What is the best way to start a blog about one of the saddest days of the year, the day when the Tar Heels stop playing basketball?
It should not be just about one game, the final game of the season, but I suppose one has to start there. Oddly enough, it does not feel that bad, reviewing the loss to Iowa State. The Heels played well, rebounded much better in the second half, and made shots.
Though it was a tough loss, that game contained many of the things that made this year's squad interesting and fun to watch, and also likeable. What's not to like about a team that beats Michigan State IN East Lansing, beats the defending national champs, and smites all of our main rivals - Duke, NC State and Kentucky - in one season?
Sunday's game was a microcosm of the entire season. It had J.P. Tokoto spinning and dunking, with a few steals, mid-range jumpers, even a bad turnover; Kennedy Meeks at his Little Sean May/taking down Louisville AND Michigan State best; Leslie McDonald finally getting to play and contributing - even Jackson Simmons taking a charge.*
It featured James Michael McAdoo keeping his head up, his persistence finally being rewarded as his drives to the basket resulted in points late. It was JMM displaying the calm and leadership we sometimes take for granted, and then having the toughness to hit 2 big free throws.
And it featured Marcus Paige. There are plenty of adjectives to choose from in describing his play on Sunday and this year. The best one is Tar Heel.
There are but a handful of Tar Heels who are extra special for their innate toughness, tenacity, brains, leadership - an understanding of the values stamped on Carolina basketball by Dean Smith. It is a short list: Bobby Jones, Phil Ford, Jimmy Black, George Lynch and David Noel. Many others, like Kendall Marshall and Ademola Okulaja to name a few, come close. But it's a short list.
Marcus Paige is already one of those all time Tar Heels.
One reason so many of us care so much about Carolina basketball is that it ties us to the University we love. The reason basketball is so central to our connection, again, is Dean. His humility, wisdom and excellence are what we think of when we think of Carolina.
Not Carolina basketball - Carolina.
For me, Marcus Paige evokes the same thing. He is the personification of all of Dean's Carolina values. At a time when the athletic program is doing all it can to embarrass the University, Paige - an Academic and athletic All-American - restored the values that make Carolina CAROLINA.
He led the comeback, once again, against Iowa State, but his turnover late may have cost Carolina the game (though ISU's incredible shooting, and our spotty transition defense that left too many shooters too open, had more to do with it).
But can we - do we - really blame Paige for not being perfect, after the season he had, after the plays he made, and more importantly the way he carried himself, the way he epitomized why we love Carolina basketball and Carolina? No.
Marcus Paige, Tar Heel.
GO HEELS!
* The game also did NOT feature Brice Johnson. More on that next blog. I will also look at ahead at next year, which looks very bright since Marcus Paige just tweeted that he is returning next year.
It should not be just about one game, the final game of the season, but I suppose one has to start there. Oddly enough, it does not feel that bad, reviewing the loss to Iowa State. The Heels played well, rebounded much better in the second half, and made shots.
Though it was a tough loss, that game contained many of the things that made this year's squad interesting and fun to watch, and also likeable. What's not to like about a team that beats Michigan State IN East Lansing, beats the defending national champs, and smites all of our main rivals - Duke, NC State and Kentucky - in one season?
Sunday's game was a microcosm of the entire season. It had J.P. Tokoto spinning and dunking, with a few steals, mid-range jumpers, even a bad turnover; Kennedy Meeks at his Little Sean May/taking down Louisville AND Michigan State best; Leslie McDonald finally getting to play and contributing - even Jackson Simmons taking a charge.*
It featured James Michael McAdoo keeping his head up, his persistence finally being rewarded as his drives to the basket resulted in points late. It was JMM displaying the calm and leadership we sometimes take for granted, and then having the toughness to hit 2 big free throws.
And it featured Marcus Paige. There are plenty of adjectives to choose from in describing his play on Sunday and this year. The best one is Tar Heel.
There are but a handful of Tar Heels who are extra special for their innate toughness, tenacity, brains, leadership - an understanding of the values stamped on Carolina basketball by Dean Smith. It is a short list: Bobby Jones, Phil Ford, Jimmy Black, George Lynch and David Noel. Many others, like Kendall Marshall and Ademola Okulaja to name a few, come close. But it's a short list.
Marcus Paige is already one of those all time Tar Heels.
One reason so many of us care so much about Carolina basketball is that it ties us to the University we love. The reason basketball is so central to our connection, again, is Dean. His humility, wisdom and excellence are what we think of when we think of Carolina.
Not Carolina basketball - Carolina.
For me, Marcus Paige evokes the same thing. He is the personification of all of Dean's Carolina values. At a time when the athletic program is doing all it can to embarrass the University, Paige - an Academic and athletic All-American - restored the values that make Carolina CAROLINA.
He led the comeback, once again, against Iowa State, but his turnover late may have cost Carolina the game (though ISU's incredible shooting, and our spotty transition defense that left too many shooters too open, had more to do with it).
But can we - do we - really blame Paige for not being perfect, after the season he had, after the plays he made, and more importantly the way he carried himself, the way he epitomized why we love Carolina basketball and Carolina? No.
Marcus Paige, Tar Heel.
GO HEELS!
* The game also did NOT feature Brice Johnson. More on that next blog. I will also look at ahead at next year, which looks very bright since Marcus Paige just tweeted that he is returning next year.
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