The Black Falcon Takes Flight!

Congratulations, Mr. Jennings. You've officially been posterized! The Black Falcon is making quite the name for himself lately. 


Enjoy!





Better yet, you decide which dunk is better. The one you've just watched, or the put back Harrison flushed against Kentucky. My heart is with dunk v. Clemson, but anything v. Kentucky is extra special. Have a look.

KU's Robinson to have knee surgery

Generally, this blog consists of pro-Carolina sentiment, anti-Duke sentiment, pity for NC State, and ambivalence to any other ACC school. Rarely ever is there anything about a school from another conference, but I came across this story today, and I have to give my two cents about the situation.


If follow college basketball closely, you have probably heard of Thomas Robinson, the sophomore forward at Kansas. You probably don't recognize his name because of stellar play, but because of the nightmare he endured during the month of January. Robinson lost his grandmother, grandfather, and mother during a three week stretch in January. His grandmother was buried on January 5th, grandfather on January 24th, and mother on January 27th. All of this for a 19-year old who is living out the dream of playing D-I basketball, halfway across the country from his Washington, D.C. home.


And just to show his perseverance, Robinson returned to the KU fold after laying his mother to rest to average nearly 13 points, while playing less than 20 minutes per contest. The best way to forget about heartache is the get back to doing the things you love. But sometimes life plays cruel, cruel tricks on a person.


As if losing three immediate family members in a short time isn't enough for a kid to deal with, he now has to undergo surgery to repair the damaged meniscus in his right knee.  Recovery from the procedure will likely keep Robinson out of the KU line-up for two weeks while he rests and undergoes rehab. 


I'm sure the surgery pales in comparison to what he's been through, but it's awful that Robinson has to take time away from what has been his solace through these tough times. My heart goes out to Thomas and his family, and I wish him a safe and speedy recovery.


You can read more about this story here.

Jason's Midwestern Plight

Recently, my life has encountered quite a few changes. I left the comforts of sunny Florida for the white blanket of Madison, Wisconsin. I had to give up my dog, look for a job, and moved to a place that I didn't know existed. The reasons aren't important, and my life is the epitome of a country song at the moment, but I'm not complaining. And though my life has been through the wringer over the past few months, one issue seems to outweigh the rest.


I have had to watch about 50% of Carolina's ACC games on my computer. You might not think this is an issue, but let me tell you, watching a game on a 50" HDTV is quite the treat compared to spotty internet coverage on a 13" screen. I don't have the scratch to get ESPN Full Court at the moment, and Madison is football country, so not many bars pony up to get the package. So, I'm left with grainy footage that can't keep up with Kendall Marshall's full-court passes or Dexter Strickland in transition. I have tried the obligatory "hook the computer up to the TV" trick, but my wireless provider apparently has the broadband capacity of the UNC campus, circa 2001 (if you were in school there at the time, you'll get the joke), and I couldn't make out any of the players.


But, even though I have to watch games in this manner, I wouldn't miss a game for anything. You could broadcast a game up the dress of Susan Boyle, and I couldn't turn away. And, moving away from ACC country has helped further stoke my obsession for Carolina sports.


Picture this: A young man is standing at the Stadium Bar in Madison, killing a few hours with friends before the UW v. Northwestern game that would guarantee the Badgers a Rose Bowl birth. Everyone is making plans to get out to Pasadena, but this young man is asking the bartender to change one of the 6,000 televisions to the Carolina-Duke football game. Imagine the looks of bewilderment that I got, partly because these people have no idea that the ACC even plays football. But, I finally got the game on, though it was about 50 feet from my group. "Sorry friends, must watch game." Talk about being an outsider.


So, even though my comfort levels in watching Carolina sports have been challenged, I can never lose my fanhood for the university that I love. I have even turned down tickets to tOSU v. UW on Saturday, probably the biggest game of the season in the Big 10. What for? It tips one hour after Carolina-Clemson, which isn't on local TV. Crazy? Maybe. Loyal? You bet your ass.  


I love you Carolina, regardless of my viewing conditions.

