluedevils.com/athletics/newlogorelease081011

[PackMan97]

Just a quick rundown of the (very slow, exam-filled*) week ahead.

*exams relevant at only 14 of 15 ACC institutions

Saturday
[77]NC State (-7) hosts [119]UNC-Greensboro (12:00, ACCNE)
[57]Syracuse (-1) at [93]Georgetown (12:30, CBS)
[31]Virginia Tech (+6) at [14]Kentucky (2:00, ESPN2)
[25]Florida State (-6) vs. [54]Oklahoma State in Sunrise (2:00)
[18]Notre Dame (-8) vs. [82]Indiana in Indianapolis (2:30, FOX)
[34]Clemson (+4) vs. [21]Florida in Sunrise (4:30)

Sunday
[9]North Carolina (-1) at [23]Tennessee (3:00, ESPN)


There are a lot of good opportunities for the ACC to pick up some quality wins.

I wouldn't normally list UNC-G as a quality win, but that's the type of game that State has dropped the past few years (and got Gottfried fired). Not to mention, it's the second last chance for a bad OOC loss for the Pack.

Of course, I'm really hoping that Tennessee wins and improves State's OOC schedule. Right now the losses to UNI and Tenn are both looking like pretty good losses (in so much as an L is ever good). I know it's an uphill battle, but I really think the Wolfpack have a decent shot at an NCAA bid. I haven't looked at the ACC only strength of schedules yet, but State's doesn't look overly brutal (not easy, but could be worse).

[PackMan97]

Can BC pick up their second win in 8 days against the Blue Devils?

You joke, but NC State travels to Clemson on 12/30 and then hosts them on 1/11. This is a schedule only Swofford could love. Not much later in the season we travel to Cheater Hill on 1/27 and then host them less than two weeks later on 2/10.

WTH? I know the schedules are unbalanced, but do we have to play teams twice in two weeks?

[jv001]

You joke, but NC State travels to Clemson on 12/30 and then hosts them on 1/11. This is a schedule only Swofford could love. Not much later in the season we travel to Cheater Hill on 1/27 and then host them less than two weeks later on 2/10.

WTH? I know the schedules are unbalanced, but do we have to play teams twice in two weeks?

Now what school(supposed) did Mr. Swofford attend? Math would be required to determine length between games. I don't believe that was available to our ACC Commish. :cool: GoDuke!

[sagegrouse]

Now what school(supposed) did Mr. Swofford attend? Math would be required to determine length between games. I don't believe that was available to our ACC Commish. :cool: GoDuke!

I think Mr. Swofford is too busy counting his money to be worried with such trivialities.

The only "planned irregularity" I am aware of is that Duke-UNC is always during the week following the Super Bowl, marking for some the true start of the college basketball season. In the view of the more commercial-minded, NCAA hoops reigns as the most important sport between the Super Bowl (usually first Sunday in February) and the Final Four (usually the first weekend in April). Of course, it is a little humbling to realize that the "crown jewel" of college basketball is not the Final Four, nor the Duke-UNC match-ups, nor the first weekend of March Madness, but rather "the NCAA bracket," which if filled out by all and sundry and is the true secret to the popularity of our sport.

Kindly,
Sage Grouse
'Of course, there is a death wish within the NCAA family that results in adding teams beyond 64, making the official bracket full of asterisks and threatening the commercial viability of the entire enterprise'

[cato]

[84]Boston College (-12) hosts [222]Columbia (7:00, ACCNE) - I swear, if BC follows up Saturday by laying an egg against Columbia...



*If?*

I am not a betting person, but if I were in Vegas I would put down some money on Columbia regardless of the line.

[JasonEvans]

*If?*

I am not a betting person, but if I were in Vegas I would put down some money on Columbia regardless of the line.

BC won 81-66, 15 points. The spread was 11.5 points, so BC covered.

[cato]

BC won 81-66, 15 points. The spread was 11.5 points, so BC covered.

See? Not a betting person.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Markell Johnson suspended by State.

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/nc-state-guard-markell-johnson-suspended-for-unspecified-conduct-violation/17193657/

[chris13]

Would not be surprised if UNC loses to Tennessee. Rick Barnes is 6-1 against Roy
since Roy came back to Chapel Hill and game is in Knoxville.

