UNC, Duke, nor NC State are popular
picks to win the 2013 NCAA Tournament, but one thing their fan bases can hang
their heads on is that each team has the potential to make a run deep into the
field of 64.
The Tar Heels have had a solid
season, in which many saw as a “down” year for a team who lost four of their
starting five players being top 14 picks in the 2012 NBA Draft. Credit Roy
Williams, with making the switch from going being to small. The small lineup
gives the Heels favorable match-ups being able to space the floor giving their
shooters PJ Hairston and Reggie Bullock opportunities to connect from behind
the arch. The Heels will face a stiff opponent in Kansas in the second round,
that’s where it could get interesting. Many don’t have the Heels beating
Kansas, and rightfully so, but when the Heels are shooting the ball well they
can play with the best the nation has to offer. Prime example look at the two match-ups during conference play when the Heels played Miami, the Heels lost
both games, not shooting the ball well. Sunday afternoon in the ACC
Championship the Heels gave Miami everything they could handle and then some.
Though they were unsuccessful in earning the victory, they showed the country
what can happen when they shoot the ball well. Ultimately Hairston, Bullock and
James Michael McAdoo have to score 18 points at least, along with Marcus Paige,
Dexter Strickland and Leslie McDonald bringing something to the table along the
lines of eight points apiece for the Heels to make any sort of noise in the
tournament.
The Duke Blue Devils can beat
anyone on any giving floor with their three main contributors Seth Curry, Ryan
Kelly, and Mason Plumlee. The Blue Devils are one of the best teams in the country,
only when they are shooting the ball extremely well. This means Seth Curry and
Ryan Kelly must play well, along with Mason Plumlee, who has been missing in
action after a hot start to the season. The Blue Devils will advance out of the
second round, but they’ll run into some trouble in the form of the Cincinnati
Bearcats. The Blue Devils are in the same boat as the Tar Heels, despite
sweeping the Heels in the season series. Both ball clubs when “hot” can make a
run, but if “cold” will struggle, and exit the tournament earlier than
expected. Cincinnati is a ball club that is a physical defensive ball club,
Duke struggles against teams who get physical with them, Miami and Maryland
both defeated the Blue Devils off of playing a physical style of play. I expect
the Blue Devils to pull it out, but honestly it can go either way. Basketball is
a game of match-ups and playing styles, the Devils are clearly the more skilled
team, but Cincinnati is the more physical of the two. If Duke gets hot, it can
get ugly in a hurry. It will be interesting to see who will be able to impose
their will, but that’s why we play the game.
The NC State Wolfpack had have a
disappointing season after being ranked sixth in the preseason rankings, last
year the Pack got hot around this same time last year can it happen again? With
the talent on this ball club anything is possible. The Wolfpack have enough
talent to compete with the best the nation has to offer, but that’s not their
problem. The Wolfpack struggle when it comes to consistency, which landed them
out of the top 25. Its tournament time, and I know Mark Gottfried will have his
team ready and prepare to make a run, seeing they advance to the second round,
they should see Indiana. Yes, Indiana is a better team, but that does not mean
they can’t shock the country. If Scott Wood keeps shooting the ball like the
way he has as of late, and CJ Leslie come to play with Howell on the boards, having
Lorenzo Brown at the point, the Wolfpack can pose a treat. It is not a matter of
if they have the talent, but will they be able to put it all together is the
question? We’ll have to wait and see, but don’t be shocked if the Wolfpack of
NC State make a run.
Justin Tyree
ESPN 730 Charlotte Bobcats Insider and Blogger
Twitter: @JTyree704
