Off the cuff: One hates to rag on one particular player. But that was one of the worst single games by a Carolina starting player as I can remember, at least offensively. Of course I'm talking about Danny Green. He missed layups, an alley oop dunk attempt, short jumpers, three pointers, everything. He was one of 12 on the day and missed all five of his three-point attempts. He did hit two free throws to tie it late and could have changed the storyline had he made the three at the buzzer to send it into overtime. Hansbrough is only three points shy of passing J.J. Redick to be the leading scorer in ACC history. It's a shame he couldn't break the record in the ACC championship game rather than in the first round of the NCAA tournament against Left Handed State University or somebody. During the Florida State game, he passed Sam Perkins as the leading rebounder in UNC history. The game-winning points came after a supposed foul by Ed Davis on Toney Douglas. Coach Williams, who had a good angle on it, thought Douglas just slipped down. TV thought it was more important to show Williams' reaction rather than a replay to show whether or not it really was a foul. Slowing down the play with Tivo seems to show that Williams may have been right. There have been various television technical problems during the tournament but no one ever addresses them. Whether cable or satellite, there have been little glitches in picture and sound. I understand that the cable system in Winston-Salem went out altogether. Those outside the ACC viewing area watch the tournament on ESPN but that signal is blacked out in the Raycom viewing area. Usually the cameras are the same but the production and announcers are different. Not sure if ESPN viewers had the same technical issues but the problem should have been addressed to viewers. Carolina was just not going to win the ACC tournament without Lawson unless Green or Frasor could come through shooting the ball. Inside men Ed Davis and Deon Thompson were good, and Ellington and Hansbrough did all they could. Next year's starting point guard Larry Drew did fine but, in Lawson's absence, the shots needed to come from Green and Frasor. Frasor took one shot and sank only two of four free throws while Green scored one basket and two free throws. We'll see if Carolina's strategy of saving Lawson for the NCAA tournament will pan out but it takes a lot of luck to win the NCAA tourney. If Lawson could have played and didn't because Coach Roy Williams considered the tournament a "big cocktail party," it will be a shame. One of the best teams in Carolina history could finish the season without the ACC title or the NCAA title. The pressure is on. As Coach Wiliams said after the game, "There's no tomorrow now." If you'd like to sponsor this award-winning site, or agree or disagree with something written, please let me know by emailing me. |
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