I’ll start the day and end the day with two huge basketball games. First up is UNCA vs. Winthrop, wit the Bulldogs playing for their conference championship title and a bid to the Big Dance. I’ll be there with my camera, so look for a news update and photos later. Game’s at 11:30 a.m.
Then tonight, UNC vs. Duke could be an instant classic. You know all about the rivalry. But the game comes on the heels of a devastating death in Chapel Hill, the apparently random shooting of Eve Marie Carson, Chapel Hill’s student body president.
NPR this morning had one student journalist from the Carolina student newspaper, and one student journalist from the Duke paper. The two talked about how the shooting has affected the game. The Tar Heels had a hard time practicing because several of the players knew Eve. The Dookies didn’t pull their usual newspaper pranking in advance of the game. There will be a moment of silence in Cameron Indoor Stadium for Eve.
The students also said this game is likely to be much more emotional for the Tar Heels. A chance to forget the evils of the world and just play their frackin’ hearts out on the hardwood. It’s going to be grief therapy for the Heels.
It’s going to be an incredible, nerve-jangling, glorious contest.
GO HEELS!!!
Here’s the Sporting News, which notes both games:
What we’ll learn
North Carolina. If it feels like North Carolina should have more than two losses this season, it’s because the Tar Heels have played from behind several times and escaped with tight wins — two one-point victories and three overtime wins. So, yes, they’re vulnerable, but they find ways to win. That quality can’t really be counted on as consistently as, say, good guard play or a dominant post presence, but it’s still good to have tucked in your back pocket. Can the Tar Heels pull out all three qualities — guard, post and clutch — in front of the Cameron Crazies?
Duke. The Blue Devils took care of the toughest part of the home-and-home matchup with the win in Chapel Hill, but the Heels were without point guard Ty Lawson. He’s back now. Do the Blue Devils have the quickness to stay with Lawson? If he’s able to get into a rhythm and find the seams in the defense, he’ll wreak havoc in Durham. Can Duke be physical enough to handle the mostly-healthy Heels?
Did you know?
You know most everything about these two teams. The winner is a likely No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Also worth your attention
Saturday
Winthrop (21-11) vs. UNC-Asheville (23-8), 11:30 a.m., ESPN2
It’s the Big South final. Winthrop has won three consecutive conference championships, but Asheville has beaten the Eagles twice already this season rather handily.
1 Comment
TAR!
HEELS!!