This time, the Heels remembered Hansbrough

This time, they remembered the big fella.
As the North Carolina Tar Heels faded down the stretch in last season’s regional final against Georgetown, they seemed to forget that their best player, Tyler Hansbrough, was on the floor.
And through this season even, when the Heels weren’t at their best, it seemed to be because they settled [...]

Stephen Curry Strikes Again

For a while, Michael Flowers did all he could do, and he was doing it pretty well.
But as we’re finding out with each stunning victory, the only way to stop Stephen Curry is if he’s stopping himself by having a bad night shooting night.
Flowers, the Wisconsin guard known for his perimeter defense charged with trying [...]

North Carolina’s motor — and other Sweet 16 thoughts

A few thoughts on Thursday’s Sweet 16 games…

Last week I wrote on here that I thought that UCLA’s Darren Collison was a better point guard than UNC’s Ty Lawson.
Brace yourself — I might have been wrong.
Since the ACC tournament final, Lawson has been surreal for the Tar Heels, looking even better than he did before [...]

‘Curry’ing favor in the NCAA Tournament

Could Davidson be the next George Mason, or maybe, just maybe, the next Villanova ’85?
As long as Stephen Curry is around, there’s no reason why not. Who’s going to be brave enough to tell the kid who was passed over by every big program in the area in which he grew up that he can’t [...]

Duke, UCLA, and the rest of Day 3 at the NCAA Tournament

A few thoughts on Day 3 of the NCAA Tournament…

You figured it was going to go one of two ways for Duke.
Either the Blue Devils would rip off an unbelievable shooting display for at least four games and reach the Final Four, or they would suffer through a poor shooting day and leave early.
In fact, [...]

Surprises Galore on Day 2 of the NCAA Tournament

A few thoughts on Day 2 of the NCAA Tournament

 
Tyler Hansbrough dunked for the game’s first two points before the seats were even warm and North Carolina never looked back, routing Mount St. Mary’s in the first round.
The Tar Heels did exactly what they wanted to do — win their first-round game with ease, so [...]

Day 1 of the NCAA Tournament

A few thoughts on day 1 of the NCAA Tournament.

The Belmont Bruins were so close.
So close. Eleven seconds and one rebound short, it turns out.
Duke did what Jimmy V said you had to do in the NCAA Tournament — survive and advance. Every time it looked like Duke — a 20-point favorite — was finally [...]

Confessions of a Sports Nut’s Wife

I couldn’t tell you how proud I was of my lovely wife Becky this past weekend when she pinch-hit for me on Sunday and delivered a home run. All week long I’ve heard about how my job is now in jeopardy after her great column. Just one example: Lee County baseball coach Charlie Spivey stopped [...]

I Hate My Bracket

I filled out a bracket, and already I hate it.
 
This happens to me every year. I print it out, I start writing first-round winners — and then I get stuck.
 
This year is no different. There are looming upsets everywhere. Everywhere. Except how do you pick them? 
If Michigan State can get past Pitt, don’t you think Tom [...]

The Sport Nut’s Wife — The Husband’s Take

Did you see that great-looking woman at the top of Page 1B on Sunday? That was my lovely wife, who proved with her Pinch-Hitter column that, like everything, anything I can do, she can do much, much better. 

I remember like it was yesterday the day she talked about in her column, that night when UNC’s [...]