[devildeac]

Would not be surprised if UNC loses to Tennessee. Rick Barnes is 6-1 against Roy
since Roy came back to Chapel Hill and game is in Knoxville.

Will depend on if swofford has any say in who "refs" the game...

:rolleyes:

[devildeac]

Markell Johnson suspended by State.

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/nc-state-guard-markell-johnson-suspended-for-unspecified-conduct-violation/17193657/

Important quote from the article:

"Johnson was suspended for a violation of the student-athlete code of conduct..."

Now there's a word combination you'll never see issued by another nearby institution in the southern part of the Triangle area.

:rolleyes::mad:

[davekay1971]

You joke, but NC State travels to Clemson on 12/30 and then hosts them on 1/11. This is a schedule only Swofford could love. Not much later in the season we travel to Cheater Hill on 1/27 and then host them less than two weeks later on 2/10.

WTH? I know the schedules are unbalanced, but do we have to play teams twice in two weeks?

Well, before NCSU has to go play the athletic gem (and academic embarrassment) of the UNC system, you at least are having fun putting a hurt on the best (academic) UNC institution (I am excluding NC State U from the UNC system in this assessment). UNC-G, boasting a world-class music conservatory and the best nursing school in the state, is currently falling hard and fast to the Wolfpack. UNC-G has, as far as I know, no academic departments entirely dedicated to keeping athletes eligible by handing out sham grades in sham courses.

I spoke too soon. UNC-G just trimmed State's lead to 3 with 5:41 left in the first half. State is, obviously, still State. I say this with love.

[devildeac]

Well, before NCSU has to go play the athletic gem (and academic embarrassment) of the UNC system, you at least are having fun putting a hurt on the best (academic) UNC institution (I am excluding NC State U from the UNC system in this assessment). UNC-G, boasting a world-class music conservatory and the best nursing school in the state, is currently falling hard and fast to the Wolfpack. UNC-G has, as far as I know, no academic departments entirely dedicated to keeping athletes eligible by handing out sham grades in sham courses.

I spoke too soon. UNC-G just trimmed State's lead to 3 with 5:41 left in the first half. State is, obviously, still State. I say this with love.

And jamie luckie just T'ed up davekay for inappropriate/illegal use of sarcasm/cynicism on an internet message board.

[davekay1971]

And jamie luckie just T'ed up davekay for inappropriate/illegal use of sarcasm/cynicism on an internet message board.

"Hey, ref, can you give me a T for what I think?"

"No."

"Well I think you stink!"

[PackMan97]

I spoke too soon. UNC-G just trimmed State's lead to 3 with 5:41 left in the first half. State is, obviously, still State. I say this with love.

UNC-G is up by 10 right now...we are in a bit of a pickle. Our starting PG and best defender was suspended indefinitely for breaking the some official sounding thing (more serious than "team rules"). If only we had the same amount of integrity as that team, I have no doubt whatever it is that Johnson has done would be swept under the rug.

[DukieInBrasil]

Disappointing showing from the Pack today. Early in the 2nd half they gave up a 15-0 run, and were behind the rest of the way.
No easy way to put this, but that was just a bad loss by the Pack. Seems like they have to do something like that at least 2x per year, just to ruin the several good wins they'll have and trash their ability to make the tourney, or get a much lower seed than they should.

[PackMan97]

Disappointing showing from the Pack today. Early in the 2nd half they gave up a 15-0 run, and were behind the rest of the way.
No easy way to put this, but that was just a bad loss by the Pack. Seems like they have to do something like that at least 2x per year, just to ruin the several good wins they'll have and trash their ability to make the tourney, or get a much lower seed than they should.

Veteran team that made the NCAAT last season and won 25 games. They went into a zone and without our first string PG, we just couldn't score. UNC won this game no doubt. 9f wes Miller and 9f the school he played for.

[devildeac]

Veteran team that made the NCAAT last season and won 25 games. They went into a zone and without our first string PG, we just couldn't score. UNC won this game no doubt. 9f wes Miller and 9f the school he played for.

