Tagged: ACC RSS

  • shwineka 12:28 pm on June 11, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ACC, 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: ACC, 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 11:29 am on March 24, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ACC, 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.

     

  • bwineka 3:32 pm on March 17, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ACC, , , , , , ,   

    Roy Williams Tie Tracker, ACC Tournament Edition: Georgia Tech 

    One thing all UNC fans have come to know, love and expect of Roy Williams is his fashionable selection of ties, most often courtesy of Chapel Hill outfitter Alexander Julian. The same man who put the argyle on the side of the basketball uniform is still turning heads with what he’s putting around Ol’ Roy’s neck. So, here at The Rafters we decided to pay homage to the best accesory in college hoops, if not the entire sporting world, and document every tie Roy Williams wears this season.

    The Heels never got the chance to make a run at the ACC tournament championship after Georgia Tech halted the Boys in the first round.

    This is the same combo we’ve seen against Dook at home, Virginia Tech at home and Ohio State.

    Here’s this years stats:

    Game 1: Florida International, W 88-72 – Small paisley in aqua and dark blue with pocket square

    Game 2: North Carolina Central, W 89-42 – Large paisley in Carolina and navy blue and gold with pocket square

    Game 3: Valparaiso, W 88-77 – Large paisley-ish in gold, navy, brown and Carolina with pocket square

    Game 4: Ohio State, W 77-73 – Diagonal white stripes over light blue back with pocket square

    Game 5: Syracuse, L 87-71 – Large paisley in Carolina and navy blue with pocket square

    Game 6: Gardner-Webb, W 93-72 – Blue and white dotted with pocket square

    Game 7: Nevada, W 80-73 – Carolina blue and white diagonal stripes with no jacket or pocket square, removed tie in first half, black arm sling

    Game 8: Michigan State, W 89-82 – No tie, Carolina blue plaid shirt with no jacket or pocket square, black arm sling, AIDs ribbon

    Game 9: Kentucky, L 68-66 – No tie, white shirt with no jacket, pre-game pinstriped jacket with pocket square, black arm sling

    Game 10: Presbyterian, W 103-64 – No tie, white shirt with no jacket or pocket square, Old Well emblem on pocket, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 11: Texas, L 103-90 – No tie, white shirt with no jacket or pocket square, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 12: Marshall, W 98-61 – No tie, Carolina blue plaid shirt with no jacket or pocket square, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 13: Rutgers, W 81-67 – No tie, white shirt with no jacket or pocket square, Old Well logo on pocket, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 14: Albany, W 87-70 – No tie, black longsleeve shirt with no jacket or pocket square, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 15: College of Charleston, L 82-79 – No tie, white longsleeve shirt with no jacket or pocket square, NC logo on sleeve, blue sweater with white diamond pattern, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 16: Virginia Tech, W 78-64 – Carolina blue tie with pocket square, Carolina blue striped shirt with pinstriped suit

    Game 17: Clemson, L 83-64 – FedExKinkos tie with unmatching pocket square, white shirt with pinstriped suit

    Game 18: Georgia Tech, L 73-71 – Carolina blue tie with white diagonal stripes ['09 Championship Tie] with blue pocket square, white shirt and pinstriped suit

    Game 19: Wake Forest, L 82-69 – Carolina blue and white diagonal stripes with white pocket square, white shirt and gray jacket

    Game 20: NC State, W 77-63 – Carolina blue and brown diamond designed with white pocket square, white shirt and Carolina blue jacket

    Game 21: Virginia, L 75-60 – Beige tie with dark spotted pattern and Carolina blue pocket square, Carolina blue shirt and brown jacket with plaid pattern, Jordans in first half, changed at halftime

    Game 22: Virginia Tech, L 74-70 – Large pattern paisley in Carolina blue and navy with white pocket square, white shirt and pinstriped suit

    Game 23: Maryland, L 92-71 – Cream color tie with white pocket square, white shirt and plain suit

    Game 24: Dook, L 64-54 – Carolina blue tie with white diagonal striped and pocket square, vertical striped shirt with white collar and pinstriped suit

    Game 25: NC State. W 74-61 – Carolina blue and brown diamond designed with white pocket square, white shirt and Carolina blue jacket

    Game 26: Georgia Tech, L 68-51 – Black tie featuring blue and white dots with white pocket square, white shirt, gray jacket and Tar Heel lapel pin

    Game 27: Boston College, L 71-67 – Pastel tie with lily pad pattern in Carolina blue, yellow and purple, with no pocket square, white shirt, Tar Heel lapel pin

