Rising from the Sick Bed and Big Games

My late dad, Dr. Suiter, who was once a famous little league baseball coach in Rocky Mount, knew a lot about a lot of things. I got spoiled over the years because since he was a doctor. Any time I had a medical problem, which I'm afraid seemed quite often to him, I would call and he would dispense his advice. He would basically just reassue me that I wasn't at death's door.

About twice a year when I felt a cold coming on, I would call hoping that he would have discovered some miracle in the preceding months, only to hear him say what he always said.

"Son, if we treat the cold it will take about a week or so to get over it. Now if we don't treat it, it will take about seven days."

In other words, it will just run its course. And you know what? He was always right.

I will say this though -- the super cold which I'm still trying to shake has been a big old grizzly bear. It squeezed me hard. It's gone on a little more than a week, but I am improving and it's a great relief that the fever is no longer like the afternoon winds sweeping in from the plain.

My thanks to all who have expressed concern. I think I'll make it.

Now, big game tonight, huh? North Carolina at Boston College.

From the sound of all the teeth gnashing and despair, you'd think the UNC loss to Virginia Tech was equal to the fall of Rome. Hey, it was a one point loss in overtime to a pretty good team. North Carolina, in most minds, is still the most talented team in the conference. Problem is, they may not be the best team right now after going 3-2 in their last five games.

And they did seem out of sorts in the Virginia Tech game and did not execute well down the stretch in the loss. And Roy Williams knows that better than anyone. That's why he called it his worst coaching job ever.

Williams wants it to start with defense. That didn't happen on Tuesday. Zabian Dowdell did what he wanted and Tech was able to hold its own on the glass with the bigger and stronger Tar Heels.

If you know Roy Williams, you can bet there will be a more concerted effort in those areas tonight. I don't think youth is an excuse for any team now, especially as talented as Carolina's freshman are. The regular season is practically over. The young players have played enough to be veterans.

Is it time for Williams to shorten his bench? Some think yes, but the coach doesn't believe so. Not if he can play at the pace he wants. When North Carolina can run, that's when they're at their best. But that, too, starts with defense.

Brandan Wright has an injured right shoulder. His status is a game-time decision. Now this is where Carolina's depth helps. They did quite well without him at Arizona a few weeks ago and they'll do okay tonight. But you do want to play a game like tonight with your best and Wright is one of the best.

Boston College is coming off a really bad home court loss to Duke. The Blue Devils attacked and attacked some more and the Eagles, who had so much on the line, acted like they didn't care. Jared Dudley was a non-factor and the loss dropped B.C. into a four-way tie for first in the ACC in the loss column.

I would think Boston College would play better tonight. I believe they will. There's too much at stake. Do you realize that the Eagles lead the overall series with North Carolina three games to two? Not many schools can say they have an overall series edge of UNC.

North Carolina is better than Boston College. The Tar Heels just have better athletes. That doesn't mean they'll win, but they should. Much is on the line for both teams.

On Sunday, Duke is at home playing host to Georgia Tech.

Duke looked really good for most of the game at Boston College. Josh McRoberts acted like he wanted to be the go-to guy and B.C. had no answer. Duke was really good when they attacked the basket. They played like they were mad and tired of losing, and they won a huge game. They played with passion and aggressiveness. They played to win instead of playing not to lose and it made a difference. It was like Coach K said for them to do -- just have fun and forget everything else.

I can't see erratic Georgia Tech coming into Cameron and winning. Not if Duke plays like they did at Boston College.

It appears that N.C. State reached its high water mark a couple of weeks ago in the startling upset of North Carolina. Three straight losses have left the Pack at 13-10, and now you have the players talking about being tired. I felt back in December that this would be a tired team come February, and that's what it appears to be. Still, it's not good to have players publicly using fatigue as an excuse. Some of the best teams in the history of this conference haven't gone deep into its bench. However, this N.C. State team is not one of those. That I think we all agree.

N.C. State should believe they can beat Virginia Tech. After all, they did it in Blacksburg when no one thought they could. Now they've got the Hokies coming to Raleigh, and again practically no one thinks the Wolfpack can win.

So this is when a N.C. State team can be most dangerous. Virginia Tech is coming off an emotional upset at UNC while N.C. State lost three straight, including the Wednesday drubbing by Maryland.

We'll see tomorrow if the Pack has packed it in. I think they have a little bit left, but is it enough?

I hope I have a little bit left, too. ; )