It's comforting to see the time of this post and that PackMan is still alive and doing well. ;)

[arnie]

Veteran team that made the NCAAT last season and won 25 games. They went into a zone and without our first string PG, we just couldn't score. UNC won this game no doubt. 9f wes Miller and 9f the school he played for.
Bad loss, but not as bad as I thought. UNCG RPI was #147; I thought they might have been in the 200’s with the loss to Presbyterian.

Should also serve as a warning to Duke fans, Evansville’s RPI is 72 and slightly higher than the Pack.

[PackMan97]

It's comforting to see the time of this post and that PackMan is still alive and doing well. ;)

If I survived the Cheats getting off scott free, I can survive this...besides I've been spending the past two hours figuring out how to blame this on the refs. Still working on it. :)

[gofurman]

If I survived the Cheats getting off scott free, I can survive this...besides I've been spending the past two hours figuring out how to blame this on the refs. Still working on it. :)

How long is starting PG out for?

[brevity]

Clemson 71, Florida 69.

Man, the Gators need to stop playing ACC teams.

[JasonEvans]

Clemson 71, Florida 69.

Man, the Gators need to stop playing ACC teams.

Missouri Valley Conference teams too (http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game?gameId=400987227).

The good part about this is that it gives yet another apparent bubble team from the ACC a high quality non-conference win. The ACC's non-conference performance has been truly impressive this season. It makes it all the more likely that sub-.500 conference record teams will have a shot at a bid.

[PackMan97]

How long is starting PG out for?

That's a good question. At the moment it is "indefinitely". The official reason is a violation of the "student-athlete code of conduct". Which sounds a lot more of a university policy thing than a team policy thing.

It's a shame we don't have Carolina's "Code of Conduct" which I believe consists of one rule:
1) Don't get caught

[TruBlu]

That's a good question. At the moment it is "indefinitely". The official reason is a violation of the "student-athlete code of conduct". Which sounds a lot more of a university policy thing than a team policy thing.

It's a shame we don't have Carolina's "Code of Conduct" which I believe consists of one rule:
1) Don't get caught
1.a) But if you do get caught, your only punishment will be that we won't let you pick the restaurant for the team meal. We will then deny that you did it to the ncaa.

[NSDukeFan]

That's a good question. At the moment it is "indefinitely". The official reason is a violation of the "student-athlete code of conduct". Which sounds a lot more of a university policy thing than a team policy thing.

It's a shame we don't have Carolina's "Code of Conduct" which I believe consists of one rule:
1) Don't get caught

1b) If you do get caught, deny that you got caught, or that it fits the legal framework for being caught

[camion]

1b) If you do get caught, deny that you got caught, or that it fits the legal framework for being caught

Ah yes, the, "Who are you to judge me!" defense.

[PackMan97]

1.a) But if you do get caught, your only punishment will be that we won't let you pick the restaurant for the team meal. We will then deny that you did it to the ncaa.

Let's not forget 1d) get suspended for voluntary summer workouts.

[Matches]

Veteran team that made the NCAAT last season and won 25 games. They went into a zone and without our first string PG, we just couldn't score. UNC won this game no doubt. 9f wes Miller and 9f the school he played for.

UNC-g was in the NIT last season. Syracuse had to play them in Greensboro, which was one of the best Selection Committee troll jobs in history!

[wobatus]

UNC-g was in the NIT last season. Syracuse had to play them in Greensboro, which was one of the best Selection Committee troll jobs in history!

That game was at the Carrier Dome.

[UrinalCake]

Tennessee is slowly pulling away from UNC and having their way inside. They don't even seem to be playing all that well. Maybe UNC is shaking off some rust from taking exams? Ha, I almost managed to keep a straight face while saying that.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Tennessee is slowly pulling away from UNC and having their way inside. They don't even seem to be playing all that well. Maybe UNC is shaking off some rust from taking exams? Ha, I almost managed to keep a straight face while saying that.

No no, it is all part of Roy's highly respected method of continuing to experiment with lineups, deep into the season. He is a true coaching Jedi.

[ncexnyc]

No no, it is all part of Roy's highly respected method of continuing to experiment with lineups, deep into the season. He is a true coaching Jedi.
Is this sarcasm?