    Game 28: Florida State, L 77-67 – Vertically striped tie in blue, brown and tan with no pocket square, Carolina blue shirt, no Tar Heel lapel pin

    Game 29: Wake Forest, W 77-68 – Plain Carolina blue tie with white pocket square, white shirt and pinstriped suit, no Tar Heel lapel pin

    Game 30: Miami, W 69-62 – Large paisley in white on a Carolina blue tie with blue pocket square, white shirt and tan jacket, no Tar Heel lapel pin

    Game 31: Dook, L 82-50 – Carolina blue and white diagonal stripes with white pocket square, white shirt and gray jacket

    Game 32: Georgia Tech, L 62-58 – Carolina blue tie with white diagonal striped and pocket square, vertical striped shirt with white collar and pinstriped suit

    [Photos by N&O]

    http://www.twitter.com/RoysTieTracker

    Facebook Fan Page

     

  • bwineka 3:18 pm on March 17, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ACC, , , , , ,   

    Roy Williams Tie Tracker: Dook 

    One thing all UNC fans have come to know, love and expect of Roy Williams is his fashionable selection of ties, most often courtesy of Chapel Hill outfitter Alexander Julian. The same man who put the argyle on the side of the basketball uniform is still turning heads with what he’s putting around Ol’ Roy’s neck. So, here at The Rafters we decided to pay homage to the best accesory in college hoops, if not the entire sporting world, and document every tie Roy Williams wears this season.

    Mmm, well, not a great ending to an ACC season filled with more downs than ups.

    This is the same tie design worn by Roy for the home Wake Forest and Nevada games. That gives this design a 1-2 record. Eh, not great.

    Ed looking better than the team play.

    Here’s this years stats:

    Game 1: Florida International, W 88-72 – Small paisley in aqua and dark blue with pocket square

    Game 2: North Carolina Central, W 89-42 – Large paisley in Carolina and navy blue and gold with pocket square

    Game 3: Valparaiso, W 88-77 – Large paisley-ish in gold, navy, brown and Carolina with pocket square

    Game 4: Ohio State, W 77-73 – Diagonal white stripes over light blue back with pocket square

    Game 5: Syracuse, L 87-71 – Large paisley in Carolina and navy blue with pocket square

    Game 6: Gardner-Webb, W 93-72 – Blue and white dotted with pocket square

    Game 7: Nevada, W 80-73 – Carolina blue and white diagonal stripes with no jacket or pocket square, removed tie in first half, black arm sling

    Game 8: Michigan State, W 89-82 – No tie, Carolina blue plaid shirt with no jacket or pocket square, black arm sling, AIDs ribbon

    Game 9: Kentucky, L 68-66 – No tie, white shirt with no jacket, pre-game pinstriped jacket with pocket square, black arm sling

    Game 10: Presbyterian, W 103-64 – No tie, white shirt with no jacket or pocket square, Old Well emblem on pocket, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 11: Texas, L 103-90 – No tie, white shirt with no jacket or pocket square, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 12: Marshall, W 98-61 – No tie, Carolina blue plaid shirt with no jacket or pocket square, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 13: Rutgers, W 81-67 – No tie, white shirt with no jacket or pocket square, Old Well logo on pocket, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 14: Albany, W 87-70 – No tie, black longsleeve shirt with no jacket or pocket square, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 15: College of Charleston, L 82-79 – No tie, white longsleeve shirt with no jacket or pocket square, NC logo on sleeve, blue sweater with white diamond pattern, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 16: Virginia Tech, W 78-64 – Carolina blue tie with pocket square, Carolina blue striped shirt with pinstriped suit

    Game 17: Clemson, L 83-64 – FedExKinkos tie with unmatching pocket square, white shirt with pinstriped suit

    Game 18: Georgia Tech, L 73-71 – Carolina blue tie with white diagonal stripes ['09 Championship Tie] with blue pocket square, white shirt and pinstriped suit

    Game 19: Wake Forest, L 82-69 – Carolina blue and white diagonal stripes with white pocket square, white shirt and gray jacket

    Game 20: NC State, W 77-63 – Carolina blue and brown diamond designed with white pocket square, white shirt and Carolina blue jacket

    Game 21: Virginia, L 75-60 – Beige tie with dark spotted pattern and Carolina blue pocket square, Carolina blue shirt and brown jacket with plaid pattern, Jordans in first half, changed at halftime

