Remember when the Duke-Carolina game was must see television? One year ago the Tar Heels were cutting down the nets down and were on top of the college basketball universe. Duke has not been to a final four in years and people are doubting Coach K's ability to win the big game. Both Coach K and Coach Williams have stayed away from the one and done players it has killed Duke but the Tar Heels have thrived in this recent era. Duke was the college that every one loved to beat because Dick Vitale was always touting them. I once watched an interview with Connecticut Coach Jim Calhoun and he could not say a sentence without mentioning Duke and Coach K. Charlie Rose asked him question after question and he continued to gush about the "Dukies". Early in his career, Duke defeated them in big games all the time. Recent years Connecticut has turned the table. Earlier this year Duke finally beat UConn and ever since then Coach Calhoun has been sick. Connecticut has struggled this year too, but we will save them for another day. Duke has been bullied over the past 5 years by the Tar Heels. Tonight The Dukies played horribly and won by ten. They have a decent team but will struggle against a team that has good guard play and a big man who can get his own shot. The positive of Duke is that they can shoot and make free throws. So if they are making their threes they will be a tough out for anyone.
The Tar Heels have fallen and can't get up. They have lost several games in a row and have losses at teams that defy logic. They have played a tough non-conference schedule but ever since they lost to Texas(another team that is struggling) they have not been the same team that many people thought would contend for a title. I think the problem is that they don't know who they are. No one's roles are defined and they don't know who the go to person is. They have very skilled interior players but the guards do not know how to get the ball in scoring position enough. The guards cant shoot. They miss several wide open looks and miss layups way to often. Coach Williams must be wondering where Ty Lawson and Tyler Hansbrough are because they lack leadership. Someone needs to grab the ball and take games over for them. John Wall is a freshman at Kentucky and he makes sure everyone knows that the ball is his and he will give it to you when you deserve it.
I look around at College basketball and that to me seems to be the overriding problem for most teams. Texas, Uconn, and Carolina have all of these super star players who are not used to being benched or not getting 20 shots a game. Teamwork is not just two words put together, coaches need to design plays that make their players feel a sense of responsibility. Texas looked like world beaters when I saw them beat UNC. Carolina looked good too in that game. Both teams need a leader to say "follow me" and lead them to the promise land. It is already going to be a weird tournament. The Pac-10 conference teams are all sorry and UConn and UNC not playing well is making the tournament become about a few teams and unknowns. (like New Mexico and Butler) I am hoping that this an anomaly and that next year we will look forward to this game. Coach Roy will get it fixed. Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins are not walking through that door any time soon....
No comments:
Post a Comment