Friday, December 22, 2017

Prima Donnas--- or Champion Wanna's?

My aunt Jayne and I have had an unscheduled routine over the last couple of months. Whenever the Tar Heels game comes on, we will habitually text each other, remarking on particular plays or the general feeling of a game. Some of our texts include "We need to play lights out to beat this time" and my witty retort, "We might actually play better with the lights out."

Dazed and Filled with Malaise

   My general feeling after the recent loss to Wofford is that we are still a good team, but not one that looks like a defending national champion, or a team that deserves to be ranked #4 or #5 nationally. Albeit, national rankings are only a weekly barometer of where teams are during a season, and the only ranking that really matters in the end is the last one. But when the new poll comes out, we will most certainly deserve that ranking more than the Top Ten ranking which we were just given this past week.


   Look at the reactions of the two team's coaches. Wofford's head coach, Michael Young, tempered the monumental win over Carolina, their first win ever over a nationally ranked team. After getting doused with a cooler by his team in the locker room, he pointed out in the midst of the wild celebration that it was only -one- regular season win. And Roy Williams, UNC's legendary coach, correctly pointed out that his team has to "be ready to play and not act like we're prima donna.. and we can walk out there and the other team is going to fold."


   Wofford was the typical blue-collar team that Carolina normally has trouble with (along with the occasional powerhouse teams like Kentucky and Duke), that is, ones like Princeton, or George Mason. Wofford beat UNC by utilizing tough defense and rebounding, and good outside shooting. It is fair to blame Carolina for shooting so poorly, but also fair to give Wofford credit for their part in causing that to happen.


   Most sports fans of any kind base their support not on facts and trends, but on pure emotion and dedication to their favorite teams. This is also true to a great extend of Carolina's fans. I'd just like to point out that it is extremely difficult to repeat as champions in any sport, and particularly in NCAA Division I basketball. There are over 350 men's basketball teams, and at least 15 or 20 that have a legitimate chance to make it to the Final Four and win a championship. We are only one of those teams.

Prima Donnas--- or Champion Wanna's?

   The term "prima donna" initially referred to the star singer in an opera. But Roy William's use of it would include "one who finds it difficult to work under direction or as part of a team." Wow! What an indictment of his own team. As previously stated, they are a good team. Somewhat inexperienced. Untested. Full of potential. Prone to mistakes and errors. Yes, a good team. But not yet a great team. Not like the '82 team, with Michael Jordan and James Worthy. Not like the '09 team, with Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson.


   The solid truth is that the 1982 team wouldn't have won without Sam Perkins and Matt Doherty, and Buzz Peterson. The 2009 team wouldn't have won without Wayne Ellington and Danny Green. UNC's beach also contributed greatly to their success.


   I can't read our players' minds. I don't know all of their thoughts and attitudes. All I, or anyone, can do is judge them based on their performances. For UNC fans, we will never be satisfied with a mediocre or even average performance from our team. In that sense, we are "prima donna." We expect more out of them. But the proper and correct way for them to live out this sense of expectation is to lay down their own high-minded thoughts and lower themselves to be able to dig out the tough wins at tough times. Every single team will be out to give us their best effort. Some of those teams will not succeed. Not because of a lack of effort. Some of our victories may be because we are so much more talented than our opponents. But at times, like with Wofford, we run into a team that may not be as talented, but may nevertheless eke out a win in spite of that gap due to an amazing effort.

Check Your Attitude...

   At this point, most would feel fortunate to be 10-2. It's a good record. But our glaring losses to Michigan State.. and oh, how difficult it is to say.. Wofford.. stand out as warning signs that our team will not compete for another title unless they can manage to "get it right" with supreme effort.


   We have some growing pains yet to experience. Our young players need time to develop. There may be more losses to overcome. But effort is not something one can grow into over time. It's just an attitude and determination to give their very best.. every minute of every game.


   Is that too much to ask? Not from UNC basketball. Not ever.


MORE LATER...

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