Man, I should have kept my prediction-making ways going, because I totally called this one too.
Sure North Carolina didn't have Ty Lawson, but past that, everyone knew UNC had the edge. Home court advantage was theirs, and most people thought that despite the inferior ranking, the Heels were the team to beat in the ACC, and Duke's lack of a big man would ultimately hurt them.
It hasn't caught up with them yet.
Duke's assault was varied. In the first half, the Devils forced turnover after turnover and made them count with a shower of three pointers. Second half, Duke attacks the inside after UNC guards the perimeter and then dominates the boards on defense. For a team with no big man, Lance Thomas and Kyle Single sure did a bang-up job of bringing the ball down when North Carolina missed (a lot of) shots.
Greg Paulus was a monster. His 18 points led the team and every last one of them came from his 6-8 three point shooting, a career high. The play when Paulus swished it while falling down was one of the defining plays of the game.
You always had a feeling the game was going to get closer, simply because that's what happens when these two teams play. It wasn't the case this time. Duke had an answer for everything UNC had, and ultimately won the game by 11, a huge number for this rivalry. Say what you will Heels supporters, but Duke is the ACC's top dog, and they've got a good chance to prove it again against these same Tarheels in March, with or without Ty Lawson.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
Wrap It Up
"the Giants will win" - Me, Friday, February 1st, 2008
Remember this little day last week when everyone started calling me insane? Who's laughing now world?
Three short days after this fateful prediction, I, and the New York Giants, stand atop the world as the kings of I-Told-You-So Mountain. And they did it exactly as I predicted it would be. The Giants debilitating pass rush brought Tom Brady to his knees, forced him to make the worst throws of the season, and reveal his status as a mortal man. The Giants stepped it up when it mattered on offense. Manning played the drive of his life with two minutes to go, hitting David Tyree with the play of the decade, and then Plaxico Burress for the go-ahead touchdown with half a minute left.
Sure, the Pats had time left, we'd seen it before, with 35 seconds left, it was Tom Brady's to lose. Not this time New England faithful. The second Manning found Burress in the end zone this one was over, and the Giants defense let them know it.
First down - Deep pass broken up
Second down - Sacked for loss of ten
Third down - Deep pass broken up
Fourth down - Deep pass broken up
Checkmate
The biggest upset of the season? Undoubtedly. Biggest upset of the past 10 or 15 years? Definitely. Biggest upset in NFL history? Probably. That's just how great this was, and the game was just good enough to make it absolutely amazing.
New York Giants are the Super Bowl Champions.
The New England Patriots are 18-1.
Believe it.
Remember this little day last week when everyone started calling me insane? Who's laughing now world?
Three short days after this fateful prediction, I, and the New York Giants, stand atop the world as the kings of I-Told-You-So Mountain. And they did it exactly as I predicted it would be. The Giants debilitating pass rush brought Tom Brady to his knees, forced him to make the worst throws of the season, and reveal his status as a mortal man. The Giants stepped it up when it mattered on offense. Manning played the drive of his life with two minutes to go, hitting David Tyree with the play of the decade, and then Plaxico Burress for the go-ahead touchdown with half a minute left.
Sure, the Pats had time left, we'd seen it before, with 35 seconds left, it was Tom Brady's to lose. Not this time New England faithful. The second Manning found Burress in the end zone this one was over, and the Giants defense let them know it.
First down - Deep pass broken up
Second down - Sacked for loss of ten
Third down - Deep pass broken up
Fourth down - Deep pass broken up
Checkmate
The biggest upset of the season? Undoubtedly. Biggest upset of the past 10 or 15 years? Definitely. Biggest upset in NFL history? Probably. That's just how great this was, and the game was just good enough to make it absolutely amazing.
New York Giants are the Super Bowl Champions.
The New England Patriots are 18-1.
Believe it.
Friday, February 1, 2008
SUPER BOWL SUNDAY
That's right gents, the greatest spectacle in all of sports is but TWO DAYS AWAY. I know what you're thinking, "Gee golly, I sure do like those commercials, but I really wanna cheer for a team this year. Who's the right call Andrew?" Fear not friends, I am here for you.
This year the biggest stage in football features the dynastic New England Patriots, striving for the untouchable 19-0 record, will engage in vicious concussion-inducing fanfare with the underdog, suddenly unbeatable New York Giants. Though there really is nothing new about either of these teams making a title appearance considering each has been in the play-off mix consistently for the past few years, the game is made intriguing by the storylines behind it. Has Eli Manning finally evolved into one of the game's elite passers? Will Brady be hindered by his ankle? Is this the biggest upset in the history of the game yet to happen?
Yes, no, and maybe. Let's dive deeper.
Obviously, the Patriots passing game is the fuel that runs the fire, though they have been running the ball nicely the past few weeks. Expect neither to result in great success against a Giants D that's seen more than it's share of trials the last few weeks. Stopping Brett Favre and Tony Romo isn't an easy task. The Giants defense is ready for the biggest offensive weapon in the history of the game, bank on it.
But can the offense keep up with the points the Patriots do score? Again, I say to you, yes. Eli Manning has been flawless in recent weeks and it seems silly to think that the Patriots will keep him in check when they had trouble doing that just one month ago. Plaxico Burress has never been hotter and he smoked one of the best corners in the game last week. Cap it with a bruising running game, and suddenly the Patty Cakes are in for a bigger fight than most anticipate.
Here's how I see it, the Giants are underdogs for a reason. They already lost to the Pats once, have lost six more games than them, and haven't got the record-breaking credentials. But in football, it all comes down to the expression made famous by Chris Berman. "That's why they play the games." It's why the Giants beat the Packers, it's why the Chargers beat the Colts, and it's why upsets happen every single day of NFL action.
Most importantly, it's why the Giants will win, 35-31.
*Dramatic Ending*
This year the biggest stage in football features the dynastic New England Patriots, striving for the untouchable 19-0 record, will engage in vicious concussion-inducing fanfare with the underdog, suddenly unbeatable New York Giants. Though there really is nothing new about either of these teams making a title appearance considering each has been in the play-off mix consistently for the past few years, the game is made intriguing by the storylines behind it. Has Eli Manning finally evolved into one of the game's elite passers? Will Brady be hindered by his ankle? Is this the biggest upset in the history of the game yet to happen?
Yes, no, and maybe. Let's dive deeper.
Obviously, the Patriots passing game is the fuel that runs the fire, though they have been running the ball nicely the past few weeks. Expect neither to result in great success against a Giants D that's seen more than it's share of trials the last few weeks. Stopping Brett Favre and Tony Romo isn't an easy task. The Giants defense is ready for the biggest offensive weapon in the history of the game, bank on it.
But can the offense keep up with the points the Patriots do score? Again, I say to you, yes. Eli Manning has been flawless in recent weeks and it seems silly to think that the Patriots will keep him in check when they had trouble doing that just one month ago. Plaxico Burress has never been hotter and he smoked one of the best corners in the game last week. Cap it with a bruising running game, and suddenly the Patty Cakes are in for a bigger fight than most anticipate.
Here's how I see it, the Giants are underdogs for a reason. They already lost to the Pats once, have lost six more games than them, and haven't got the record-breaking credentials. But in football, it all comes down to the expression made famous by Chris Berman. "That's why they play the games." It's why the Giants beat the Packers, it's why the Chargers beat the Colts, and it's why upsets happen every single day of NFL action.
Most importantly, it's why the Giants will win, 35-31.
*Dramatic Ending*
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