    Game 22: Virginia Tech, L 74-70 – Large pattern paisley in Carolina blue and navy with white pocket square, white shirt and pinstriped suit

    Game 23: Maryland, L 92-71 – Cream color tie with white pocket square, white shirt and plain suit

    Game 24: Dook, L 64-54 – Carolina blue tie with white diagonal striped and pocket square, vertical striped shirt with white collar and pinstriped suit

    Game 25: NC State. W 74-61 – Carolina blue and brown diamond designed with white pocket square, white shirt and Carolina blue jacket

    Game 26: Georgia Tech, L 68-51 – Black tie featuring blue and white dots with white pocket square, white shirt, gray jacket and Tar Heel lapel pin

    Game 27: Boston College, L 71-67 – Pastel tie with lily pad pattern in Carolina blue, yellow and purple, with no pocket square, white shirt, Tar Heel lapel pin

    Game 28: Florida State, L 77-67 – Vertically striped tie in blue, brown and tan with no pocket square, Carolina blue shirt, no Tar Heel lapel pin

    Game 29: Wake Forest, W 77-68 – Plain Carolina blue tie with white pocket square, white shirt and pinstriped suit, no Tar Heel lapel pin

    Game 30: Miami, W 69-62 – Large paisley in white on a Carolina blue tie with blue pocket square, white shirt and tan jacket, no Tar Heel lapel pin

    Game 31: Dook, L 82-50 – Carolina blue and white diagonal stripes with white pocket square, white shirt and gray jacket

    [Photos by N&O]

    http://www.twitter.com/RoysTieTracker

    Facebook Fan Page

     

  • bwineka 2:37 pm on March 4, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ACC, , , , , ,   

    Roy Williams Tie Tracker: Miami 

    One thing all UNC fans have come to know, love and expect of Roy Williams is his fashionable selection of ties, most often courtesy of Chapel Hill outfitter Alexander Julian. The same man who put the argyle on the side of the basketball uniform is still turning heads with what he’s putting around Ol’ Roy’s neck. So, here at The Rafters we decided to pay homage to the best accesory in college hoops, if not the entire sporting world, and document every tie Roy Williams wears this season.

    Oh man, the stops came out for the big 2000th win on Tuesday night. Really a beaut.

    Nice large, white paisley print over a Carolina blue base. And how about that jacket detail? Nice, right?

    Even Donald Williams got into the tie game during halftime.

    Tyler Hansbrough and Surry Wood? Not so much.

    Here’s this years stats:

    Game 1: Florida International, W 88-72 – Small paisley in aqua and dark blue with pocket square

    Game 2: North Carolina Central, W 89-42 – Large paisley in Carolina and navy blue and gold with pocket square

    Game 3: Valparaiso, W 88-77 – Large paisley-ish in gold, navy, brown and Carolina with pocket square

    Game 4: Ohio State, W 77-73 – Diagonal white stripes over light blue back with pocket square

    Game 5: Syracuse, L 87-71 – Large paisley in Carolina and navy blue with pocket square

    Game 6: Gardner-Webb, W 93-72 – Blue and white dotted with pocket square

    Game 7: Nevada, W 80-73 – Carolina blue and white diagonal stripes with no jacket or pocket square, removed tie in first half, black arm sling

    Game 8: Michigan State, W 89-82 – No tie, Carolina blue plaid shirt with no jacket or pocket square, black arm sling, AIDs ribbon

    Game 9: Kentucky, L 68-66 – No tie, white shirt with no jacket, pre-game pinstriped jacket with pocket square, black arm sling

    Game 10: Presbyterian, W 103-64 – No tie, white shirt with no jacket or pocket square, Old Well emblem on pocket, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 11: Texas, L 103-90 – No tie, white shirt with no jacket or pocket square, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 12: Marshall, W 98-61 – No tie, Carolina blue plaid shirt with no jacket or pocket square, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 13: Rutgers, W 81-67 – No tie, white shirt with no jacket or pocket square, Old Well logo on pocket, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 14: Albany, W 87-70 – No tie, black longsleeve shirt with no jacket or pocket square, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 15: College of Charleston, L 82-79 – No tie, white longsleeve shirt with no jacket or pocket square, NC logo on sleeve, blue sweater with white diamond pattern, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 16: Virginia Tech, W 78-64 – Carolina blue tie with pocket square, Carolina blue striped shirt with pinstriped suit

    Game 17: Clemson, L 83-64 – FedExKinkos tie with unmatching pocket square, white shirt with pinstriped suit