Clemson Preview

Saturday's second meeting between Clemson and Carolina, coupled with Florida State hosting Virginia, makes for a big ACC weekend. As of right now, the top 4 in the ACC look like this:

1. Duke 9-1
2. Carolina 7-2
3. Florida State 7-3
4. Clemson 6-4


Florida State is likely to win tomorrow, keeping the heat on Carolina for second place in the conference. A little breathing room between Carolina and Florida State is big, since Carolina still has to travel to Tallahassee on March 2nd, so Carolina needs to take care of business in Clemson tomorrow.


The first meeting between the schools saw Carolina win 75-65 in Chapel Hill, running Carolina's winning streak in Chapel Hill to 55 straight v. Clemson. It was also the first start for Kendall Marshall at the point, and Reggie Bullock lead four Carolina double-digit scorers with a career-high 18 points. Clemson was without one of its best shooters in Tanner Smith for the final 30 minutes, after Smith looked to have seriously injured his knee early in the first half. Smith has since returned to the line-up, and his shooting will be something Carolina must look out for tomorrow.


The Edge:


Point Guard: Kendall Marshall v. Demontez Stitt

On experience alone, you have to go with Stitt. He leads the team in scoring, with nearly 14 ppg, and shoots almost 40% from three. But, Marshall has shown how good he can be since becoming the starter, and has lead Carolina to a 5-1 ACC record, with a 2.4 A:TO ratio. Stitt is very good at getting into the lane, and I think this could be an issue for Marshall. Stitt gets the nod because Clemson is at home.
Edge: Stitt


Shooting Guard: Dexter Strickland v. Andre Young

Andre Young is averaging 11 ppg this season, while Strickland is putting up 8.5 ppg. Strickland is going to be a tough match-up for Young, as Strickland stands at 6'4" and is arguably Carolina's best defender. Young comes in at 5'9", and will likely struggle with any guard Carolina throws at him due to size. Young might well see Strickland, McDonald, or Reggie Bullock, all standing 6'4", or taller. Clemson also likes to play at a high pace, and this will help Dexter get out in transition where he is the most effective.
Edge: Strickland


Small Forward: Harrison Barnes v. Tanner Smith

This match up depends solely on Harrison Barnes' aggressiveness in defending Smith along the perimeter. If Barnes is able to translate the defense he played on Kyle Singler into Saturday's game, I can't see Harrison getting outplayed. His offensive game is far superior to Smith's, and I think he continues to play well.
Edge: Barnes


Power Forward: John Henson v. Devin Booker

Booker struggled in the first meeting due to first half foul trouble, playing only 23 minutes. He finished the game with 11 points on 5-8 shooting, but never really got going. Henson finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks. This match-up is basically Henson's length v. Booker's strength. Henson has been playing very well lately, while Booker hasn't scored in double-figures in Clemson's last five games.
Edge: Henson


Center: Tyler Zeller v. Jerai Grant

Grant struggled mightily during the first meeting, going 1-12 from the field, and scoring only two points. Zeller scored 11 points on 3-5 shooting, and recorded three blocks. Both players grabbed seven rebounds each. I can't imagine that Grant will play poorly tomorrow, but the length of Henson and Zeller did seem to be an issue during the first meeting. Grant has averaged nearly 15 ppg since the first meeting, and has scored 20 and 17 in Clemson's last two games. Zeller is coming off a huge game at Duke, scoring 24 points and grabbing 13 boards. This match-up is pivotal to the game's outcome, and to me, it's a toss-up.
Edge: Push


The Bench:

Carolina's bench is much more explosive than Clemson's. Reggie Bullock, Leslie McDonald, and Justin Knox are all players that have the ability to put up big numbers. Carolina's top three players off the bench average over 20 points between them, while Clemson's top three substitutes are putting up just over 14 points between them. But, it seems that someone explodes v. Carolina at home, so don't be surprised if you see Milton Jennings or Brian Narcisse have big games tomorrow. McDonald, Bullock, and Knox are coming off sub-par games at Duke in limited minutes, but I expect them to have better games tomorrow.  Even with Larry Drew gone, Carolina is the deeper team.
Edge: Carolina


Prediction: Clemson is tough at home, going 5-0 in ACC play. Carolina is 3-2 on the road in ACC play, losing at Georgia Tech and Duke. The Tech loss was an aberration, and the way Carolina played at Duke shows how good this team can be. The big question is whether or not Carolina is able to avoid a let down against a team they should beat. I think this is a close game, but Carolina just edges it at the end.
Carolina 78 - Clemson 75

