A few quick thoughts going into the NCAA Tournament…
I’m going to Greensboro to cover Duke in the early rounds. The Duke-Southern game would be a less than mediocre regular season game, but the tournament makes it entirely different. However, since no 16th seed has ever beaten a top seed, don’t think the Devils will be pushed, and early in the second half I’ll probably wish I were home in bed. A Duke vs. George Washington game might be interesting; that is, if the Colonials get by UNC-Wilmington. But when I think GW, I think of State wiping the floor with them.
Carolina’s regional is interesting in that they are lucky as heck that Tennessee is the second seed. Nobody can figure that out. I doubt that the Vols will make it to the Sweet 16. Frankly, I look forward to a Carolina vs. Michigan State second-round game, and if UNC gets by this one, they have clear sailing to the Elite Eight. Also, you never know what you’ll get from UConn. They have more talent than anybody, but can lose focus and do a lot of silly things. You get to an Elite Eight game with those guys and anything can happen. But I shouldn’t disrespect Murray State…right?
N.C. State fans are mad as heck. Nobody wants to win more than Pack fans, and the four straight losses is not easy for them to live with. And think this -- when N.C. State won its 10th ACC Tournament championship in 1987, Duke had won just six and Carolina also had 10. Now Duke has 16 titles and Carolina has 15. It has been a long time for a fan base that doesn’t like being the third wheel in the neighborhood.
I do think State will play well on Friday. They can beat Cal, and the week off has been good for them. The second half against Wake Forest in the tournament may have gotten them a little confidence back. I might add -- I’m the only one in our office who really thinks this.
I’ve heard from a lot of fans who want to see Coach Sendek be fired. However, it’s hard for a school though to outright fire a coach who runs a clean program and who’s been to five straight NCAA Tournaments. Most schools dream of success like that, but after the loss to Wake Forest in the tournament, one of their key players told us that it’s taken a toll on the them knowing the discontent that is out there over the coach and their style of play and the anger over the four game losing streak (especially that loss to UNC.) My thinking is that he might just decide himself that it’s time to leave; that everybody involved needs a fresh start. It can’t be fun on his part listening to constant negativity. One State fan told me-he’d take Chris Washburn back if it ment winning. That is stretching winning just a little bit too far. Also State has given the media no access this week until they reach Dallas. Bad for us, but maybe good for them.
Well, off to the tournament. Enjoy the games. Remember: they are supposed to be fun. Hope everybody plays well.
