Ahoy there boys and girls, this is Ben "Suave" Hudson, one of Turner's friends from camp.  Turner asked me to help him out with the blog, so here comes one mans opinion...
    You can turn back the clock alright...all the way back to February of 1993 that is.  The similarities between these two teams is so uncanny its scary.  We will get to that once we get our seeding in march.  Once again, the boys in the lighter shade of blue make a good performance look great.  Sure, the darker blue pom poms in the stands, Len Elmore getting back to his fro' roots, and having headsets that looked quite humorous was nostalgic, but by far the best thing in the Dean Dome was the Heels solid performance. 
    A Marvinless team still looked great, but then again, it was against UVA.  Hope the turf toe will be gone sooner than later.  The Heels coped quite well with a Virginia team that was content on letting the shot clock expire than to take a good shot or let Ray Ray run the break.  The half court offense was the big fad tonight, with the halftime score looking a little better at 24-39 than 26-62 in the last contest.  The game never really seemed close, but then again, never really got out of hand until midway through the 2nd.  Virginia kept hanging around about 12-14 pts down until around the 9 minute mark in the second when the lead finally swelled to 20. 
    Rashad had a great game, shooting a lights-out 9-12 from the floor for a old school McCants box score of 23 points.  As usual, good ole Pete spent all his time outs with about 5 minutes to go.  One would question his time management, but then again, one would question his job security.  I like the guy, but I dont see him coaching the home opener when their new facility opens up. 
    One of the most encouraging signs for the Heels is seeing Q actually take a shot on one of his many open looks this season.  If he gets hungry off the bench like Marv did, this team will be even deeper.
    So goes the trend in the ACC.  The divide between the top squads and the bucket scrapers continues to grow.  Would be nice to see a 5 team tourney conference this year......

Sorry for the lack of posts lately.  Funny that now that I’m writing full-time, I haven’t had the time to write.  Anyway, here goes.

The Tar Heels and Cavaliers will turn the back the clock Wednesday night at 7 for their game at the Dean E. Smith Center.  Both teams will wear throwback jerseys and fans are encouraged to dress in 80s attire.  You know what I think?  I think the band should learn A-Ha’s Take On Me and play it at every opportunity available!

Seriously, I know the Cavs are hot and have won like four straight, and they’ll want to pay Carolina back for the embarassment in Charlottesville, and I know the Tar Heels are having some health issues, but this one isn’t close.  Heels by at least 25.

Finally, I’d like to introduce the HeelsBlog readers to Ben (bah0916).  Ben has graciously offered to help post articles and commentaries to HeelsBlog.  Because I will be returning late from the game Wednesday night, Ben will post his recap of the game.  That way you’ll have something to comment on sooner than you would if I didn’t post mine til the next day.

If you are interested in being an author and contributing, drop me an email.  Thanks!

Tar Heel Blue link

John Bunting filled some holes in his staff today, hiring Tommy Thigpen as linebackers coach and Dave Brock as wide receivers coach.

I’m excited about Thigpen returning to his alma mater.  He was an all-conference linebacker at Carolina in the early 90s and was an exciting player to watch.

Brock comes from the high-flying Temple offense, and will have a great group of receivers to work with.

Also today, John Gutenkunst became the lead assistant coach, and Marvin Sanders will be the defensive coordinator.  The two had shared the coordinator job last year.  I think Sanders brings a great approach to the defense and is easy for players to relate to.  He’s a great asset to the coaching staff and we are lucky to have him.

Kenny Browning will coach the defensive tackles and Brad Lawing the defensive ends.  Hopefully the staff can light a fire under the football Tar Heels to want to enjoy more success after getting a taste in 2004.

Box score

Heels beat the UConn Huskies, 77-70 in a key game.  A big non-conference road win in a tough environment against the defending national champions.  I was a little worried early in the second half but the Tar Heels went to what was working:  powering the ball inside and hitting good open looks.  Forget Packer.  So what if the Huskies are the leading shot-blocking team?  What are you supposed to do, just not shoot?  Good for Rashad to get some confidence back after poor shooting recently.

