UNC Practicing Against Zone Tonight

[edowd26]

Here's what I said.

"Go UNC. A loss by them tonight makes our game more difficult Saturday."

Such an over the top post.

And all hes saying is it was going to be a difficult game no matter last nights outcome. We were going to get UNC's 100% effort "irregardless".

Beating us is a statement win. And everyone wanted to shoot the red baron out of the sky.

 

[Marsh01]

Because it isn't nearly as big of a factor as you are making it out to be. We are going to get every team's best shot from here on out, every single game, because of who we are and what we're ranked. Do you think that UNC would magically relax somehow and not play as hard on Saturday if they'd won tonight? Sure, they might be desperate for a win on Saturday, but that doesn't mean that they are going to play BETTER.

Meanwhile, there are a lot of "psychological" factors working in our favor, that more than offset the mojo some of you are pointing to as favoring UNC. We are playing at home. Despite their inconsistent record, this is still UNC and our players are likely to be sky high to play them. We are battle tested and have played in a lot of close games that we've managed to pull out at the end--so we won't get rattled if they hang around for awhile. We execute well at the end of games, whereas UNC does not.

So again, the simplistic statement I'm fine with, but you are misapplying what it means. The same way that you are overestimating how much UNC winning or losing will impact Saturday's game.

The main flaw with UNC right now is they just cant make shots. Period. They shot 38% against Wake and 23% last night. I dont know how mentally you can prepare yourself to make more shots.

 

[Cusefan0307]

We just have to Carolina off the offensive glass. I think we will turn them over and they won't shoot well. The one thing they do well is rebound.

I know they beat Kentucky, MSU and Louisville, but does anyone really think Kentucky and Louisville are that good this year? I mean at some point the recruiting analysts have to be wrong, and kentucky really isn't as good as everyone thought.

Kind of surprised of the nervousness on the board about UNC. We should be able to execute and win fairly comfortably. If we replaced their jerseys with (random middle of the pack big east team from the past 10 years) West Virginia? I don't think as many of you would be giving them a fighters chance.

 

[OrangeFoo]

The main flaw with UNC right now is they just cant make shots. Period. They shot 38% against Wake and 23% last night. I dont know how mentally you can prepare yourself to make more shots.

This alone guarantees they will shoot above 50% in the first half on Saturday. I predict they will make 4 out of their first 5 three pointers... the game will be determined by how they shoot in their next 20.

 

[Marsh01]

This alone guarantees they will shoot above 50% in the first half on Saturday. I predict they will make 4 out of their first 5 three pointers... the game will be determined by how they shoot in their next 20.

What Miami and Wake did was force this team into a half court game and to turn them into a jump shooting team. It worked as they turned the ball over, couldnt run and just cant make a shot right now.

What worries me is that if they do shoot poorly and grab 15 offensive rebounds. We need to keep this team off the glass. That means Rak, CJ, Grant, DC, BMK or whomever better be ready. We cant get dominated on the boards or it will offset a poor shooting game by them.

Having Tyler run the point this year and how patient he is really is a huge coup for us. No rushing, no forcing things, just smooth.

 

[itsbotime]

Good discussion here.

Syracuse only has one thing going against it on Saturday-you all are ranked. If you were an unranked mid-major team, you'd probably win by 20. Since you are the #2 team in the country, it will probably be much closer than that.

 

[Toga]

Rebound well and don't let them run = game over.

 

[NKR1978]

Unfortunately (or fortunately for UNC, whichever way you want to look at it), that article has been debunked pretty soundly by now. Their main source (Willingham) pretty much just got busted for making everything up, UNC released a statement condemning CNN, and the article was taken off of their front page.

Given the absolute crap certain media outlets or individuals write or say about Syracuse (Mark Schwartz, the two dip***** from Yahoo and the latest Forbes article) I give every school the benefit of the doubt.

Right now UNC is a popular target because of the courses and Hairston. We've been there and it sucks.

Still, can't wait to watch Syracuse kick your boys' a**** on Saturday. Lets get this rivalry started finally.

 

[BuffOrange]

Who cares? Psychology is overrated in sports.

Thank you. I always roll my eyes when I hear the "Oh no Brady/Bellichick off a loss gonna be mad!" analysis. Well ya they win 13 freaking games every year which means their record off a win must be pretty good too.
The announcers during the Va Tech game were saying what a tough spot Ga Tech was in after a Duke loss; but the 1st half was even. I guess Duke didn't get mad until the 2nd half.

 

[bballbeadle]

Is the new Cooney a product of better legs or better head?

I have been having such fun reading these posts this morning! But as to the question above, Cooney first had the mental intention to make his legs stronger, and then he did it. At its deepest level, this kind of thing can come down to a spiritual level. Mahatma Gandhi said:

Our beliefs become our thoughts, our thoughts become our words, our words become our deeds, and our deeds become our destiny.

 

[Orangezoo]

And how do you know this FYI ?

He snuck into the payside thread to get this information. Same way you got info on on uncs best wins being better than ours

 

[rrlbees]

He snuck into the payside thread to get this information. Same way you got info on on uncs best wins being better than ours

I believe, and many would agree, that winning at MSU and at Lville is pretty damn impressive. Losing to Belmont was also impressive. They are the ultimate head case.

