Tobacco Road Battle

Well, if you're not intrigued by this annual matchup between two of the top programs in College Basketball history, then entertain yourself by driving down to Norman, and watch OU/Texas, which should just be a whale of a game.  This is THE rivalry in College Basketball.  The names that have competed against each other year in and year our are remarkable. Grant Hill and Christian Laettner vs. Hubert Davis and Eric Montross; Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison vs. Jeff Capel and Ricky Price; J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams vs. Tyler Hansbrough and Marvin Williams. These players have made this rivalry great, and this year, there are even more stars to add to this storied matchup.

Singler is the clear-cut leader of defending
champion Duke.

Duke comes into this game ranked fifth in the country, after winning their fourth national championship last year.  Led by arguably the best coach in the game today, the Blue Devils have ran their record to 21-2, and lead the ACC at this point at 8-1.  They are led by their senior point guard Nolan Smith, who leads the ACC in two categories, points per game (21.0) and assists per game (5.6).  Smith would be the first player in conference history to lead both throughout the league schedule.  He is joined by senior forward Kyle Singler, who keyed the title run last season.  Singler is one of the premier forwards in college basketball, and contributes 18 points and 6 rebounds per game.  Coach K's squad is one of the best teams in the nation because they score, and protect the basketball. They average 84 points a game, fourth in the nation, and only average 12 turnovers a game.  For the Blue Devils to protect their home court, they will have to rebound the basketball, and try and prevent North Carolina's fast break.  Carolina sometimes struggles in the half-court set, and their youth shows in their decision making. Duke definitely has the advantage, playing at home, and playing six returnees who saw time during last year's spectacular season.

Marshall has orchestrated the Tar Heel offense
to five straight victories.

The North Carolina Tar Heels, come into this game, surprising a lot of people with the way they have played recently.  The Roy Williams led team, started the season 4-3, and fans were thinking that this season was deja vu to last year's debacle.  Since that 4-3 start, all the Heels have done is win thirteen of their last fifteen, and seven of eight games in the ACC to tie Duke in the loss column at the top of the standings.  UNC has won the last five games, three of those by twenty or more, and is riding the play of freshman point guard Kendall Marshall.  After junior point guard Larry Drew decided to leave school last week, all attention has turned to the impressive youngster and his excellent court vision and ever-improving decision making. Marshall dished out a Tar Heel, ACC record 16 assists in Sunday's romp over talented Florida State (who is Duke's only conference loss).  Opposite of Marshall, is Carolina's talented front court of John Henson and Tyler Zeller.  These two help the Tar Heels lead the nation in rebounding, grabbing 42 missed shots a game.  The Tar Heels not only crash the boards better than anyone else, but also thrive on getting out quick, and running Roy William's signature secondary fast break.  Like stated earlier, they struggle in the half-court set sometimes, but recently Marshall has been able to help the Tar Heels out of those struggles, by making stellar plays to the big men Zeller and Henson, and shooters Harrison Barnes and Dexter Strickland.

This game is going to be a competitive one, as usual.  The Tar Heels have something to prove.  They have to prove that they belong where they were ranked at the beginning of the year, and that they deserve some "usual Tar Heel talk" among the nations elite.  Duke, has to prove that they are the best team in the country, even without early POY candidate Kyrie Erving. Duke will have to be able to contain one of the top front courts in the country in Henson and Zeller, which will require the twins, Mason and Miles Plumlee, to have one of their best performances thus far.  Marshall has to be able to make plays, while not turning the ball over.  In 2006, Bobby Frasor, a freshman PG for the Heels, led the young team to a victory, beating Redick on his own senior night.  Cameron can be the toughest place to play in the entire nation, however, Carolina has won five of the last six there.

My Prediction:
North Carolina needs to come out hot. Freshman star, and preseason All-American Harrison Barnes has to continue his stellar play for the Tar Heels to jump out early.  Duke is one of the best outside shooting teams in the ACC, as well as the whole country.  If North Carolina can continue to own the boards, and contain Duke on the perimeter, I think the Tar Heels will be able to steal one in famous Cameron Indoor Stadium. For Duke to win, they absolutely have to play strong inside, and continue to beat people with their guard play.
I think Carolina comes to play, and Marshall has another big game. It will be a closely contested game, and with the whole nation watching one of the best rivalries in college sports, the Tar Heels win 83-78.

Let's Go Heels!
Whitt Carter
whittcarter15@gmail.com

Who's lived up? Who hasn't?

After lofty Pre-season rankings, Bruce Pearl and Tennessee are
left looking for answers.

After the first two months of College Basketball, parity is showing its cards more than ever.  Every team has the talent to compete at a high level, as well as has the innate ability to not show up one evening (or week) and find themselves wondering, "how"?  Take Tennessee for instance, they start the season off winning their first seven, including BIG-TIME wins against at that time (#7) Villanova and then (#3) Pittsburgh.  What do the Vols and Bruce Pearl do follow that? They go 2-4 in their next six games, with all six opponents having an RPI rating of less than 56.  That could spell trouble for Tennessee Basketball, as you might remember the outspoken and flamboyant Pearl being summoned to watch for half of the SEC schedule, beginning after the Volunteers' final non-conference game vs. Memphis.
Some other teams who have faltered after hot starts or gracious pre-season rankings:


North Carolina 
Record: 10-4
Preseason Rank: #9
Current Rank: NR
Current RPI: 31
SOS: 25


As much as it burns my insides to say it, the Heels haven't lived up to expectations this year, even though I believe those expectations were somewhat unfair. They started the season 4-3, and have since won six of seven. Their losses have come at the hands of (#21) Minnesota, Vanderbilt, Texas, and @ (#20) Illinois, all of which are rated in the top 35 in the RPI. The guard-play of the Heels have been shaky, but they have been able to hang their hats on the inside combo of John Henson and Tyler Zeller, who are averaging a combined 26 ppg and 16 rpg thus far. The first part of the ACC schedule will test Roy and his squad, as they travel to Virginia and Georgia Tech, and host ACC Preseason #2 Virginia Tech.


Michigan State
Record: 9-4
Preseason Rank: #2
Current Rank: #18
Current RPI: 36
SOS: 18


The Spartans were (supposed) to be poised for the best season in school history, and it was to be this way due to five of their top six in almost every category returning to East Lansing.  Give Tom Izzo and his team some credit however, his team has lost four games, but all four coming to talented, top teams (UCONN, Duke, Syracuse, and Texas.)  But these Spartans have also been unimpressive in some wins, including a one-point win against Oakland, and a somewhat embarrassing showing at the Maui Invitational, a first round, close victory over Division II Chaminade. Izzo's squad has been paced by Seniors Durrell Summers  and Kalin Lucas, who together, pump in 30 a game.


Kansas State
Record: 12-3
Preseason Rank: #3
Current Rank: #17
Current RPI: 26
SOS: 37


Much like the aforementioned Michigan State, Frank Martin's Wildcats were highly rated, and expected to stay that way for most of the season.  After three losses, struggling in half of their wins, and having their best two players (National POY Candidate Jacob Pullen and dominant big-man Curtis Kelly) suspended for "accepting improper benefits", K-State is on the outside looking in.  It should be noted that one of the three L's came at the hands of the clear-cut favorite Duke, and the other two at home against under-achieving Florida, and the pump-n-run offense of UNLV.  However, these are games that Frank Martin and his club have to win if they want to compete at an elite level.




-Rise and Fire-
Whitt Carter
580-618-4432
whittcarter15@gmail.com
twitter: @whittcarter