>You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch. :o) !!!!! :o)
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>haha, quit trying to butter me up. :)
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>In all seriousness, this is why KU is so much better off with Bill Self than Roy Williams. Self is part cerebral and part street fighter, and just seems to have the knack getting his players to either play with passion or with smarts, depending on what's needed.
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>But Roy Williams' teams go through bouts of nervousness, because Williams himself is a nervous man who speaks about himself too much in the third person. North Carolina got man-handled last night at home - and the look in the faces of the players while Virginia went on the 18-0 run reminded me of past teams under Williams. That stunt that Williams pulled a few weeks ago (pulling all his starters, lecturing them for several minutes after play resumed, and not even watching his bench players play on the court) was priceless, and classic Roy Williams.
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>I'm stunned at the possibility that UNC could be headed to the NIT. The bracketology odd-makers only give UNC a 1-in-3 chance of making the NCAA tournament. Yes, I know it's only Feb 2, but they are only a half-game out of the ACC cellar. Unless they get hot in February, they may have to win the ACC tournament to get in. This is why I love Bill Self as coach - last year he lost 4 starters and 5 key players after their title run, and still won their regular season conference and made it to the sweet 16 (and almost beat Michigan State).
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>(Yes, I have "man-love" for Bill Self, I think he's one of the top coaches in ALL of sports).
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It's amazing how smart an influx of blue chippers every year can make you as a coach ;-) He was no hot shakes at Illinois, with one of the top recruiting cities in the country practically in his back yard. I think he's a good coach but let's not get carried away.

UNC will have an occasional down year. That's what happens when you send two or three guys a year to the NBA, most as underclassmen.

Connecticut is also in danger of missing the NCAA tournament. I think Jim Calhoun is a class A jerk so wouldn't mind that at all. Remember that bit a year or so ago when the state was in all sorts of financial trouble (probably still is) and someone said hey, should we be paying a basketball coach this much money? He was the highest paid state employee, by a wide margin IIRC. He got really angry about it, saying he deserved every nickel he was making. He even looks like a sourpuss. He looks like he was weaned on a pickle.