I expected the snowy drive to Chapel Hill with a 16-year-old at the wheel to be the nerve-wracking part of the day, but Elijah was cool and in control. The Tar Heels, on the other hand, played like they thought it was a snow day, and Maryland punished them.

There was a great stretch in the second half when Elllington found his range and Hansbrough had a monster dunk -- several minutes that showed how good this team might be. The Dean Dome was Dook-game loud.

But they are soft on defense and shaky in the half-court set and make too many bad decisions. They have far to go.

Fortunately, they have some time to get there.

Comments

[Eric]

FEAR THE TURTLE!

[Alan Cone Bulluck]

Watching the end of the game on tv you would have thought that the Heels had just lost the National Championship game. Students in tears, some blatantly crying...it was pathetic.
If you're going to lose, and I don't think anyone expected the Heels to run the table this year, it's best to lose in January or February. It wasn't like we lost to Bridgewater College. We lost to a well-coached, hungry and sick of losing Maryland team. UNC has more depth and talent, but Maryland played wanted the win more.
It sucks to lose especially when you consider that we will not reach the number one spot again this year. Memphis won't lose until the tournament. They play in a pathetically weak conference and have had a nice little cupcake schedule for the entire season. When commentators announce that their best chance for losing a game is against Houston? Not impressive at all.
Either way, 18-1 is a pretty damn good way to start the season. I don't believe in such a thing as a "good loss," but I was a little embarassed to call myself a UNC alum when I saw the little students acting like babies after the game. You go out and get bombed after games, win or lose, you don't sit around and sulk.

[Danny Wright]

Ahhh, UNC fans and their sense of entitlement (those tears). I couldn't decide whether to puke or laugh.

[Alan Cone Bulluck]

I can only hope that those chickenheads were seeing a basketball game for the first time ever. Perhaps they thought it was do or die? Who knows?
Regardless, I'm glad the kids lost. They were bound to lose some time and it's better they lost now than in March or against Fecal Matter University. Honestly, I haven't been too keen on b'ball this season...college and pro football are still keeping it real.
I'm ready for March.

[Danny Wright]

My thoughts exactly. With college football's extremely interesting last few seasons, I have tuned out hoops later and later each year. The one thing I remember about the last college basketball season was how excited I was when March rolled around, though. Since I'm not feeling the love for roundball at the moment, I'm hoping that I can reawaken the interest in the next few weeks before it's too late. No doubt the tournament this year will be a strong one -- it seems that there has been so much parity in the last few years that just about every game from the second round onwards could go either way.

[Eric]

Don't be too hard on the young kids crying in the stands, that's just something they picked up from good ole Coach Roy.

[Ed Cone]

Yeah, better that they model Coach K and hurl f-bombs at the refs before having someone break an opposing player's nose.

Seriously, it was a tough loss -- big comeback, blown lead, chances at the end. The fans in question are kids watching a basketball game at an American university, not cadets watching a dueling match at a Prussian military academy. Relax.

The older crowd around us had more perspective, perhaps, on the extreme unlikelihood of this team winning them all, and on this team's need to grow past the limitations mentioned in the post. People were more disgusted or philosophical than bereft.

Me, I just go home and beat the dog.

[Eric]

Yes, Coach K cusses at Refs and players. I'm sure good ole Coach Roy never does. He just poofs out little pink hearts.

[John G]

Ed: that dog will bite you!
GOOD girl Luna!
1:40 left in the game. Wake up 74 - FSU 57.