March Madness - Sweet 16

Centerpiece said:
That's it.
And the next year 1980, Carolina also lost it's first game in the tournament. Back then it was considered the "2nd round" but it was indeed Carolina's first game in the tournament, just like in 1979. In essence, Carolina lost back-to-back "first round" games in '79-'80. But we were a #1 seed in '79 and a #4 seed in 1980. So really, those two tournament seasons were actually worse than these past two. Or at least more disappointing given our seeding. And back then, Dean had yet to win a Championship. The talk on the newly created ESPN and in the Raleigh and Charlotte papers was Dean can't win the big one. Yikes! Good thing there wasn't an internet and social media back then...
Click to expand...
As someone who remembers those glory days I often cringe when thinking about how Coach Smith would have fared in this internet, social media age. I'm sure that most will say (with the benefit of hindsight) that because he won so consistently that he would have been fine, but I think that by winning so often he raised expectations among the fanbase and the fact that it took him so long to win the big one would have led to lots of vociferous criticism on UNC boards that he just couldn't win the big one and likely calls from some that maybe we needed to try someone else.

The fact that we didn't make a Final Four despite having top-ranked recruiting classes from 1983 to 1990 would almost certainly have led to calls by some on UNC message boards for him to be replaced by a younger, more "dynamic" coach. And it would have been an idiotic argument, given that in the 90s he made 4 Final Fours and won another national title. We have a spoiled fanbase and if the internet had existed back then I can't imagine what would have been said about him after having back-to-back losses in the NCAA tourney like those in 1979 and 1980. And we made two straight title games within two years of losing those games, and won a national title. Social media is a fickle mistress.
 
Poor showing by Houston but the better team won

Went against my initial instinct picking them

Illinois too big and skilled offensively
 
I think we (I) have been miscalculating who the biggest threat to duke in the South is. This version of Illinois plays slow and is happy in a half court execution based game that duke wants to force teams into

They have 3 players who can initiate offense and are the biggest team in the country with a 2 way rebounding frontcourt. Most importantly they shoot it well and have true 5 out spacing pretty much at all times

They have been a fun team to watch this year. Pretty easily Brad Underwood's best team
 
Heelsandeers said:
I think we (I) have been miscalculating who the biggest threat to duke in the South is. This version of Illinois plays slow and is happy in a half court execution based game that duke wants to force teams into

They have 3 players who can initiate offense and are the biggest team in the country with a 2 way rebounding frontcourt. Most importantly they shoot it well and have true 5 out spacing pretty much at all times

They have been a fun team to watch this year. Pretty easily Brad Underwood's best team
Click to expand...
We need an easy road for Duke. That will bring the most joy for some of our board members.. And isn't that what matters?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top