    Game 18: Georgia Tech, L 73-71 – Carolina blue tie with white diagonal stripes ['09 Championship Tie] with blue pocket square, white shirt and pinstriped suit

    Game 19: Wake Forest, L 82-69 – Carolina blue and white diagonal stripes with white pocket square, white shirt and gray jacket

    Game 20: NC State, W 77-63 – Carolina blue and brown diamond designed with white pocket square, white shirt and Carolina blue jacket

    Game 21: Virginia, L 75-60 – Beige tie with dark spotted pattern and Carolina blue pocket square, Carolina blue shirt and brown jacket with plaid pattern, Jordans in first half, changed at halftime

    Game 22: Virginia Tech, L 74-70 – Large pattern paisley in Carolina blue and navy with white pocket square, white shirt and pinstriped suit

    Game 23: Maryland, L 92-71 – Cream color tie with white pocket square, white shirt and plain suit

    Game 24: Dook, L 64-54 – Carolina blue tie with white diagonal striped and pocket square, vertical striped shirt with white collar and pinstriped suit

    Game 25: NC State. W 74-61 – Carolina blue and brown diamond designed with white pocket square, white shirt and Carolina blue jacket

    Game 26: Georgia Tech, L 68-51 – Black tie featuring blue and white dots with white pocket square, white shirt, gray jacket and Tar Heel lapel pin

    Game 27: Boston College, L 71-67 – Pastel tie with lily pad pattern in Carolina blue, yellow and purple, with no pocket square, white shirt, Tar Heel lapel pin

    Game 28: Florida State, L 77-67 – Vertically striped tie in blue, brown and tan with no pocket square, Carolina blue shirt, no Tar Heel lapel pin

    Game 29: Wake Forest, 77-68 – Plain Carolina blue tie with white pocket square, white shirt and pinstriped suit, no Tar Heel lapel pin

    Game 30: Miami, 69-62 – Large paisley in white on a Carolina blue tie with blue pocket square, white shirt and tan jacket, no Tar Heel lapel pin

    [Photos by N&O]

    http://www.twitter.com/RoysTieTracker

    Facebook Fan Page

     

  • shwineka 1:50 pm on February 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ACC, , ACC Tournament, , , , Greensboro Coliseum, Joe Trapani, , , , , , ,   

    NC for ACC! 

    You might have noticed that – much like many of UNC’s players – the ACC power rankings are “out indefinitely.” After Saturday’s showing in Boston, this is probably a good thing.

    Young players tend not to be able to close games, and that’s been the case for the Heels all season, so we won’t get into that too much. What we do have to mention, is that now there is no possibility of finishing .500 in conference play, even if Roy’s boys put it together and win the rest of their games. Now before you get your Joe Trapanis in a wad, relax, UNC still has one shot at making the big dance.

    Winning the ACC tournament.

    It might seem far-fetched, but should the Heels get hot it’s very possible. The best teams in the conference right now are Duke (11-2), Maryland (9-3), Virginia Tech (8-4) and Wake Forest (8-5). No, I didn’t studder when I said Va. Tech. Weird, I know.  Depending on where UNC finishes, those are the teams Carolina is most likely to face in the first rounds of the tournament, and they’re all beatable.

    Maryland isn’t very good on the road, having only beaten BC, NC State and Florida State in conference road games. All of those wins are against teams in the lower half of the ACC. Given UNC is in the lower half as well, Greensboro Coliseum will be just like home for the Tar Heels. Advantage Carolina.

    Wake has also struggled on the road, and hasn’t played well of late, losing to NC State on Saturday. Their inconsistency this late in the season is a sign they might be fading.

    UNC has already beaten Virginia Tech once, and after losing to the Hokies will have a chip on their shoulder to beat them again

    And we know Carolina is ALWAYS capable of beating Duke. Always.

    Those teams are likely who will advance and make up the later rounds of the tournament as well. It is not insane to think that if UNC’s turnover problem gets resolved, and some key players are healthy, the Heels can take over the tourney.

    At this point, it’s Greensboro or bust.

     

  • bwineka 2:24 pm on February 11, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ACC, , , , , , ,   

    Roy Williams Tie Tracker: Dook 

    One thing all UNC fans have come to know, love and expect of Roy Williams is his fashionable selection of ties, most often courtesy of Chapel Hill outfitter Alexander Julian. The same man who put the argyle on the side of the basketball uniform is still turning heads with what he’s putting around Ol’ Roy’s neck. So, here at The Rafters we decided to pay homage to the best accesory in college hoops, if not the entire sporting world, and document every tie Roy Williams wears this season.