Thursday's ACC RPI, 2/10/11

Courtesy of kenpom.com

Strength of Schedule in ( )

4. Duke (46)

10. UNC (7)

17. Maryland (90)

30. Virginia Tech (64)

31. Clemson (72)

43. Florida State (54)

72. Miami (59)

76. Boston College (15)

79. Georgia Tech (53)

99. NC State (34)

123. Virginia (66)

240. Wake Forest (97)

Carolina jumps three spots from last Thursday, even with the loss in Durham last night. This team is trending upwards in a serious, serious way. I'm buckling up for one hell of a ride.

You can see last week's RPI here.

My Thoughts on Kendall Marshall

At the end of last season, I was sure that Larry Drew had turned the corner and would come into the 2010-11 season riding the wave of good play he displayed in the NIT. I thought that Kendall Marshall would be a solid back-up for two seasons before becoming the starting point guard in 2012. I could NOT have been more off-base with my assumptions, and it was clear after the Virginia Tech game that one player should be the starter, and that player was not Larry Drew.


Kendall has proven what an elite point guard looks like, and looking like a speeding blur in the mold of Ty Lawson is not required to be an elite ACC point guard. Kendall is the best passer I've seen since Ed Cota, and he's only played in 23 games during his short career. At this point, he has 116 assists in just under 20 minutes per game. But, since being handed the reigns, his numbers have increased.  Here are Kendall's number since taking over as the starting point guard:


Games - 6
Min/game - 26.3
Assists - 36 (6.0/game)
Turnovers - 15 (2.5/game)
A:TO - 2.4:1
Points/game - 6.7
UNC Record - 5-1 (only loss at Duke)


Those numbers are incredible, and also include a Carolina record for 16 assists in a game (v. Florida State), eclipsing the previous record of 14, set by Ed Cota and Phil Ford. When I watch him play, I forget he is a freshman, and then I'll see a stat with his class on it, and I think, "My god, this kid is a FRESHMAN!" It's unreal what he's doing at the moment, and it's amazing at how well everyone else seems to play when he's in the game. Inspiring teammates and improving their play is the sign of a true leader.


Up until the BC game, I was still a little undecided on how well Kendall would perform during the bulk of the ACC schedule. I wasn't skeptical, because I knew he was effective, but the slate thus far pitted Carolina against Virginia, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Miami, and NC State. Coming up, Carolina was set to play at BC, at home v. Florida State, and at Duke. Against BC, Kendall had an A:TO ratio of 6:2 in 20 minutes, leading Carolina to a 106-74 victory. Then Drew-Gate happened. Kendall was left as the only true PG on the roster, and would likely log 30+ minutes at the point, when he had only played more than 20 minutes six times, and never more than 24. But, given 36 minutes on the court against Florida State, he put up unthinkable numbers: 16 assists to only three turnovers. He followed that performance up last night with a 6:1 assist to turnover ratio at Cameron Indoor Stadium, arguably the most difficult place to play in the country for opposing teams. He also forced Duke's coaching staff to switch defenders on him twice in the first half due to his dissection of Duke's defense. 


But, what has impressed me most about Kendall Marshall was on display for the first time last night. From the lead-guard position, he had not taken more than six shots in any game this season. Last night vs. Carolina's most-hated rival, he took 11. And though he only scored nine points, the want to take over a game was on display. It was clear from the start that Kendall was not afraid of the moment, was not afraid of Duke, and didn't care who checked him. Carolina fans haven't seen this aggression since Ty Lawson, and that's what it takes to be successful. The guy knows what the rivalry is all about, and though he only shot 3-11 from the field, the mindset to force the issue is something Carolina needs.


Tar Heel fans, we are in great hands.

The Morning After: Duke

Nightmare, absolute nightmare of a second half. I completely thought this game was in the bag, especially when Dexter Strickland banked in the worst shot in basketball from the top of the key with 15:45 left in the second half to put Carolina up 49-39. But, Seth Curry decided to be Stephen for a few minutes and went off for 18 second-half points. My balloon went from fully inflated to a slow leak to a near pop when Nolan Smith put Duke up 60-55 on an old-fashioned three point play with 8:22 left. I completely expected Duke to run away with it at this point, but the youngsters at Carolina kept the game close and avoided a complete meltdown. Moral victories are still losses, but I'm proud of the effort put on display.


