October 21, 2009

This blog will cover the defending Men's basketball champions North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Men's program.

Carolina

I have no clue if this team is going to repeat this year. What I do know is that Athlon Spots and Sporting News is saying this team will go as far as their guard play takes them. Roy Williams has this team stocked and loaded. It will be great to see Marcus Ginyard back from injury as many have said he is the team's defensive specialist. They will miss Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington, Danny Green and Ty Lawson but the talent is there.

As for me I think this team is going to be built around ED Davis and Deon Thompson. I've really liked Thompson and I think Davis is going to build off his freshman year. Roy loves to run with a full roster and this year will be no different. I will be excited to see the Wear twins David and Travis so it is going to be a fun year with the Heels.

Duke

Yes I like both Duke and NC since I am not true born Carolinian, I do not have hatred for one of the other. I really thought heading into this year Duke would be a National Title contender if Gerald Henderson came back. But he is a Bobcat now. So Duke is thin at guard as Athlon and Sporting News said. Plus Elliott Williams transferred and Greg Paulus has moved on to QB at Syracuse.

What this team does have is the ever improving Kyle Singler and Mr. Point Guard Jon Scheyer. I look for continued improvement from the big man Brian Zoubeck and Lance Thomas will again be an asset.

The newcomers are Andre Dawkins, Mason Plumlee brother of sophomore Miles, and Ryan Kelly. I do not know a lot about Andre Dawkins. I also don't know what to expect from Miles Plumlee. I think Mason Plumlee is tremendous and will help right away. As for Ryan Kelly I am not sold on him as of yet.

This team will be good and it will be fun to see how it all shakes out.

November 9, 2009

Carolina vs Florida International

What do you do after winning the national title, you just reload of course. The Heels routed Florida International University under Isiah Thomas 88-72 tonight on ESPNU.

Larry Drew the II helped me forget about TY Lawson a little. I don't expect Drew to be Lawson. He did a great job tonight driving the lane and running the offense. He had very few turnovers. He was great tonight.

Deon Thompson was a force in the post as usual. He continues to be solid in his final year. Ed Davis still has to build up but he had another good game in the post. Tyler Zeller still has some room to be stronger as well. I thought I would see more of point guard Dexter Strickland and power forward John Henson. Henson is not filled out yet either. But it will be fun to watch Strickland, Henson, David and Travis Wear develop as freshman.

North Carolina looked very good except for some careless turnovers at times. They did have a lot but they will clean this up. I am concerned about their outside shooting though. It was nice to see Marcus Ginyard back after missing most of last year. He was solid and he had some big threes.

It was a good start for the Heels and they will only get better. As for Florida International, UNC was too much for them and I thought Florida just dribbled the ball too much on offense. UNC on the other hand was pretty crisp in their half court.

November 14, 2009

Duke's opening 96-62 win over UNC Greensboro. Tonight I took in the Friday night victory for the Blue Devils on Fox Sports South. It was pretty much the Kyle Singler show. When he wasn't scoring off threes, he was driving the lane. Singler also had a monster block of Ben Stywall. Duke also got a lift from Jon Scheyer as the announcers said Singler and Scheyer had 14 of Duke's points with about 13:12 left in the first half.

Overall Duke looked very strong with an extended defense. They are also relying less on the three ball as they were getting away from the drive and kick with a little bit more motion and spacing.

Duke was playing without Nolan Smith, out for playing in non-sanctioned summer event and Mason Plumlee is out with a broken wrist. I really wanted to see what Mason would do. His brother Miles had a good game along with the newly bearded Bryan Zoubek.. I also thought Ryan Kelly represented himself well.

Of all the games I've watched this week I thought UNC Greensboro represented itself very well even though they were a big underdog. Dee Brown and Stywall had solid games.

November 17, 2009

Duke gave Charlotte a 101-59 beat down tonight in round 2 of the NIT tip-off tournament.  Unfortunately, I was asleep most of the game.  I will give you my observations from what I saw on ESPN tonight when I was awake.  Nolan Smith was great in his first game back.  Both Kyle Singer and Jon Scheyer were hitting from the outside in the first half.  Plus Duke's usual extended defense gave Charlotte trouble.  This game was a runaway and that is pretty much all I have for you.  To start the game though, ESPN showed a picture for Mason Plumlee as Miles Plumlee in the starting line-up.  Whoops, Mason is still out with a broken wrist and will be reevaluated according to ESPN.