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  • shwineka 12:10 pm on July 15, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: C.J. Leslie, , freshmen, highlight, , , , , Ryan Harrow, , ,   

    Tar Heel Highlights from NC Pro-Am 

    You might have seen some stories talking about the UNC presence at the N.C. Greater Pro-Am recently. Maybe this one or this one.

    I stumbled across this sweet highlight reel (via @DimeMag) featuring some footage of Heels hoopers. Gotta like that dunk by Justin Watts, and John Henson takes home the gold with the #1 highlight. No footage of the UNC freshmen, but there is some of the other frosh in the triangle, including N.C. State’s C.J. Leslie and Ryan Harrow, and Duke’s Kyrie Irving. Enjoy.

     
  • shwineka 12:28 pm on June 11, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , ACC Sunday Night Hoops, Austin American Statesman, Baylor, , , , , expansion, K-State, , , , , Pacific, , , , Tar Heel Fan, , Texas A&M, ,   

    Taking the offensive: the ACC Superconference 

    With all the hullabaloo over conference expansion going on in the Midwest, I was happy to see that the ACC and North Carolina were going largely unaffected. I like the current setup. Although I wish that UNC were guaranteed more games against perennial league contenders like Wake Forest every year, the competition is good for ACC teams’ RPI and the conference is well respected for its basketball.

    Apparently though there has been talk of hitting us right where it hurts, namely right at us – UNC that is.

    Tar Heel Fan pointed out this SEC wish list in the Austin American Statesman (via WRAL) and I find it quite disturbing. The SEC, pioneers of the 12-team conference and not wanting to be left behind the Pac-whatever-it-is-now, could be eying expansion and targeting UNC and Duke. This, according to THF would be a boon to their basketball prestige giving them three of arguably (well, arguably as far as Duke and Kentucky :-) ) the best teams in college basketball history in the same conference.  It would also look to boost its football stature by adding powerhouse Texas and it’s little brother Texas A&M (not to mention Butch’s boys in blue).

    THF pointed out that the Charlotte and Raleigh markets – let alone football crazed Texas – are nothing to sniff at, both coming in the Top 30 in the nation, so that could play a factor as well.

    Well, that’s all well and good, but rather than sitting on our Atlantic Coast cabooses, why don’t we take the offensive and spawn a superconference of our own?

    The Pac-10 has been courting with Texas as well, though I’m not sure what exactly is Pacific about Texas. Using that logic, Kansas, K-State, Baylor and Missouri seem ripe to come to the Atlantic Coast Conference to me.  The ACC’s basketball pedigree would instantly skyrocket. In the last coaches poll of 2010, taken after the tournament,  Kansas (6), K-State (7) and Baylor(10) were all in the Top 10, while Missouri received some votes for the Top 25.

    With that addition, no one could argue that the Big East was the best basketball conference any more, though we at the Rafters know that has never been true, and the spark in competition would make ACC games the must watch affair any night of the week. Forget ACC Sunday Night Hoops. How about the ACC Nightly Knockdown, Drag-out Brawl?

    Now I’m sure Roy Williams wouldn’t be too keen on the idea of his other love, Kansas, joining the conference, but as much as I love Roy I don’t think his personal preference would have much say in the grand scheme of things.

    If other conferences are licking their chops at some of the pillars of our conference, we should be looking around as well. Like I said, I’m happy with the current situation, but to let it fall below its current status would be a travesty, and we should think offensively.

     
    • kikus 9:40 pm on June 12, 2010 Permalink

      может у кого нить есть ещё информация по этому поводу??

  • shwineka 4:19 pm on June 3, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , Alabama, , Bob McAdoo, , , , , , , Gordon Hayward, , James McAdoo, , Justin Knox, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,   

    Catching up 

    Is it finally over? By that I mean the sick feeling in your stomach re: the most recent NCAA championship. Mine has finally subsided. So might as well cure the subsequent blogging hangover by getting back at it eh?

    What better way to get over a case of the “I-can’t-believe-Gordon-Hayward-missed-that-shot”s than by looking forward to next year. Now that the NBA draft deadline has passed, we know that Easy Ed will be leaving us for bigger and better things. Can’t really blame him. He’s a projected lottery pick depending on how the draft day moves go, and he stands to lose a lot of money by staying in college for another year with all that lockout business.

    So then there’s Harrison Barnes. The No. 1 recruit in the country is coming in with some highly touted classmates to add some more youth to what is already going to be a young team. But wait! Why not make it even younger?

    Over the past few days it’s come to light that James McAdoo, nephew of former Tar Heel and NBA Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo, and a Top 5 recruit in the class of 2011, might just pull an Andre Dawkins and come to UNC next year with Barnes and Co. Read this piece on SI.com and it will make you feel all warm and giddy inside. Here’s a throwback of ol’ Bob, sorry about the watermark. Only image I could find in a Heels uni.

