The IronDog Chronicles

Two days after the UNC’s 71-67 win over Davidson, and I still feel like I watched a bottle rocket launch and skim across the floor into a fizzle…

I thought the final three minutes said a lot about what usually wins games in college basketball…Talent.

Marcus Ginyard’s big, strong rebound and his trip to the line, Wayne Ellington’s buckets, and Tywon Lawson’s speed and ‘D’ in the final four minutes.  Tough to match.

I’m sure that Bob McKillop would love to have that type of talent…just for one year.  (Just a thought…If Coach Williams had turned us down again in ‘03, he might have been a good fit here…Just a thought.)

** All of those layups and breaks to the bucket made me think about this one…Since that Va. Tech game in late February of last year, teams starting going back door at will on us, especially during the tournament.  I wonder if coaches Tom Izzo, Tim “Pink” Floyd, John Thompson Jr., and Bob McKillop have discovered our weaknesses on both sides of the court that arrive when we are forced to play control possessions and halfcourt basketball.

** Need More - Tough game for my main man and ‘07-08 hope, Deon Thompson.

4 Points, 0 Rebounds, and 2 Fouls in 15 minutes of play.  If UNC is going to develop into a team that resides in the Top 5 throughout the year, Deon Thompson’s development has to step up quickly for this team.  I love the kid’s potential, and my knee-jerk reaction is that he did have a bad game.

Now, everyone knows that I gush over the kid.  Yet, there were several times during the game when he was dragging up and down the floor and getting muscled underneath the boards.  Something has to change there.  I’m hoping that he just had a bad game.

Also, has the weight loss changed him into a finesse player, which is a role that he’s going to take a while to adapt?…Hmmmm.  He shed even more weight from June.  Easy, easy…Just a thought…Just a thought.

** “Ellington’s J” - I was very impressed with Wayne Ellington’s game with 20 points and 3-4 from the line.  Yeah, he missed a couple of buckets and was lost at times on ‘D’, but man…When that stroke is on, that is a smooth ‘J’.

On my end, with a couple of Ellington’s jumpers, I haven’t seen that smoothness and explosiveness from a jumpshot off the dribble in Chapel Hill since Vince Carter.  Seriously…If he hits that jumper on a consistent basis, Carolina is on…whew.

All said and done, after watching Memphis last night and UCLA last week, I still think the Heels are very, very strong because of  talent.  I’m looking forward to a strong stretch of games and that potential Louisville game should be the main gauge of who we are.

I’m also very interested to see how Coach Williams matches against Coach Pitino.  I don’t believe that they’ve ever matched up against each other, and I’m dying to see how their styles match up.  They certainly both have up-years in terms of talent.

** Good article on here from SI on Larry Drew Jr…He should grow into a solid performer.  I like that signing.

** Beat Iona…The Tar Heels have serious payback due from one of the most embarrassing games in UNC history at the Garden in 2002.  The Gael players jumped all over the scoretable and were complete clowns in the victory aftermath at the Garden.  Personally, I hope that Heels bust that @$$.

Now, not to rub it in, but I’m off to Woollen and then to ‘Carolina Funk’ night on Rosemary Street at Hell…If you’re in town, you need to roll there tonight.   I’m dapping up ‘American Gangster’ style for this one.

If not, tune-in on Sunday at 9PM for WXYC Sports Rap.

Peace,
BD