The Goat Pen

I like the name "Lucky Johnson"

I don't know what to make of this team. I want to say they suck, but they actually continue to impress me. The real fact is, they're not that good, compared to other really good UNC teams, but they're not bad, either. They are probably ranked exactly where they deserve, somewhere in the 10-15 range. This is the type of team that is going to rattle off some wins (like they are currently doing) but then lay an egg in the second round or definitely the Sweet 16. Hate to say it, though, but if everybody on this team comes back next year (and they all should), we should be pretty damn good next year. And I hope they surprise me this year...

will Roy be back is the ?

Unless he's forced out. If everybody comes back, next year's team is a legit title contender, and probably the favorite. If he wants to leave after that, god bless him. End on a high note...

I see Roy moving on.

this is the first year where I can remember UNC fans getting on Roy.

I'm not talking about the TarheelDogs and Goldenbrea''s but just normal fans with more than a casual interest in the program

now I'm sure Roy is feeling the love again with the win streak but he's a fickle, thin skinned son of a gun and he started snapping back at Kansas fans when they got on him.

Couple that with the shit hanging over UNC - did anyone notice the NCAA going after SMU for one inappropriate action? So if they do plan to get UNC skate, that is horrible timing for that announcement.

Not to mention Syracuse is out there flapping in the wind waiting for their judgement day.

I'm not saying he's gone for sure but I'd bet 65/35 on Roy being gone, although I was feeling much more sure about it say 1 month ago.

Like I said. He's gonna move on. He's made his pile of cash and his Grandchildren will never have to work in their lifetime. Finishing out a decent career at the University Of Hawaii, Miami, UCLA, or any other tropical school is just icing on his cake.

If Roy knows the NCAA is going to come down on UNC (or at least try), he would probably go. I have no gauge whatsoever on that program (or any others) anymore so I can only offer the obvious.

But I doubt that all of UNC's players are coming back. That never happens. Meeks is probably a 1st round pick now with his retooled body so he's probably gone and who knows about Paige.

I've all but checked out of college hoops because of the OADs. I have more interest in the NBA now, which is to say hardly any and virtually none in the college game. Never thought that would happen but the game has changed due to OADs and it's hard to get excited about the 1-year window. Plus, Kentucky is just dominating and that sucks, too.

Roy caint coach.

I doubt Paige or Meeks will leave after this year, unless one of them just blows up over the next two months. Meeks is still too soft for the league, hasn't gotten used to his new body yet, he needs another year and knows it. Paige could possibly go, but he's still pretty slight and nowhere near the talent (or size) of Steph Curry, who he will be compared to. Plus he is comfortable in Chapel Hill. Brice Johnson has steadily improved and I think will continue to. Same with Hicks to a lesser degree, but he if he continues as he has so far, he should be pretty good next year. The two freshmen, Jackson and Pinson have got talent, another year under their belts they'll both be solid contributors next year, and Jackson could be better than that. Even Britt is starting to look pretty good, by next year he will be a seasoned veteran. And Pocono also continues to improve. If they all stay, and I think they will, that will be Roy's blueprint type of championship team, talented veterans who know the system completely. Anything short of a FF next year will be a colossal failure and we should be the favorites to win it all. Then Roy can retire...

If they won the conference regular season and tournament championships and the national championship by beating Dook four times, I would beg Roy to retire because he could never top it.

hedge wrote:I doubt Paige or Meeks will leave after this year, unless one of them just blows up over the next two months. Meeks is still too soft for the league, hasn't gotten used to his new body yet, he needs another year and knows it. Paige could possibly go, but he's still pretty slight and nowhere near the talent (or size) of Steph Curry, who he will be compared to. Plus he is comfortable in Chapel Hill. Brice Johnson has steadily improved and I think will continue to. Same with Hicks to a lesser degree, but he if he continues as he has so far, he should be pretty good next year. The two freshmen, Jackson and Pinson have got talent, another year under their belts they'll both be solid contributors next year, and Jackson could be better than that. Even Britt is starting to look pretty good, by next year he will be a seasoned veteran. And Pocono also continues to improve. If they all stay, and I think they will, that will be Roy's blueprint type of championship team, talented veterans who know the system completely. Anything short of a FF next year will be a colossal failure and we should be the favorites to win it all. Then Roy can retire...

you may be the favorites to win it all - but UK will have Ulis, Poythress, Lee, Willis , & Hawkins returning (and possibly Lyles) and who knows how Duke will play out. Who will they lose in addition to Okafor?

