Well after long last it finally happened. My prediction came true in more ways than one. I’ve waited all season long to witness the match up of North Carolina and Oklahoma. The buildup to this game was that of a heavyweight rumble in the jungle. The unanymous best player in the country, versus a heavy favorite for the championship crown. But beyond that, this game showcased arguably the most exciting big-man match up this side of King Kong aka Psycho T and Godzilla, played by Blake Griffin (very exciting by the way).
I like many people would agree that as far as big men go in today’s game, Blake Griffin is a magnificent specimen of an athlete. He has all the post moves any college or NBA coach could ask for, and the athleticism to boot. On the other hand, although Psycho T isn’t the athlete that Griffin is, he is easily the harder worker whose credentials include all-time ACC scoring leader and rebound leader for UNC. But this wasn’t the one-on-one match-up, Oklahoma would’ve liked it to be.
After the first two minutes of up and down basketball, UNC was on the board first and never really looked back. On paper they go much deeper and it showed. Oklahoma’s strategy was simple: get the ball to number 23 and get out of his way.
That's what Blake had to fight through ever time he touched the ball.
Unfortunately, even though that was a thoroughly thought out plan it didn’t really add up to anything. Every time Blake saw the ball he also so a UNC double team. It didn’t help the Sooners cause, that they had an absolutely atrocious day shooting the ball, from the charity stripe or really anywhere else on the floor, ending with an unflattering field goal percentage of 44.4. But the story turned out not to be the two big men down low, but the dominant guard play. Granted by the numbers, Blake had a normal game (for him) leading all scorers with another double-double, 23 points and 16 rebounds. But one thing I noticed was that he seemed very nonchalant (for lack of a better word), looking for the easy dunk and not hustling back up the floor on defense, allowing Ty Lawson to burn
They call him Mr. Lawson
past him for more than a couple of easy transition buckets. Speaking of Mr. Lawson, I hope nobody thinks that his big toe is still an issue. He literally abused Austin Johnson (2 points), to the tune of 19 points taking it straight at his numbers every time out-muscling him all over the court. With Danny Green being named UNC player of the game (18 points) Carolina didn’t have to delve to deep into its bag of tricks or bench players. On a less fortunate note, number 32 who wears the number opposite his brother has played his last game. In many ways, though similar in stature he was his brothers opposite on the court. But he came out firing this afternoon, scoring the Sooners first two points with an authoritative dunk and possibly putting a very nice exclamation point on a losing effort. Alas, it was not to be, after scoring another layup in the first half he was held scoreless for the rest of the game. I can’t help but wonder if anyone told him that he should have been the key in this game, with all the attention being on his brother (as usual). It’s sad really when that happens, there’s certainly talent there, but number 32 has been almost typecast into the shadows, as his younger brother gets all the glamore and attention. Unfortunately when that happens promising players can “drop the ball” so to speak because of a lack of self-confidence. In this match-up of King Kong versus Godzilla, Pshyco T and his Tar Heels move on to the round of four, because of the all important team effort while scoring only 8 points. Let that be a lesson to those teams who lean to hard on their “star” for a whole game instead of the important moments only to fall ungracefully in the end. UNC 72, Oklahoma 60.
The stage is set for next Saturday’s Final Four contest. North Carolina vs. Villanova, and UConn vs. Michigan State. Hope you learned something today and I hope your teams still in it, mine is. May the best bracketolegist win (free dinner here I come!).
ABA
P.S. Currently watching the C’s hopefully put a smack on another team from Oklahoma (rough day).