    Today’s Tie Tracker entry will be a little different than our usual post, but I hope you enjoy it. It captures every emotion of the game as it progressed, told through Roy and his tie.

    Dook: A photo essay by Robert Willett and Chuck Liddy, Compiled by The Rafters

    In case you’d like to know, Roy is wearing the same suit/tie combo he wore in the first Virginia Tech game and against Ohio State.

    Here’s this years stats:

    Game 1: Florida International, W 88-72 – Small paisley in aqua and dark blue with pocket square

    Game 2: North Carolina Central, W 89-42 – Large paisley in Carolina and navy blue and gold with pocket square

    Game 3: Valparaiso, W 88-77 – Large paisley-ish in gold, navy, brown and Carolina with pocket square

    Game 4: Ohio State, W 77-73 – Diagonal white stripes over light blue back with pocket square

    Game 5: Syracuse, L 87-71 – Large paisley in Carolina and navy blue with pocket square

    Game 6: Gardner-Webb, W 93-72 – Blue and white dotted with pocket square

    Game 7: Nevada, W 80-73 – Carolina blue and white diagonal stripes with no jacket or pocket square, removed tie in first half, black arm sling

    Game 8: Michigan State, W 89-82 – No tie, Carolina blue plaid shirt with no jacket or pocket square, black arm sling, AIDs ribbon

    Game 9: Kentucky, L 68-66 – No tie, white shirt with no jacket, pre-game pinstriped jacket with pocket square, black arm sling

    Game 10: Presbyterian, W 103-64 – No tie, white shirt with no jacket or pocket square, Old Well emblem on pocket, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 11: Texas, L 103-90 – No tie, white shirt with no jacket or pocket square, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 12: Marshall, W 98-61 – No tie, Carolina blue plaid shirt with no jacket or pocket square, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 13: Rutgers, W 81-67 – No tie, white shirt with no jacket or pocket square, Old Well logo on pocket, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 14: Albany, W 87-70 – No tie, black longsleeve shirt with no jacket or pocket square, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 15: College of Charleston, L 82-79 – No tie, white longsleeve shirt with no jacket or pocket square, NC logo on sleeve, blue sweater with white diamond pattern, arm sling with Carolina blue patterned cover

    Game 16: Virginia Tech, W 78-64 – Carolina blue tie with pocket square, Carolina blue striped shirt with pinstriped suit

    Game 17: Clemson, L 83-64 – FedExKinkos tie with unmatching pocket square, white shirt with pinstriped suit

    Game 18: Georgia Tech, L 73-71 – Carolina blue tie with white diagonal stripes ['09 Championship Tie] with blue pocket square, white shirt and pinstriped suit

    Game 19: Wake Forest, L 82-69 – Carolina blue and white diagonal stripes with white pocket square, white shirt and gray jacket

    Game 20: NC State, W 77-63 – Carolina blue and brown diamond designed with white pocket square, white shirt and Carolina blue jacket

    Game 21: Virginia, L 75-60 – Beige tie with dark spotted pattern and Carolina blue pocket square, Carolina blue shirt and brown jacket with plaid pattern, Jordans in first half, changed at halftime

    Game 22: Virginia Tech, L 74-70 – Large pattern paisley in Carolina blue and navy with white pocket square, white shirt and pinstriped suit

    Game 23: Maryland, L 92-71 – Cream color tie with white pocket square, white shirt and plain suit

    Game 24: Dook, L 64-54 – Carolina blue tie with white diagonal striped and pocket square, vertical striped shirt with white collar and pinstriped suit

    [Some photos by N&O's Robert Willett and Chuck Liddy]

    http://www.twitter.com/RoysTieTracker

    Facebook Fan Page

     

  • shwineka 1:42 pm on February 10, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ACC, , Carlos Boozer, , , Corey Maggette, , , e-mail, elton brand, , , , Lance Thomas, , , , , , NFL, , , , spread offense, , ,   

    Why We Hate Duke: The Offense 

    We all like to say that Duke only shoots 3s. And it’s true, they do take a hell of a lot of 3s. In fact, I’d hazard to assume they take way more threes than anyone in ACC. It’s my opinion, so it’s science.

    But here’s the thing, K’s offense isn’t necessarily designed to be focused on 3-pointers. It’s not quite the same as the NFL, but it’s still called the spread offense.