We won't have any veteran big men, but we'll be adding the #1 center in Skal Labassierre, yet another point guard in Briscoe, and a shooting guard Charles Matthews and I would expect commitments from at least two more top 30 based on past history

Cal has a huge heading looming though because the twins haven't played well enough to go pro - Andrew has tanked since the Louisville game and their game is too centric to each other. The last thing Cal wants is 5* Briscoe sitting on the bench while he feels obligated to play one of the twins.

hedge wrote:I doubt Paige or Meeks will leave after this year, unless one of them just blows up over the next two months. Meeks is still too soft for the league, hasn't gotten used to his new body yet, he needs another year and knows it. Paige could possibly go, but he's still pretty slight and nowhere near the talent (or size) of Steph Curry, who he will be compared to. Plus he is comfortable in Chapel Hill. Brice Johnson has steadily improved and I think will continue to. Same with Hicks to a lesser degree, but he if he continues as he has so far, he should be pretty good next year. The two freshmen, Jackson and Pinson have got talent, another year under their belts they'll both be solid contributors next year, and Jackson could be better than that. Even Britt is starting to look pretty good, by next year he will be a seasoned veteran. And Pocono also continues to improve. If they all stay, and I think they will, that will be Roy's blueprint type of championship team, talented veterans who know the system completely. Anything short of a FF next year will be a colossal failure and we should be the favorites to win it all. Then Roy can retire...

Every player in college basketball this and any year needs another year of seasoning. That's not the point. The point is that players will leave when they have attained a draft ranking, usually in the first half of the 1st round, sufficient to warrant taking the risk. For some, it's just the 1st rd and a guaranteed deal and for others, it's just being drafted.

I'd be very surprised if Meeks isn't a projected 1st rd pick and even more surprised if he stays. The NBA draft is all about potential, not what can you do next year.

And this is why I hate college hoops now. The perpetual discussion of "if they all stay" that goes nowhere for 7 months and falls apart each May. It's restock and/or reload and then hope that you have enough 18 or 19 yr olds to mesh well enough to be playing well in late Feb and March. If I were Hugh Hefner and those teenagers were women, I'd have that kind of patience watching it develop. But I'm not and they're not and I've lost interest in watching them try.

Roy actually has a rep of keeping kids when they could go pro

Saint wrote:And this is why I hate college hoops now. The perpetual discussion of "if they all stay" that goes nowhere for 7 months and falls apart each May. It's restock and/or reload and then hope that you have enough 18 or 19 yr olds to mesh well enough to be playing well in late Feb and March. If I were Hugh Hefner and those teenagers were women, I'd have that kind of patience watching it develop. But I'm not and they're not and I've lost interest in watching them try.

Mark me, boy: Everybody stays, we win it all next year and everybody hails Roy as a genius. Mark me!

eCat wrote:Roy actually has a rep of keeping kids when they could go pro

Well, Hansbrough and Lawson, mainly. Maybe Barnes and that other guy.

Hansbrow wanted to stay, he wanted to win a title and get his jersey retired. He knew that UNC was going to be the pinnacle of his basketball career and he was correct. Nothing wrong with that. I think a bit of that same mentality might be in play with Marcus Paige. Lawson obviously could've gone after his sophomore year with the same results as he has gotten, not sure why he didn't, but I'm glad he didn't. For my money, he's the best pg we've ever had, certainly the best since Phil Ford and maybe better than Ford...

Heh, you're assuming Skal will be eligible...that's cute...

Dave23 wrote:Heh, you're assuming Skal will be eligible...that's cute...

Absolutely....