A Small Victory

Since it hasn't been a great year for Duke basketball, I feel obliged to take a little pleasure in the small victories. Let me admit something here. In 2005, after Duke bowed out, I rooted for UNC. That was a likeable UNC team. The core of that team went through a lot of adversity by going just 38-27 in their first two years before having a stellar break-out year in 2005. Maybe it was easier to like them because Duke had beaten them that year and we won the ACC title, maybe not. I felt like there was a true rivalry between our schools at that point. Redick/Williams had faced off 6 times against Felton/McCants/May and the results were close. I had respect for my enemy.

This year's Carolina team, though, is thoroughly hateable. They have no identity, no personality, and their particular style of basketball is at once fun to watch, and disgusting. There's nothing wrong with an up-tempo style with lots of run-outs and fancy displays of athleticism. However, this team has dreadful half-court execution. Watching Georgetown break down UNC's overrated defense on almost every possession proved that winning in March is about half-court execution more than it is about throwing talent at teams and hoping you wear them down. The basketball gods smiled upon Georgetown for its excellent half-court execution.

The strange thing about the game was that it was completely opposite of what one would expect having watched UNC play during this tournament. Carolina jumps off to a quick start, shooting extremely well and taking an early rebounding edge. Hibbert, Ewing and Sapp got into early foul trouble. UNC seemed just as effective or even more effective with Stepheson and Thompson in the paint as they did with Hansbrough and Wright. At half-time, I had penciled the Heels into the Final Four. There's no way they could blow this, is there? They have every possibile advantage: G'Town in foul trouble, Hibbert looked tired, holding to a steady 6-8 point advantage for most of the first half. I expected the game to continue until about 7 minutes left when UNC pulled away using their well rested legs and the foul situation to bury Georgetown. And honestly, it did. But the Hoyas still fought back, and I think it caught the Heels off guard. They kept looking for that dagger to end the game, but kept coming up short. Defensively, they collapsed, allowing easy layup after easy layup for the Hoyas. They lost their edge on the boards, the Hoyas got all the loose balls. Once overtime rolled around, UNC looked ready to go home. They had no fight left in them. Meanwhile, the Hoyas kept executing beautifully on the offense side of the ball, and built an insurmountable lead.

Now, if there is any justice and righteousness left in the hearts of the basketball gods, Georgetown will meet UCLA for the national title. More on that this week, however...