    There are a number of screens set in the initial run-through. The first look is often for a back-door pass. But you also have to consider some of the recent players that Dook recruited: Scheyer, Singler, Smith, Redick, Randolph, Thomas, Plumlee(s) and — excuse me while I chuckle — Zoubek.

    Most of those guys LOVE the three. Ever watched a Duke player drive the basket? His teammates’ eyes get all big and they run to the 3-point line, frantically clapping their hands as if the potential two-point drive will upset the basketball Gods. And I know some of you will agree that when Duke’s offense breaks down, there are four players on the wing waiting to take a shot.

    Now some of you will be saying “big deal.” The offense is designed for those drive and dish looks. But you’re missing the underlying effects of playing in such an offense, and it’s a reason to hate Duke.

    One of my biggest qualms with the 3-pointer idiot savants is that they just play the game wrong. Whether it’s the flopping, the emphasis placed on drawing fouls or the floor slapping. There’s something about Duke basketball that’s just not right. And when they’re re-introduced to playing with others (i.e. the NBA), their methods just don’t seem to translate.

    Going back to those players I mentioned earlier. These players are also the types that will do, without question, whatever Coach K says.  Blindly, stumbling forward, they run that offense to a T. K was a psychology major, and he puts it to use. His system is so ingrained in his players that it totally takes away any individual flair or natural talent they once had.

    “When we look at it, we always say you know Duke is a great college school. None of their guys come out and become great players in the pros because they don’t have that in their blood. …. Even to this day that still is ingrained in all Carolina guys. There’s no way you’re going to like anything about Duke.” — Michael Jordan

    What undoubtedly happens after one year in the system is that if you’re not good enough to play in the NBA, you usually end up staying four years. Take Redick. The best player on the roster for probably three years, yet did he ever flirt with the NBA? Redick stayed four years, only to lose on his senior night to a future four-year player who would actually win a national championship. Redick could have left after his junior season, but the reality was that he didn’t have anything besides that jump shot. Why? That jump shot worked in Duke’s system. Redick spent his entire senior year attempting to develop some other basic skills that NBA players need.

    What’s more, this tendency to stay four years actually makes the Duke students EXPECT it of their players. The pricks have no sense of what’s best for their team’s players in the long run. Who can forget Elton Brand’s e-mail with a Duke alum about his decision to leave early? Just an excerpt:

    Never being considered a part of your posh group of yuppies really hurts me to the heart. Yeah, right. Because I don’t care about you or your alumni.

    Sincerely,
    Elton Brand #42 NBA

    If you think about the Duke players that have stood out in the NBA recently – Brand, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Corey Maggette – None of them stayed four years. I would argue a Duke player’s success in the pros in inversely related to the amount of time spent in Durham. Whereas at UNC it’s almost a moot point. The players that are great at Carolina – barring injuries – are great in the NBA, regardless of time spent at UNC.

    That’s why it’s so exciting to watch Carolina basketball. Each player’s personality comes through on the court. Whether it was Rashad McCants’ casualness, or Tyler Hansbrough’s tenacity. The devils just play the game wrong because they operate like a machine, a flopping, slapping, boring machine. It’s uninspiring, frustrating and just ugly to watch.

    Of the myriad reasons to hate Dook, it’s one that just gets to the core of basketball. It should be fun, both for the players and for the fans.

     

    • Caroline 2:45 pm on February 10, 2010 Permalink

      i just looked up that email exchange from elton brand. its fantastic. so is dook-hating. go heels!

  • bwineka 2:59 pm on February 4, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ACC, , , game preview, ,   

    Want UNC-Duke Basketball Tickets? 

    I believe UNC alum from the past four years will recognize that note. It reads as the gospel to those who worship in the house that Dean built.

    I am lucky, as for the second year in a row I have been awarded the honor so many seek. Praise unto thee.

    I will be on hand to see one of our patron saints take his place among the greats.

    I will bear witness to the battle between the heavens and hell.

    I will cease to be man, and become one with something much larger than myself.

    I will not leave without victory.

    And you, humble reader, will be able to follow along on my journey.

    Didn’t mean to do that to you, but I figure you understand.

    I did not lie, I will be at the game. And I’ll make sure to keep everybody updated along the way.

    Make sure to check in with TheRafters on Twitter all game day as well as next Thursday for video and commentary.

     

    • lulu 8:27 pm on February 6, 2010 Permalink

      who didja’ pay? and who let you use their 8th grade picture from 1972?

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