 

[Cusefan0307]

The Louisville game was at a neutral site. Kentucky and Louisville play a style of basketball that allows UNC to get in transition. Totally different matchup than us. If you watched the game against Miami last night, notice how Miami got back in their zone on every possession. I think if we are able to do that and rebound. we win by 15 plus because we have so much more offensive talent than Miami. It'll be interesting to see what the spread is, but I would'nt be surprised if it was between 8-10.

 

[rrlbees]

The Louisville game was at a neutral site. Kentucky and Louisville play a style of basketball that allows UNC to get in transition. Totally different matchup than us. If you watched the game against Miami last night, notice how Miami got back in their zone on every possession. I think if we are able to do that and rebound. we win by 15 plus because we have so much more offensive talent than Miami. It'll be interesting to see what the spread is, but I would'nt be surprised if it was between 8-10.

Ah. CBS schedule showed @Ville. Doesn't change the point that their wins and losses say head case.

 

[RF2044]

Ah. CBS schedule showed @Ville. Doesn't change the point that their wins and losses say head case.

"Head case" is the armchair psychology way of looking at it. Maybe they are just inconsistent and / or not that good.

 

[SUFan44]

"Head case" is the armchair psychology way of looking at it. Maybe they are just inconsistent and / or not that good.

I would argue not that good. Especially this past week.

Things can change overnight, I guess. But if Coleman/Christmas/Keita can keep it close to even on the glass and we can hit shots like we did against Va Tech, I don't see any type of desperation playing a role.

 

[Madbiker]

UNC is wildly erratic. They have games they can't make a shot, from the field or the FT line. They have had red hot shooting games where they can beat anyone including 3 highly ranked teams. You just don't know what you're going to get on Saturday. They looked horrible tonight trying to attack UM's zone so that's comforting. But I never like to play a team coming off of two ice cold shooting games because I believe in the law of averages.

 

[dasher]

Shouldn't Miami have been in worse shape playing UNC last night because UNC lost at Wake? Me. I'm always worried. Whether UNC wins or loses.

 

[CorduroyG]

Shouldn't Miami have been in worse shape playing UNC last night because UNC lost at Wake? Me. I'm always worried. Whether UNC wins or loses.

Great point. UNC lost to wake, shouldn't they have been fired up and pissed off and played desperate last nite to avoid starting 0-2 in conference? That stuff is overrated.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Lots of overthinking in this thread. I doubt our players think this way. I'm sure we want to smash UNC whether they were 16-0 or 0-16 because they are still UNC.

 

[LennX6]

Agree with bees would rather UNC not be coming off two losses desperate for a win

but, if you have just lost 2 games at home, to beatable teams, would you feel all cozy if you were NC in having to break the skein with a road game at #2 Syracuse?

 

[rrlbees]

"Head case" is the armchair psychology way of looking at it. Maybe they are just inconsistent and / or not that good.

Not that good would mean they shouldn't have beaten MSU, Ville and UK. Inconsistent doesn't apply because they play the same way against the good teams and the same way against bad teams. Inconsistent would be wins and loses vs both the good and bad.

I'm sticking with head cases which could be over confident vs bad teams and very focused vs good teams.

 

[RF2044]

Not that good would mean they shouldn't have beaten MSU, Ville and UK. Inconsistent doesn't apply because they play the same way against the good teams and the same way against bad teams. Inconsistent would be wins and loses vs both the good and bad.

I'm sticking with head cases which could be over confident vs bad teams and very focused vs good teams.

Inconsistent absolutely applies--are you kidding me? They've played well against good teams, and have lost to teams they have no business losing to. That is the definition of inconsistency.

Again, you're overthinking it. And applying the label "head cases" when you have zero insight into UNC's state of mind at any level is the epitome of armchair psychology at its worst.

 

[rrlbees]

Inconsistent absolutely applies--are you kidding me? They've played well against good teams, and have lost to teams they have no business losing to. That is the definition of inconsistency.

Again, you're overthinking it. And applying the label "head cases" when you have zero insight into UNC's state of mind at any level is the epitome of armchair psychology at its worst.

Awful worked up and hanging onto that armchair psychology straw man. God forbid, some people, not just me, would rather have seen UNC win and not come in here off 2 bad loses. What psycho babble.

 

[Orangezoo]

I gotta agree with RF here.

Also as others have said with Miami having nearly beat us UNC should have been on the warpath against them and won that game. UNC needs to come to the dome with a vastly improved bball iq. Can inspiration, desperation and some better focus because of those things make them a smarter team? I don't think it can.

I also think that its setting up a bit of an excuse as well. UNC was desperate and they beat 3 other highly ranked teams so if they win Saturday its not a shocker. Personally I think that is selling our team short. We should expect to win this game. This is a team 0-2 in the ACC going in the wrong direction. We should be upset and dissapointed if we can't beat a reeling UNC team in front of a rowdy home crowd. Lets not have some pre emptive excuses on this game.