[Hauerwas]

Anyone else catch the Cheats win over UT in Knoxville? It's hard for the visiting team to get every call to go their way but of course UNC did. UT gave that game away, up one with the ball and just fell apart. My second time to watch UNC-Vegas this year and I'm not impressed. They have two players and one of them is Luke Maye. They seem to play decent defense at times, but if you stay in front of Berry and run him off the 3 point line, their offense seems to stall a bit.

They've played an incredibly weak schedule to date, 43rd SOS while Duke's is 12th. Their bigs are young and while they rebound pretty well, aren't real offensive threats.

Anyway, not impressed with the Cheats so far, they don't do anything really wrong, but they don't wow either. They don't pass the eye test.

[dukie’s_daughter]

They NEVER pass my eye test!

9f

[wobatus]

Anyone else catch the Cheats win over UT in Knoxville? It's hard for the visiting team to get every call to go their way but of course UNC did. UT gave that game away, up one with the ball and just fell apart. My second time to watch UNC-Vegas this year and I'm not impressed. They have two players and one of them is Luke Maye. They seem to play decent defense at times, but if you stay in front of Berry and run him off the 3 point line, their offense seems to stall a bit.

They've played an incredibly weak schedule to date, 43rd SOS while Duke's is 12th. Their bigs are young and while they rebound pretty well, aren't real offensive threats.

Anyway, not impressed with the Cheats so far, they don't do anything really wrong, but they don't wow either. They don't pass the eye test.

Kenpom has Duke with 89 sos, UNC 30.

[sagegrouse]

Kenpom has Duke with 89 sos, UNC 30.

Be careful with statistics like strength of schedule -- it may be weighted down by low-rated teams. In terms of quality opponents, Duke has played Mich State, Texas, Florida, Indiana and Boston College. UNC has played Michigan State, Michigan, Tennessee, Stanford (maybe) and No. Iowa (maybe). I think the Duke slate is tougher, although not by much.

Similarly, we have occasionally got wrapped around the axle on recruiting rankings. For example a team could have recruits rated 1, 2, 3, 4, and 150. Another team could have recruits 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. The "average" ranking of the former is 32.0; the average of the latter is 13.0. The former team clearly has a far, far superior class of recruits. The presence of #150 makes no difference on the team whatsoever and shouldn't reduce the ranking of the class.

The same situation can happen with strength of schedule -- whether an opponent is #200 or #300 shouldn't make a difference -- they are almost certain to lose to a top ten team.

[wobatus]

Be careful with statistics like strength of schedule -- it may be weighted down by low-rated teams. In terms of quality opponents, Duke has played Mich State, Texas, Florida, Indiana and Boston College. UNC has played Michigan State, Michigan, Tennessee, Stanford (maybe) and No. Iowa (maybe). I think the Duke slate is tougher, although not by much.

Similarly, we have occasionally got wrapped around the axle on recruiting rankings. For example a team could have recruits rated 1, 2, 3, 4, and 150. Another team could have recruits 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. The "average" ranking of the former is 32.0; the average of the latter is 13.0. The former team clearly has a far, far superior class of recruits. The presence of #150 makes no difference on the team whatsoever and shouldn't reduce the ranking of the class.

The same situation can happen with strength of schedule -- whether an opponent is #200 or #300 shouldn't make a difference -- they are almost certain to lose to a top ten team.

And Arkansas (Kp 26) and Davidson. Davidson and N. Iowa are top 100. I'm careful. Just pointing out one respected rarer gauges the OOC quite differently. Based n the Michigan State game I think I know who can do what at the highest levels. A win at Tennessee is pretty good but The Vols played'em good in Chapel Hill last year.

[sagegrouse]

And Arkansas (Kp 26) and Davidson. Davidson and N. Iowa are top 100. I'm careful. Just pointing out one respected rarer gauges the OOC quite differently. Based n the Michigan State game I think I know who can do what at the highest levels. A win at Tennessee is pretty good but The Vols played'em good in Chapel Hill last year.

No problem. I know you were just pointing out a contrary view. And I was just musing on some related matters.

[devilseven]

They NEVER pass my eye test!

