North Carolina message boards
- Thread starter BigDogCyclone
- Start date
Respect yes, though a few of them seem to think he's our best player. Wouldn't say best, but surely one of the most important. I'm hoping Edozie and/or Gibson shows up in a good way. The boards don't realize we have them and while they're no match for some of UNC's bigs, they are capable of playing well on the defensive end and Gibson has had flashes of good stuff on offense before.
The great thing is that Gibson played some solid minutes against Kentucky's bigs when they won the national championship and had 9 points in only 10 minutes against Anthony Davis and Terrence Jones. We need that Gibson to show up, not the other one.
I fully expect these guys to see ample playing time to play well defensively and the usual suspects to score, with added scoring support from our freshman (like we saw yesterday with Morris). If Morris and Thomas can score and Gibson/Edozie can defend OK, then I think it will be big. Not like they are great players, but I don't think UNC fans know we have two guys on our team who are 6'9" and 250+ and one of them isn't terribly unathletic.
The great thing is that Gibson played some solid minutes against Kentucky's bigs when they won the national championship and had 9 points in only 10 minutes against Anthony Davis and Terrence Jones. We need that Gibson to show up, not the other one.
I fully expect these guys to see ample playing time to play well defensively and the usual suspects to score, with added scoring support from our freshman (like we saw yesterday with Morris). If Morris and Thomas can score and Gibson/Edozie can defend OK, then I think it will be big. Not like they are great players, but I don't think UNC fans know we have two guys on our team who are 6'9" and 250+ and one of them isn't terribly unathletic.
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This isn't meant to be disrespectful to Georges but I like this analysis by this UNC fan and why I am still predicting a Cyclone victory. It just shows this team has many weapons. Also, I think Fred and some players have done some things over the recent weeks that can help this team:
* Daniel's minutes and production in the BigXII tourney
* Naz's getting groove back
* Matt's two mid-range jumpers hit in big games in Big XII tourney shows it is not all about the 3 and confidence builder. Have feeling he will show up, in some form or fashion (hitting shots, rebounds).
* Monte being turned loose (who knows what new we will see with the Paige match-up)
* Dustin's all-around intensity/chip
Other facetious (maybe) suggestions-
* Give Percy, and any other with size, strategic minutes and have them use up fouls when certain bigs get the ball down low or anywhere on floor when UNC is in the bonus (hack-a-doo strategy)
It's not the stats that Georges puts up. It's the fact that the offense runs through him. He might not get the basket or the assist, but him on the court creates so much strain on the defense to defend 5 three point shooters instead of 4. It also opens up driving lanes for the rest of our team. When morris burned that defender yesterday is a perfect example. There was no one at the rim because the defender thought he was going to pass the ball to Niang. If anyone can compensate it's Fred. In Fred we trust.
They know what's up. Niang is our best player in the half court offense. Going to have to step up the D and get some points in transition but I think we can do it. I have a feeling Ejim is due for a breakout game.
Let's see what they say after we beat them. I'm sure they think they have this one in the bag.
HoopsTournament
Well-Known Member
Yes, that is the perplexing thing. I can't stand North Carolina, but it is more because of Roy than anything. Almost every NC fan that I have met has been pretty nice. Have never had any issues with their fanbase.
Well put, and the big x factor is how the loss of George's unique game will affect our offense, not to mention his leadership and clutch play as our closer. Huge loss but if anybody can figure this out in 2 days, it's Fred.
UNC has some knowledgable fans. **** Roy, but their fans are okay with me. Anyone that hates Dook is cool in my book.
I think a better assessment is that this particular message board of UNC fans is a classy bunch. UNC fans in general? Not so much. Being a grad student at NC State for 5 years, I can assure you that UNC fans are a bunch of jerks. I think a better assessment of UNC fans is that they are equivalent to Hok fans with twice the pretentiousness, and a preference for wine instead of beer. I'd say 95% of their fans have never even set foot on UNC's campus.
I think the quote you mentioned shows the flaw of relying entirely on statistics to analyze the game. That quote doesn't show how Niang's presence spaces the floor, how he has been a constant closer for this team and the one guy that can go get a bucket when it's late, how he creates so much for other players with the hockey assist, etc.
I do think losing Georges is the most devastating loss ISU could receive. But, the Clones can still win without him - just have to play their best and avoid foul trouble or additional injuries.
Every fan base has some dooshy fans and we sat by one of North Carolina's last night in the arena. Kept talking **** from the nosebleed seats for everyone around him to hear, including a couple of Providence fans, that basketball was a team game as Bryce Cotton almost single handedly beat them. I'm all for yelling and supporting your team at a game, but talking trash like that against the team that almost ended your season was annoying to listen to. Hope we make him cry tomorrow night.
This is going to be a good Ewing Theory test. Georges does some great things but he's not particularly efficient and struggles in some aspects. Of course, I'm just trying to comfort myself here but I don't think we should just panic.
I'll go along with this thinking. Obviously losing Niang is a big loss and hurts us on the offensive end, but if Edozie gets a significant amount of PT because of this, it should help us on the defensive end and rebounding.