Quote:
Originally Posted by sterlingice
You know that cliche of "if X plays their best game, they can beat anyone". Team X is probably UNC this year and that pretty close to their best game, especially in the first half. I mean, how do you beat a team who hits 65% and has 0 turnovers through the first 14 minutes of the game? Gonzaga hung with them for a while but were just outclasses since Carolina brought their A game.
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I think you're definitely right about that. Unfortunately, out of the 1 seeds, I think UNC is also the most likely team to just not play any defense for 40 minutes and allow a team's best player to cruise to 30 points and a victory. If they continue to work hard on defense, I think they're the best team in the nation. But I don't think one can count on that to happen.
Ginyard being out all year has allowed Danny Green to develop into a very nice player, but every loss UNC has had is due to defensive lapses, usually allowing the opponent's best scorer to put up ridiculous numbers. If their shutdown defender is on Tyrese Rice, or Jeff Teague, or Grievis Vasquez, or Toney Douglas, I think they're 35-0 right now and that preseason hype has a legitimate shot at coming true.
Of course, I shouldn't bitch about a 31-4 season, just wishful thinking about how good this team is now with its best defender on the bench all season hurt.