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Read Everything That Dunks Must Converge

Read Everything That Dunks Must Converge
by Bryan Harvey

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Truth & lies in Pixar's 'The Good Dinosaur'
by Bryan Harvey

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To their own devices: Pablo Larrain's 'The Club'

To their own devices: Pablo Larrain's 'The Club'
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North Carolina Beats Duke: Championships and Refutations

March 6, 2011

A lot of things were said about this Carolina team before the season and during their rocky 4-3 start, but things don't always follow literary formulas and end where they began.





Too thin, weak, and limited upfront? You'd have to ask the Plumlee brothers for their firsthand account of the weaknesses of John Henson, Tyler Zeller, and Justin Knox.

From where is the offense going to come? You'd probably have to ask Nolan Smith and Seth Curry what it's like to play on a team full of guys capable of putting up double digits on any given night. 

A freshman phenom who can't live up to the hype? I'm sure Kyrie Irving can tell you all about Harrison Barnes.

A coach whose players never improve? You'd probably have to ask Coach K how much worse off every Tar Heel player has gotten with Roy Williams as his coach.

A complete lack of guts and leadership? Just ask Larry Drew how uninspiring the play of Kendall Marshall is. 

All championships are special, but some championships are something else; a testimony to a team's efforts and an affirmation of a team's belief in each other and their head coach. And this ACC championship is exactly that for a team that was mocked by fans of the opposition--as overrated, inept, and anorexic--and bashed by its own fanbase--as unworthy, spoiled, and unfocused. This championship is more than special because these players won in a fashion that doesn't allow fans and sports writers to pretend that their good will and enthusiasm carried this team from the depths of unmet expectations and self doubt--no, this team did everything for themselves. And I love them all the more for it.


7 comments:

Anonymous said...

"All championships are special, but some championships are something else; a testimony to a team's efforts and an affirmation of a team's belief in each other and their head coach" Well said Bryan. We may very well flame out early in the ACC Tournament or the "Big Dance", but I absolutely love what this team has done this year. Well done to Roy. (This is Trent, by the way)

March 6, 2011 at 10:49 PM
Unknown said...

Thanks, Trent. Yeah, who knows what's next for them...but I'll take this unexpected run to a conference title. I thought they were playing for runner-up this year, but they've come a long way.

March 7, 2011 at 6:36 PM
Iceman, AD said...

Fix'd

"All championships are special, but some championships are something else; a testimony to a team's efforts and an affirmation of a team's belief in each other and their head coach. And this ACC REGULAR SEASON championship......"

March 7, 2011 at 9:19 PM
Unknown said...

For those who don't know, Ice is one of our biased in house Dukies.

March 7, 2011 at 9:48 PM
Unknown said...

I on the other hand remain completely nonpartial.

March 7, 2011 at 9:49 PM
Iceman, AD said...

You're as impartial as Jalen Rose.

http://tinyurl.com/4lcn4vd

March 9, 2011 at 12:43 PM
Unknown said...

I love how terribly not in depth that article was. Everyone knows why Webber won't be participating: he doesn't want to discuss his actions that got the school stripped of its wins etc.

March 9, 2011 at 5:41 PM

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