    Well if you read that article, it’s made clear by James McAdoo’s father that James came up with the idea once the Wear twins transferred. That gave me some piece of mind. I was afraid that Roy might have been pulling a Coach K. As in last year when Dawkins came to Duke as a 17-year-old. I never read any stories on him – why woud I? – but after Elliot Williams transferred I was sure it was K figuring out some way to bolster his roster. Unfortunately whoever initiated the Dawkins early graduation talks, it worked out for them, but that’s beside the point.

    The other move I’m not sure we’ve covered here on the Rafters is the transfer of Justin Knox from Alabama. This should be a valuable pick-up. If he can put up his numbers from the SEC a year ago (6.3 pts., 3.7 rebs) that will be gravy. It’d be about equal to what two Wears were giving us, so even trade.

    I don’t think the McAdoo Move would alter the potential starting lineup for next season, nor will the Knox pickup.  At the beginning, I’m guessing Drew, Strickland, Graves, Henson, Zeller, with the expectation that Barnes will be starting by the ACC season.

    The transfers and early graduations would give us a very solid bench, however, with McAdoo and Knox spelling Henson and Zeller. Graves and Barnes wouldn’t be forced to play much post, and Reggie Bullock and Kendall Marshall will provide the guards with respite.

    Come to think of it, that would give the Heels exactly 10 players who would likely see minutes — one sub for each starter.

    And if they start playing anything like last year, that would come in handy when Roy needs to make one of his full line-up substitutions.

     
  • shwineka 12:12 pm on April 5, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , Butler, , , , , gold medal, Hoosiers, indianapolis,   

    Duke Plays Butler for the National Championship 

    Never was a tougher headline typed than the one you see above. As I began the word “Natio…….” my fingers literally gave pause. Is this really happening?

    For the past six years or so, we’ve come to expect Duke to be highly ranked, but underachieve. This year was the third time – yes, third time – that Duke was a No. 1 seed since their last Final Four. They’ve also been a No. 2 seed twice since then, so when they received yet another favorable seeding and region, we could only expect them to fail again right? No, they actually lived up to their seeding this year, even looking like a championship contender at times.

    Ouch. That was another one of those painful sentences to type. How did it come to this? I dream of that dark-haired, sinister man, grinning and dangling gold medals and basketball nets as he puppeteers the blue-clad menaces all over Indianapolis. I wake up screaming. And on another note, how is Brian Zoubek  getting double-digit rebounds?!

    Needless to say, but I’ll be rooting for the under(Bull)dogs tonight. And it’s not because I want to see the latest version of Hoosiers play out for my enjoyment. It’s because my sanity has been questionable since the Final Four teams made official. C’mon Butler, I need this.

     
  • shwineka 3:16 pm on March 26, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: austin rivers, billy donovan, boston celtics, , doc rivers, , , , , , , , ,   

    UNC Recruiting Austin Rivers 

    UNC entered the recruitment of the class of 2011’s top shooting guard this week. Not surprising for Carolina to be pursuing a top recruit. What is surprising is that this recruit had already committed to Florida!

    It’s none other than the son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, Austin. The younger Rivers had committed to Billy Donovan, but recently opened his recruitment back up to none other than Dook. Well, two can play at that game, and apparently Doc and tha fam spoke with Roy and said they welcomed UNC getting into the mix. I guess Doc does know his stuff.

    UNC’s ‘11 class is already solid, but the addition of Rivers would put it among the best in the nation. And honestly, who wouldn’t want to come play with Harrison Barnes? It’s true that Barnes might be gone after his freshman year, but that’s just more PT for any potential recruit to take. Some have raised questions about whether Carolina will have enough scholarships, as Roy has already offered Rivers one that potentially won’t exist. I don’t think that’s going to be an issue. Ed Davis will surely be gone by then, and the way John Henson progressed at the end of the season, he’ll be popping up on mock drafts at the end of next year as well. Might as well over-recruit so we don’t end up in a situation like this year — with weak ball handling that causes all those dang turnovers.

    Plus it’d just be icing on the cake to steal another top recruit from the goonies in Durham.

     
  • shwineka 11:29 am on March 24, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , blazers, , , elijah millsap, , , , , , , NYC, , , , , ,   

    Tar Heels to Final Four! ….sort of 

    The train kept rolling as UNC handled a feisty UAB on Tuesday night, or at least a feisty Elijah Millsap.

    Despite coughing up 15 turnovers and — arguably — the team’s best shooter, Will Graves, going 0-9 from the field, the Heels were in control of the Blazers and won 60-55. No last-second heroics needed, Larry.

    That didn’t stop Drew II from putting in some clutch free throws, as well as knocking down a couple of treys to seal the deal. John Henson matched a career-high in points and Deon Thompson turned in his first double-double since November. The Heels will face the winner of Virginia Tech and Rhode Island in Madison Square Garden for the semi-finals of the NIT.

    It might not be the NCAAs, but man, has it been awesome to watch this team finally come together. The youngsters seem to be hitting on all cylinders, while the veterans are playing to keep their careers going — looking at you Thompson and Ginyard.

    Deon and Marcus might feel a little let-down from their senior year, but there is a bright side to their sudden burst in hustle. They could make history as the first team to ever win the NCAA and NIT in consecutive years.  While admittedly it underachieves what many thought was this team’s capability, I guess UNC just can’t go through a season without making some kind of history.