The Welcome Back Award goes to Jawad Williams.  Nice to see you again, fella.  Kudos to David and Jackie for playing under the weather.

Yeah, we lost.  Played poorly and were pretty much lucky to only lose by one point.  If not for the frantic effort under 3 minutes, it would have been worse.  Too may turnovers (many unforced), mistakes (Rashad losing the ball out of bounds on the fast break), and missed free throws.

But a 1-point loss at Duke certainly is not going to break our season.  The similarities to the 1993 team are getting eery.  That team lost 4 games on the season.  An early non-conference game in Honolulu to Michigan, two games at Wake Forest (by 26) and at Duke (by 14).  And then they reeled off 11 wins in a row before dropping the ACC Tournament final to Georgia Tech by 2.  6 wins later, they were NCAA champions.

We as Tar Heel fans hope that this heartbreaking loss inspires this team not to want to lose again.

Tomorrow's game at UConn will be interesting.  How will the team react?  I haven't watched the Huskies enough to give a prediction, but I hope the Heels are inspired and energized to win the second half of the ACC.

Carolina at Duke, Wednesday at 9 pm. I don't have to tell you how big this game is. Carolina is currently one game ahead of Duke and Wake Forest for first place in the ACC, and definitely needs to win to hold on to the #1 seed. If they can keep winning games they control their destiny.

I am biased, certainly, but have tried to preview this game with an open mind. The teams appear to have very different strategies. While the Blue Devils are a more guard-oriented team, the Heels balance the floor with Williams and May countering Jackie and Rashad, with Ray running the show.

Let's look at the individual matchups:

Ewing vs. Felton - PUSH - Ewing dribble-drives more often, but because he has to. Felton is a better deliverer, and can knock down the three.

Redick vs. Manuel - Redick wins, but not if Jackie goes into lockdown mode. JJ has had some nice nights lately, but if he goes off for 30, Duke suffers in other areas.

Dockery vs. McCants - Uhhhhhhh. McCants?

Melchionni vs. Jawad - Melch can hit the open three. Jawad can do everything, and will beat him up down low.

Shelden vs. Sean May - PUSH - Shelden has better numbers only because he plays more minutes. Sean is playing harder and smarter this year.

Bench - advantage Tar Heels. Duke has no one to combat Marvin and David. Don't tell me Shavlik Randolph and.....Patrick Johnson?

So the Heels take that matchup 3-1-2. And that's how I think the game will go. Let's face it: you have to beat Duke by 12 to beat them by two in their own building.

Shelden gets in foul trouble and Marvin has another breakout game, and quite possibly brings Cameron down with another rim-shatterer. Heels wear them out and win by 9.

Go Heels.

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?

The Tar Heels take on the Florida State Seminoles today at 2 pm.  This could be a hiccup game for some teams, as Wake Forest came to Leon County Civic Center after they beat UNC, and left with a loss.  This happened to the Tar Heels last year.  They jumped out to a huge lead in the first half, and then coasted.  And lost in overtime.

That won't happen this year.  The Tar Heel team that we are seeing this season has learned from those mistakes.  They know they aren't invincible, so they play to win.  And win big. 

Von Wafer is one of the most fun players to watch in the ACC, and there is no reason to expect he won't have a big game.  But the Tar Heels are okay with him putting up big numbers if he's the only one - especially if he's padding stats late in a losing effort.

I've been too modest in my predictions this year.  The Tar Heels take this one by 22.

Box score

The Tar Heels trounced the N.C. State Wolfpack Thursday night, 95-71.  Marvin Williams was incredible, with 20 points including going 3 for 4 from three-point land. 

Rashad didn't have quite the scoring night I thought he might, but he did have 18 points and 5(!) assists.  He did a great job sharing the ball when he didn't have the best shot available, and made several passes that led to assists.  He and David Noel had 3 and 4 steals, respectively. 

Pretty dunks from just about everyone.  Marvin, David, Jawad, and even Reyshawn Terry got their slam on.

The Heels hit the road for a tough three-game stretch, starting with FSU on Sunday, Duke Wednesday, and UConn next Sunday.  One game at a time, fellas.