Anyone that watches college basketball on a consistent basis knew that Duke was going to make run in the second half at home, and the zebras were going to be a little more lenient with the whistles. It's as predictable as the sun rising in the morning. With a 14-point lead at the break, Carolina needed to make some shots, plain and simple. Looking at the box score, those shots needed to come from the interior. Carolina outscored Duke 48-24 in the paint, and Duke had no answer for Zeller and Henson, who had 48 points, combined. Duke did ratchet up the defense in the second half, but Carolina went away from the big fellas, and settled for jumpers. With that being said, most of those jumpers were fairly open, but 0-6 from the three-point line isn't going to cut it when Duke is on a tear. 


Glaring Stats:


13-22: Carolina's free throw shooting. I know it's Cameron, but if you want to win, you have to make free throws.


3-8, 9 points: Harrison Barnes' offensive output. He was hounded on defense, but Carolina needed to make him a priority on the offensive end with the way he's been scoring lately.


48 points: Zeller and Henson's combined point total, though only nine of those 48 came after Duke took a five-point lead with 8:22 remaining. 


2-14: Carolina from three. Carolina shot 19-41 from three over the past two games, but couldn't hit an open jumper to save a life last night, and it hurt.


3-11: Kendall Marshall from the field. I thought Kendall showed some aggression in getting to the rim that I haven't seen this season, but his shot selection wasn't good at times. Now don't get me wrong, I love this kid, and he's the future of Carolina basketball, but he wanted to take over last night and I think it clouded his decision making. He did have an A:TO of 6:1 though, which is incredible in Cameron.


16-20: Duke's free throw shooting in the second half. 20 second half free throws from a team that took 13 second half three pointers? It wasn't as if a multitude of them came from Carolina having to foul at the end of a game. Only four, possibly six if you count Marshall's tie-up of Singler, of those free throws came with Carolina in must foul situations.


Overall, another classic in the annals of Carolina-Duke. I hate the final result, but I was pleased with what I saw from Carolina. I saw an aggressive streak from Kendall Marshall, I saw dominance by the Carolina bigs for a large chunk of the game, and I saw dominance on the boards from Carolina. I hate the result, but love the effort.

Great Carolina-Duke Moments

The altercation: Matt Doherty did two good things for the Carolina basketball program.  The first, signing Felton, May, and McCants to national letters of intent.  The second, inciting a near-brawl with the Duke bench. An unranked Carolina took the game over the 10th-rated Blue Devils, 82-79.



"Gerald Henderson is a douche" game. Billy Packer will never admit it, but it was intentional, and Henderson got what he deserved, leaving Duke without a national title, and having a mediocre NBA career. Plus, Carolina won the game 86-72.



The Bloody Montross Game: This game took place in 1992, with Carolina ranked #9 and Duke ranked #1. Eric Montross took a shot to his right eye, but calmly sank both free throws. Fastforward to 1:00 to see one of the two free throws. Carolina won the game 75-73.



The punch: High school rivals, Art Heyman (Duke) and Larry Brown's (Carolina) fight turned into a bench-clearing brawl way back in 1961. Duke won the game 81-77, and basically cleared the way for the bad blood between the schools.



Greatest Missed Dunk Ever: Typically, missed dunks are destined for the Sportscenter "Not" Top 10. But not this one, no way. Vince Carter jumped through the roof to get this one, and though he smashed off the iron, a three was the result. 

Funny Duke Photos

In the lead up to tonight's showdown in Durham, I wanted to add a few photos to the blog.  I hope you all enjoy them.


If you have anymore to add, paste a URL link in the comments section at the end of the post, and I'll put them right up for you.

Daily Duke Sucks

Generally, when JJ Redick made the Sportscenter Top 10, it was because he scored 40 points in a college game with Dick Vitale yelling his moronic head off and talking about how well-rounded Redick was as a player. 


But, Redick's return to the SC Top 10 was actually due to his defense. Randy Foye took Redick out of his shoes with this crossover.

Well-rounded? What say you, Dickie V?