What a great win today for Carolina's second straight ACC championship. Winning this tournament is more proof that the post-Dean malaise that afflicted Tar Heel Nation is officially over. As much as winning the national championship in 2005 did, these back-to-back championships signal that the Roy era will mimic the Dean era for glory and success.
Today's game was a great college game. Other than the turnovers, which were a result of boneheadedness by the Heels and aggressive defense by the Tigers, Carolina played a pretty good game against a very determined and talented team. Put Clemson in your final 8 in your brackets tonight. That team in playing with a head of steam and should string together at least 4 wins in the NCAAs.
Clemson's high level of play makes today's championship win that much more impressive. Carolina's last three wins - at Duke, and on a neutral floor over Virginia Tech and Clemson - were gut check games. This team is talented, but it's also tough, determined and smart. In short, this team is starting to emulate Hansbrough and Ginyard, the two leaders who make this team such a dangerous one.
I also want to give a tip of the hat (how lame is that phrase, but I'm posting a first draft; without an editor your going to get crap like that) to Quentin Thomas. Nice to see him hold the trophy, but better to know that he earned that honor with his play this season and in this game.
This game really showcased how much the Heels grew in Lawson's absence. Q did a great job running the offense today, and that little 8 footer than rimmed out with around 4 minutes should have fallen. Despite that miss and a few bad turnovers he had a great half.
But the most important player on the floor in the second half was Ty Lawson. He finally started to assert himself and had a great half. Coincidentally enough, like Q he too had a shot rim out - at the end of the first half - that would have given Carolina momentum. Lawson finished with 12, 8 assists and 5 boards, and more importantly had at least 3 patented blow-bys to the hoop when the Heels needed them most.
Besides shots that rimmed out, these guys are now linked by great point guard play (as well as by a few weirdly sloppy turnovers). The TyQ (CueTy? help me out here) combo makes the Heels very tough.
But this is still Hansbrough's team, and it was great to see him get shots in the second half. Psycho T had a great all around game - 18 points on 7 of 12 shooting, 2 steals and 11 boards. As good as his offense was, Hansbrough was money on the boards. He seemed to get every rebound down the stretch, again displaying determination that can be admired but not duplicated by any other basketball player on the planet. I polled folks on who Hansbrough will emulate in the pros, and games like this make me think he's the next Dennis Rodman.
As important as both Lawson and Hansbrough were, Carolina does not win this game without the stellar play of Wayne Ellington. Clemson brings out the best in Ellington, and today he was fantastic. He scored 24 points on only 13 shots (making 10), and only took 4 three-point shots (hitting 2). Ellington has a complete game, and scored bunches of points in transition. One more time, this team will only go as far as Ellington can take them. He was fantastic all weekend.
Have to mention my man Danny Green, who finished with 12 points and made some nifty and pivotal plays - including a big three and offensive board/put back before fouling out. And I can't leave out Marcus Ginyard, who finished with 10 points and 9 rebounds. He and Hansbrough were dominant on the boards.
Again, with TyQ at point, Hansbrough being Hansbrough, Ginyard successfully playing the role of Lynch/Ademola and Ellington and Green peaking at the right time, this team will be hard to stop in the next 6 games.
Two final thoughts on this team.
- Carolina played smart Carolina basketball today, focusing on transition baskets or on getting the ball down low to Hansbrough and company. The most telling stat of the game is that Carolina only took 10 three pointers. As tough as Clemson's defense was, the Heels - led by Lawson and Q - did not settle for long jump shots. They did not take what Clemson gave them, but imposed their will on the Tigers. When they weren't running they were getting the ball to Hansbrough down low, or Ty, Ginyard, Green and Ellington were taking it to the rack. Great basketball, winning basketball, Carolina basketball.
- And for the third game in their last four the Heels played great defense. Their effort today was as good as it was at Cameron last weekend. This team has really grown down the stretch, and can play lock down defense and control the boards when they really need to. A great omen for the next month.
GO HEELS!
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