I am proud of JamesOn Curry.  He has taken a bad situation and made the best of it.  Given a second chance at Oklahoma State, he has earned a starting spot and just lit up Oklahoma for at least 22 points in a huge rivalry game.

I admire the way JamesOn did not let his drug charge defeat him, and did not get discouraged when it was decided that he would not attend North Carolina.

However, I do have a problem with the way North Carolina is being portrayed in this saga.  The University of North Carolina did not commit this felony.  The University did not attempt to sell drugs to an undercover police officer at a high school.  JamesOn Curry did.  I'm not here to discuss the legality of marijuana.  It is, at this time, against the law.  JamesOn broke that law.  I'm also not here to harp on him about it.  It's over. 

But JamesOn was not "in the wrong place at the wrong time," as Stacey Dales-Shuman said during a sideline interview.  She was referring to a conversation she had with Oklahoma State guard John Lucas about JamesOn.  No.  JamesOn was involved with the wrong thing.  Whether it was the first time he touched the stuff or he was involved prior to being caught, it doesn't matter.  A drug dealer is never in the wrong place at the wrong time.  He is in the wrong, period.  So was JamesOn.

North Carolina is not the bad guy in this case, as is being portrayed in the media.  ESPN the magazine did a story on JamesOn in which he was portrayed as a sympathetic character.  The announcers of the OU-OSU game mentioned the incident several times. They mentioned that he had some trouble with the law, but mainly the point was North Carolina rescinded his scholarship, and JamesOn has overcome so much to get to Oklahoma State.  While it is commendable that JamesOn Curry made the decision to get on with his life and continue to pursue college basketball, he created his own adversity.  UNC did not put marijuana in his hands.  It was always best for JamesOn to get away from the state of North Carolina and his situation, and I'm happy for him.  But I don't feel sorry for him.

Box Score via News & Observer

Picture of the Marvster's dunk via Inside Carolina

Sorry I haven't posted a picture.  Been having bandwidth issues the last two months (this site is just so darn popular), so I thought I'd link for a while.

Boy, the Heels look good.  There was a moment there in the second half where it looked like the Seminoles were back in the game, but you didn't really believe that, did you?  Last year I would have been worried.  This time around, no such thing.  Even if one had been worried, that feeling would have been quashed six seconds later with a beautiful alley-oop from Raymond to Rashad.

This victory showed that the Tar Heels of 2005 can win big, but they can also win ugly, when they're not shooting well.  What's the difference?  I'd say attitude.  Oh and Marvin Williams.  By the way, Jawad has scored less than double figures for two games now.  He had a long-standing streak broken vs. N.C. State.

Marvin's dunk brings me to a fun point.  What are the most memorable dunks in the last 20 years of Carolina hoops?  Certainly The Marvelous One's two in the past two games.  Noel has had some good ones lately.  Jawad and Jackie too.  Let me know what your favorites are and maybe I can PhotoShop something cool.  Stackhouse has two that stand out off the top of my head, and Jordan and Kenny Smith would be in there.  Vince over Duncan, naturally.  What am I missing?