9f

And they definitely don't pass the SMELL test!!!

[Green Wave Dukie]

And they definitely don't pass the SMELL test!!!

They don't pass any tests. Don't even take them, for that matter.

[PackMan97]

And they definitely don't pass the SMELL test!!!

You win the internet today.

[UrinalCake]

Anyone else catch the Cheats win over UT in Knoxville? It's hard for the visiting team to get every call to go their way but of course UNC did. UT gave that game away, up one with the ball and just fell apart.

UT had had several leads of 10 or so points throughout the game, but kept letting the CHeats back in it. UT was up three with about a minute left and proceeded to:

- foul Berry (UNC's best free throw shooter) who made them both
- inbounds the ball and then blindly heave the ball down court into the hands of a UNC player
- give up a three pointer to Kenny Williams

A couple possessions later UT is inbounding the ball and Pinson hip-checks his man into the stands, no call and Pinson is credited with a steal. Earlier in the game a UNC player shot an air ball, caught his own miss, landed with both feet, then passed the ball to a teammate. It was the easiest conceivable call a ref could ever made, but was not called. Their bigs STILL go over the back all the time without getting called, yet if a UT player breathes on any of their bigs it's a foul. It's no wonder Roy loves scheduling road games, he knows he's going to get the home court whistle in everybody else's arena.

It certainly didn't help that UT shot 37% from the floor including plenty of good inside looks and wide open threes. Give UNC credit for taking care of business against good opponents, but I'm still not convinced they can beat upper tier teams.

[Wahoo2000]

UT had had several leads of 10 or so points throughout the game, but kept letting the CHeats back in it. UT was up three with about a minute left and proceeded to:

- foul Berry (UNC's best free throw shooter) who made them both
- inbounds the ball and then blindly heave the ball down court into the hands of a UNC player
- give up a three pointer to Kenny Williams

A couple possessions later UT is inbounding the ball and Pinson hip-checks his man into the stands, no call and Pinson is credited with a steal. Earlier in the game a UNC player shot an air ball, caught his own miss, landed with both feet, then passed the ball to a teammate. It was the easiest conceivable call a ref could ever made, but was not called. Their bigs STILL go over the back all the time without getting called, yet if a UT player breathes on any of their bigs it's a foul. It's no wonder Roy loves scheduling road games, he knows he's going to get the home court whistle in everybody else's arena.

It certainly didn't help that UT shot 37% from the floor including plenty of good inside looks and wide open threes. Give UNC credit for taking care of business against good opponents, but I'm still not convinced they can beat upper tier teams.

I think they're going to get SIGNIFICANTLY better when they get Cam Johnson back healthy in a week or two. I'd say he's their second best player at worst (and an argument could be made that he could be better than Berry, maybe not a winning argument, but a semi-reasonable one). He can probably step right in where Jackson was last year without a drop-off of any kind. I think Carolina is going to be right there in the mix for the regular season title come late Feb. I think the biggest question for them will be if they can get any "non-Maye" big to step up, or if Roy can get out of his box and play 4-out-1-in with Johnson or maybe Pinson playing in the frontcourt alongside Maye.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Is this sarcasm?

Yes. I will label it better next time.

Was making a snide reference to a UNC poster who claimed Roy was a revolutionary coach for tinkering with lineups in exhibition games.

[wobatus]

UT had had several leads of 10 or so points throughout the game, but kept letting the CHeats back in it. UT was up three with about a minute left and proceeded to:

- foul Berry (UNC's best free throw shooter) who made them both
- inbounds the ball and then blindly heave the ball down court into the hands of a UNC player
- give up a three pointer to Kenny Williams

A couple possessions later UT is inbounding the ball and Pinson hip-checks his man into the stands, no call and Pinson is credited with a steal. Earlier in the game a UNC player shot an air ball, caught his own miss, landed with both feet, then passed the ball to a teammate. It was the easiest conceivable call a ref could ever made, but was not called. Their bigs STILL go over the back all the time without getting called, yet if a UT player breathes on any of their bigs it's a foul. It's no wonder Roy loves scheduling road games, he knows he's going to get the home court whistle in everybody else's arena.

