Heels at home in city of the "Blues"
Mar 27, 2009
If North Carolina is supposed to feel the pressure of playing for a NCAA championship, someone needs to remind them. The Heels locker room was relaxed Thursday; in fact there seemed to be more concern over a game of spades that was being played than Friday’s “Sweet Sixteen” match-up with Gonzaga. Of course the players are aware of the stakes, but as Danny Green told me, Friday will be a different feeling. That is actually something that is great to hear from a player today when they are scrutinized over every move they make on and of the floor.
For the Heels this should be fun. In fact, it should be fun for all of the players who get to this point. Of course there is the downside, talking to us and answering the same questions. Tyler Hansbrough admitted he is tired of talking about Ty Lawson’s toe and in fact does not enjoy talking to the media. I wouldn’t disagree with him; I mean, if someone asked you how your co-worker's toe felt every day and you had no idea, you would get sick of it, too.
Another point that was brought up as a recurring theme was media members (I’m guilty as charged) reminding the Heels that this Gonzaga team beat this UNC (pretty much) two season ago in the preseason NIT a few season ago. Both teams said the right things about it Thursday. The Bulldogs pointed out is should give them confidence, Micah Downs informed me that Gonzaga is no longer the little guy and he is right. Yet, Gonzaga said it was a while ago, in the Tar Heels locker room it was pointed out it was a while ago but it serves as a warning about this team from the West Coast Conference that will be on the floor.
That’s just a small look into the day for UNC and Gonzaga. If you read Jeff Gravley’s blog on Jeff Capel, he is 100 percent right, I had the pleasure of covering Coach Capel in his first head coaching job at VCU where you could tell he was going to be something special.
That leads me to the opening act in this region - the terrific Oklahoma-Syracuse match-up. It’s like “The Who” opening up for the Rolling Stones. Yet the story is everyone’s favorite under(Bull)dogs against the storied Tar Heels. The city that is the home of the “Blues” and the birthplace of “Rock N’ Roll”, Memphis has seen some of the greatest performers in music history, from B.B. King to “the King” himself, Elvis Presley.
Friday night, the FedEx Forum will see a show that should rival the best concerts. Can’t wait for showtime.
