Hit up TarheelDaily....Check it out this article about three things that I would like to see instituted back into the UNC Basketball program. I appear weekly as a guest columnist along with my appearances on WXYC FM 89.3 Chapel Hill for Sunday Night SportsRap, Sundays 9-10PM, and for SoulGrooves on Wednesdays 6-8AM. Scroll on down to the article, and email me if you want to discuss my opinions.....BD

Felton/Paul Round One

December 25, 2003

Libraries are closed, and you don't have to wait in line for chai teas at Caribou Coffee in Chapel Hill. Yet, the conversation is still buzzing around the Hill about last Saturday's game, and most often the question comes up. Was the 119-114 3OT game, the greatest ever played in the Smith Center last Saturday?

For me, I always thought that the UNC-Duke game of 1992 was pound for pound the best game. However, the drama and the overtimes of that Wake game may push that one over the edge....

So while the UNC Basketball world steers the bus toward Sunday's game in Myrtle Beach, let's take a look at some things from last week.

***** First off, the Raymond Felton-Chris Paul match-up lived up to every kindling of hype that was thrown onto the bonfire over the last few weeks. The match-up was just incredible…..

Who got the best of who?

It's almost like asking who won the Frazier-Ali I fight at the Garden. If Frazier doesn't knock down Ali in the 15th round, does he get the decision? Well, if UNC gets the W, would you give Raymond the decision?

Paul's speed is mind-blowing, and right off the first possession he showed he's for real when he through a beautiful give and go pass to Taron Downey. His performance puts him right into the top ranks of the nation's top point guards along with Felton, Jameer Nelson of St. Joseph's, and Chris Thomas of Notre Dame.

However, looking at crucial points of the game, who really showed up in crunch time? At several major points in the game, the freshman Paul made some wild turnovers, and when Carolina needed Felton, he did step up. Felton's drive at the end of the first half may have shown Coach Williams who may be the go-to-guy in future situations.

The shame of the match-up is that Felton had to leave the 2nd OT with a cramp. There was a major momentum shift that was lost the moment Paul fouled out and Felton was forced to leave the game at the same time. If Felton doesn't get that cramp, you probably would have found him screaming for the ball at the end of the 2nd OT.

With Paul out of the game with his fifth foul, there may have been a different outcome…..

All said and done while looking at the individual performances, I still give the edge to Felton because of his ability to score. However, I'm blown away by the kid from Winston-Salem…..

Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 7. The rematch is a nationally televised game with Billy Packer and Jim Nantz calling the game on CBS….Let's hope for a Thrilla in Manila in Greensboro at the beginning of March with the ACC Tournament.

***** If you're looking for a symbol of evidence to measure how great of a coaching job Coach Williams is doing with this team, and I can't believe I'm going to say this…..Look at Jackie Manuel.

Is this the same guy from last year, who would launch threes with the shooting form of an eighth-grader's? Well, he's growing into a phenomenal defensive player, who has learned to focus his talents on the other end by slashing and playing his role.

Manuel is letting the game come to him, which is quite a big difference when you compare his performance in the Wake game, 5-7 for 10 points and 0 Turnovers in 29 minutes of play, to the same time last year with his performance at the Garden against Iona, 2-7 FGs, 0-3 from 3PT. land and 5 Turnovers.

A well-coached Manuel is now providing a Carolina type player that has never been seen before in Chapel Hill. If his development continues, Coach Williams could have a guy that easily resembles some of the scrap-iron tough and spider armed defensive players that played for UNLV, Georgetown, and Arkansas in the early 90's. Could Manuel become a miniature Stacey Augmon during his UNLV days? That would make for something very different in Carolina's arsenal.
What a difference a year makes…..

***** After a WXYC field trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium to watch the Duke/Princeton and an hour of the Duke/Texas game on Saturday, the same argument that's made against Carolina has to be held upon Duke. No Depth.

When you really think about it, how deep does Duke really go?

They have a nice first six with Redick, Randolph, Williams, Duhon, Deng, and Ewing, but does a bewildered Sean Dockery and raw Lee Melchionni really spell trouble for opponents. After watching that Wake/Carolina game, should Duke really be at #3? Then again, should Stanford be at #6?

***** Headed down to South Carolina this week to put some hands in the wounds at the 2003 Beach Ball Classic. Click here for previews and info on the match-ups. I'll have some treats for you to kick off the 2004.

May everyone play James Brown's Christmas Collection this year….

Peace and Silver Bells,
BD

Bret Dougherty is a UNC-Chapel Hill alum and current graduate student at UNC-Chapel Hill. Bret is a co-host of WXYC SportsRap (9 PM Sundays on FM 89.3 & www.wxyc.org). He also has a SoulGroove music show on Wednesday mornings from 6-8 AM on WXYC. His area of study is "The Revitalization of Public Spaces".

Resume