It certainly didn't help that UT shot 37% from the floor including plenty of good inside looks and wide open threes. Give UNC credit for taking care of business against good opponents, but I'm still not convinced they can beat upper tier teams.

There was a makeup offensive foul call against Platek within seconds of the pass off the missed air ball. At least both announcers thought so.

[wobatus]

I think they're going to get SIGNIFICANTLY better when they get Cam Johnson back healthy in a week or two. I'd say he's their second best player at worst (and an argument could be made that he could be better than Berry, maybe not a winning argument, but a semi-reasonable one). He can probably step right in where Jackson was last year without a drop-off of any kind. I think Carolina is going to be right there in the mix for the regular season title come late Feb. I think the biggest question for them will be if they can get any "non-Maye" big to step up, or if Roy can get out of his box and play 4-out-1-in with Johnson or maybe Pinson playing in the frontcourt alongside Maye.

I think Johnson isn't quite as good from 2 as Justin Jackson. Same percentage last year, although Jackson took more shots, and was more a focal point of UNC's offense than Johnson was at Pitt. Johnson is a better 3 point shooter. By the end of last year Jackson was a very good wing defender.

Maye and Kenny Williams are playing at a very high level. Despite grumblings about Maye against top notch D, and he struggled against Michigan State, MSU is the number 1 2 point FG% D in the country. And berry likewise went 2-11 against MSU. Tennessee is 10th in 2 point FG% D. And Maye, while he started poorly, ended up with 15 points and 8 boards against Tennessee. I'll take it if that is struggling against top-notch D.

The key to the game was Barnes getting ticked off at Alexander when Manley beat him down court for a dunk 2:00 left in the first half, then end of the half Manley jumper. And an o rebound or 2. Alexander got buried by Barnes after that. Despite the fact he stuffed Maye to start the game, and then berry on an early layup, and burned UNC down low early for points and boards. The baby bigs did better later, and pulling Maye outside on O helped as well. This opened things up for Berry in the second half.

Berry's damn good, but shooting under 40% from 2 this year. The injured hand may have something to do with that, but also being more a key to the O with Jackson and the bigs graduated.

Berry may be the indispensable Heel. Felton was really bad yesterday, Woods is hurt and even if healthy isn't Berry of course. Losing him is less replaceable than maye or Williams. But Maye and Wiliams have been playing at a very high level. Williams is UNC's bext perimeter defender. He also is 3rd in the ACC in offense box +/-, 6th in BPM overall, shooting .545 from 3, 6th in O rating. Maye is 4th in win shares, 3rd in BPM, 9th in eFG%, 8th in PER. 9th in rebound %.

Those metrics don't capture everything. Still, I question whether Johnson is the 2nd best player on UNC, or in a race with Berry for 1st, once healthy. Different guys bring different things. Pinson actually leads UNC in assist % and often runs the offense over Berry. And the baby bigs are averaging 16.9 ppg, 12.8 rpg and 1.8 BPG in 37.2 mpg, so not exactly slouches there.

Johnson might not even start for the Heels, although he is a better player than Brooks right now, but i think Roy will usually go with at least 1 trad big with Maye as a stretch 4. Johnson certainly adds to flexibility and even going Maye at the 5 a tad.

[wobatus]

No problem. I know you were just pointing out a contrary view. And I was just musing on some related matters.

Duke's schedule is a bit tougher than it seems. I doubt many realize South Dakota is in the Kenpom top 100 (kenpom 94, T-Rank 76). They've both played 6 teams in the top 100. UNC has played 4 in the top 50 to 3 for Duke thus far, and Bucknell and Stanford are at 101 and 105 kenpom. Stanford is 120 T-Rank and they haven't been very good. Overall the schedules are pretty comparable, the main difference being that Michigan is the 4th highest Kenpom rated UNC opponent at 35, whereas Indiana is Duke's at 74. And that ws a true road game. As was BC at Kenpom 82. Actually, South Dakota is Duke's 4th ranked opponent thus far per T-Rank at 76th.

It's the starkly different results with the one common opponent which separates them. Kenpom has it Duke 5th UNC 8th. T-Rank Duke 6th, UNC 8th. And both have Virginia 3rd. The computers like Virginia.