The IronDog Chronicles

Should the Tar Heels be a little nervous going into tonight’s game…?

Here are some things on my head:

1.) Away Game at Columbus on National TV…Columbus will be hyped.

2.) A possible no-show on Tywon Lawson - Don’t be alarmed.

Bobby Frasor has done a great job handling the point on a fly. Keep in mind that his performance with sharpshooting and steady tempo against OSU and Mike Conley Jr. was a major contributor to last season’s win. He also stepped up big-time against Dee Brown in his first ACC/Big Ten Challenge in ‘05 in a win over Illinois.

The Heels’s backcourt will be fine.

3.) OSU completely dismantled Syracuse last week. I watched this game, and was surprised at how badly they beat Syracuse.

SU has a helluva lot of talent on that team this year. OSU’s front line destroyed them, and their backcourt with Jamar Butler deep fried Eric Devendorf and Johnny Flynn, who went 2 for 9 and 0 for 5 in shooting perspectively in their loss to OSU last week. Then again, Syracuse’s backcourt is one of the wildest erratic playing backcourts that I’ve seen in recent memory.

What was more strange is that OSU turned around and was blown out by Texas A&M in the final. Who will show up with the young Buckeye team? God only knows…

My queasiness is due to the fact that OSU has athletes. This team will be the first time that the Heels will match up with a team who can actually run in terms of athletic talent. Now, in terms defending against a great offense, I think the Heels be fine.

The Tar Heels have far more experience. OSU is young and dumb, but they can run…I’m nervous on this one, but I think we should be alright.

I am looking forward to the Tyler Hansbrough/Kosta Koufos matchup. After watching how Hansbrough stunted Trent Plaisted’s 24 point/17 rebound performance in the final minutes of UNC’s victory over BYU on Saturday night, I’m wondering how much Hansborough has improved defensively and offensively in the post. Koufos could be a good test.

Also, Othello Hunter is a good player. I forgot that he’s a Reynolds High grad…Winston-Salem, NC…Nice.

3.) Due to the Tar Heel halfcourt troubles, I wonder if Thad Matta will slow down and bang with the Heels. If so, North Carolina could be in for foul trouble on a road game.

4.) One quick look…I’m waiting to see how Eric Wallace performs against the Heels. The early hype of Wallace heading to UNC was pretty big three years ago when he was a sophomore at Kernersville, NC, Glenn H.S. A lot of people had penciled him in as sure-fire superstar and as someone who would give Danny Green a major push for time. As I always say…Consider the source on your talent evaluations.

Wallace ended up choosing Virginia, and then bolted for OSU before signing day. For this blogga, he made a bad move because he would have fit perfectly with the Cavs. Now, he’s another piece in the puzzle for the Buckeyes and Thad Matta. I want to see the young buck from NC do his thing. If he gets prime-time tonight, I’m interested to see if he can hang with Danny Green, Marcus Ginyard, or if he goes low with Deon Thompson. The kid does have an incredible build.

** “Take-Back” - Guys, I don’t like to take-back a lot of my statements that I put in writing. Yet, I made a bad one thinking that Duke would be a bad team this year. They’re good…very good.

After watching that Maui victory over Marquette last week, I was sold, and after watching last night’s game, I’m eating a lot of spoiled projections.

I have to give that staff credit for assembling that team quickly. Then again, should you give credit when you have 8 McDonald’s AAs playing for you? Regardless, Kyle Singler is a player and I remain impressed with Gerald Henderson Jr.’s and Jon Scheyer’s development. Duke is going to be a nasty threat on the national scene this season. They’re a far different team than last season.

** Back to the OSU front, I hope that the Heels run OSU into the ground because I’m looking forward to Saturday’s Kentucky game. The rumors are that Coach Williams will be ending the UNC/UK rivalry after this season, which is a damn shame. What will be more of a shame is if the opening is not filled by another superpower in the form of a UCLA or a major Big 12 team such Kansas or Texas.

Be sure that Billy Gillispie is going to have Rupp rockin’ for Saturday’s game.

However, before this blogga leaves you with that one. I mocked our December schedule for cream puffery…Check out Kentucky’s repair job after that Gardner Webb loss…Liberty and Texas Southern. What’s more fun is that they only beat Stony Brook by 10.
One quick Q! - You know…I’m wondering how bad of an ankle sprain Tywon Lawson has. Was the ankle sprain a fresh one…? I haven’t found any info on this one. His turn didn’t look that bad, but he was wearing a brace. The first one is the worst. The second one can be just as bad. I’m assuming that his twist and sitting out is due to a re-occurrence. Any info?…Please send.

Aaight, I has to roll…

P.S. Rashad McCants exploded to start this season, but he has thrown-up some stink bombs this week. I had the bold thoughts of picking him up this week. He still baffles me.

Pete Chilcutt,
BD