    Oh, yeah. Congrats on reaching the 2,000 win plateau, boys!

    The match-up in NYC is a fun one, regardless of who wins between VT and RI tonight. Why? Well, if Virginia Tech wins, the game will be against an ACC foe with whom Carolina split its games this year. If Rhode Island wins, it will be a match-up of teams with the same colors.

    Personally, I’d like to see the RI game. That way the Heels could win on two levels: score and style.

     
  • shwineka 3:18 pm on March 23, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Jarvis Varnado, , , , , , , , , ,   

    UNC v. UAB Tonight 

    When Carolina takes on UAB tonight, it could be the start of something beautfiul, or at least the continuation. In UNC’s last two games (against William & Mary and Miss. State in the NIT), something has been very different. Something about the team’s demeanor has to have many Heels fans squirming in their cubicles or desks or what-have-you, just anticipating seeing some GOOD basketball again tonight.

    When the going got tough down in Mississippi on Saturday, the young Heels didn’t lay down. In fact, it was exactly those young Heels that lead the comeback from 12 points down in the first half.

    And who finished the game off? Those same young’ns. John Henson’s monster blocking ability was on display, as he sparked the turnover that lead to Will Graves’ banked 3-pointer that put the Heels ahead in the final minute of the game. When Miss. State tied it, who but Drew II took it down the court in a very Ty Lawson-esque manner, delivering the game winner over the NCAA All-Time leader in blocks, Jarvis Varnado.

    Instead of committing ugly turnovers, the boys in blue put the ball in the basket, and didn’t seem flustered in the least. It might have taken a whole season – and the threat of that season’s end – but the Heels are finally clicking as a team.

    I hate to sound like an N.C. State fan, but there is always next year and next year is looking brighter and brighter. But please, young Tar Heels, don’t think about next year just yet. Let’s see if we can win about three more games. After a season like this, an NIT title would indeed be a beautiful thing.

    (photo by N&O)

     
  • shwineka 12:49 pm on March 6, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , Alumni of the Year, Bobby Knight, Cameron Crazies, , College Game Day, Dookies, , Hubert Davis, , , , , University of North Carolina   

    Hubert Davis: Alumnus of the Year 

    On College Game Day this morning, let it be known that Hubert Davis, UNC Class of 1992, picked the Tar Heels to beat Duke while seated at half court of Hansbrough Cameron Indoor Stadium. While all the other commentators chose favored Duke, Mr. Davis exemplified the true spirit of the greatest rivalry in sports, and picked his alma mater. His colleague, Bobby Knight, then proposed that he receive the “alumni of the year award,” and so we are justly giving it to Mr. Davis. This is not the first time Mr. Davis has upheld his loyalty to the University of North Carolina, as evidenced in the hidden-camera video below. It is not a commercial like some might think.

    Although, Jay, you are normally a voice of reason and valuable insight, today is different. Eat it, Bilas. And so for Mr. Davis’ body of work as a full-bore Carolina supporter, even in the face of the Cameron Crazies, he shall be presented with this most prestigious award. The dozens, nay, hundreds of people who will see this will surely understand the humongous honor.

    Congratulate yourself, Hubert Davis. You are The Rafters’ Alumnus of the Year.

     
    • lulu 10:58 pm on March 6, 2010 Permalink

      I’ve always loved Hubert…that’s all I have to say about that.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and the game.

  • shwineka 3:02 pm on March 4, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ari gold, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,   

    Carolina Has Opportunity to Dethrone Devils 

    I was more excited for last night’s game between Maryland and Duke thanI’d ever been for a non-UNC basketball game. Honestly, I daydreamed about it during work.

    As much as Greivis Vasquez makes me want to throw my TV, I was just waiting for he and the Terps to stick it to the Dookies and have their rude fans hurl insults that would make Ari Gold cringe.

    And much to my delight, that all happened. Every last part of it. Vasquez hit essentially the game-winner and I distinctly heard chants of “F*** You, Scheyer.”

    The best part of last night? The result put the Gothic Goonies in a tie with UMD for first place in the conference, and both teams have one game left on their schedules — Duke’s last contest is UNC. That means the Heels have the chance to save their season on Saturday by denying Duke the regular season conference title, assuming that Maryland beats Virginia.

    What better way to cap an end-of-season win streak than crushing the hopes and dreams of your arch rival? The Heels haven’t exactly dominated in the past two games, but their gritty efforts will serve as good practice for playing Duke, which usually results in a gritty game anyway. They seem to be understanding team effort much better as well. John Henson pointed this out after the Miami game.

    Playing in Cameron will be tough, but Greg Paulus will tell you it’s also tough to beat UNC when they’re hyped up for a game in Durham.  And adding the prospect of dethroning the devils has me (and likely the Tar Heels) daydreaming again already.

     
  • shwineka 1:24 pm on March 2, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , ,   

    Thank you, Kyle Singler 

    In the past two days, 10 people have come to our blog by searching the term “sloth goonies.”

     
    • lulu 1:47 am on March 3, 2010 Permalink

      is there another way?

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