Worst blog of the year

The worst blog of the year is always the one that wraps up the season. Of course, I shouldn't be so pessimistic or melodramatic.  As I was saying to Evan as he cried after the loss to Kentucky today, this is still arguably the golden era of Carolina basketball.

Losing today stinks; to be one game away from our 19th Final Four is tough to take.  But again, it was a great season - 14 and 2 in the ACC, beating Duke in Chapel Hill, seeing the development of players like Zeller, Henson, Marshall and of course Barnes.  

And it's still the golden age, an age that will add luster next season if at least either Henson or Barnes come back.  Barnes may not, of course, though a lock out in the NBA may keep him in Chapel Hill.  Either way, a team made up of Marshall, Stickland, Bullock or a new hotshot freshman to take Barnes' spot, Henson, Zeller as starters, backed up by McDonald, Watts and a few more freshmen, will be formidable to say the least.

Anyway, back to the golden age.  Since Roy came back, in 2004, here are our results:

2004: 1-1 (lost to Texas)

2005: 6-0, National Champs

2006: 1-1 (lost to George Mason)

2007: 3-1 (lost to Georgetown in Elite 8)

2008: 4-1 (lost to Kansas in Final Four; worst loss of Williams era)

2009: 6-0 National Champs

2010: DOH!

2011: (3-1, lost to Kentucky in Elite 8)

Five Elite 8s, three Final Fours, 2 National Championships in 8 years.  That's more elite 8s, Final Fours and championships that most Division I schools (schools like Georgetown, UConn*, Pittsburgh,  Villanova, Texas, Purdue, Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, St. Johns, Syracuse, that's just off the top of my head) have in the last 60 years, let alone 8.

Still losing stinks, losing to a shyster like Calipari is even worse.  And Kentucky is like the perfect blend of Duke and State, arrogant red necks. 

Today's game was basically a toss up.  The Heels turned it over way too much in the first half, Henson was in foul trouble and Kentucky went nuts with the 3s today shooting over 50 percent for the game.  

But despite all that, the Heels fought back and with 2 minutes left it was a tie game.

To their credit, Kentucky made plays down the stretch.  I honesty thought they would fold - as most teams have historically done - in the face of Carolina's excellent comeback, this time led by a very aggressive Barnes.

To their credit Kentucky made plays, 2 more than Carolina did, to win.  That three to make it a four-point game was huge, but bigger was the block of Marshall's drive with the Heels trailing by one. 

That possession summed up the season for us.  Love to see Marshall take the initiative; he had a lane to the rack for the go-ahead basket.  Unfortunately, Liggins made a big-time block to stop the comeback for good.  

That drive was a good decision.

However, the great decision would have been to be a click more patient and get the ball to Zeller down low, where he was unstoppable down the stretch, or to Barnes to get a foul or a shot. 

Marshall made our season this year, so no complaints.  But freshman don't always make the great play all the time.  That comes when they're juniors or seniors.  

A great season where the Heels got better and better, and were fun to watch.  Next year, with improved players like Marshall and Stickland, and guys like Zeller coming back, the Heels will be exciting and fun and hopefully even more golden than this year's squad.  

GO HEELS!

A few more hoops notes:

• Still hard to believe that both Butler and VCU are in the Final Four.  VCU is the first Final Four team to advance with 5 wins (it usually takes 4) as a result of their play in game win over USC;
• VCU showed incredible composure in withstanding Kansas' second-half comeback; that was impressive;
• I'd be happy if either of those guys in the national championship, and have no idea who will win.
• How stark a contrast would it be if the final is Kentucky, a school that has been on probation once a decade for the last six decades coached by a coach who's two other Final Four appearances have been struck from the official records due to violations, versus a team like Butler?  Style versus substance? Self promotion versus humility?  The comparison's are endless.