In Honor of UNC @ State

This post comes in honor of the State game tomorrow.

First, IC did a neat breakdown of the last ten UNC/NCSU basketball games. I didn't read it the first 15 times I went to IC while it was on the homepage, but as I just wandered over there in need of a break from my computer program, I found myself reading, and thoroughly enjoying it. All but one took place while I've been at UNC. What an interesting ride it's been. Next, on to the game tomorrow. On paper, we should win this game, in much the same fashon that we won the first game in Chapel Hill. Even is State is able to force their tempo (which they were not able to do on 2/3/05), we have shown over the last few games that we can play an ugly half court win and still turn it into a blowout.

Fortunatly for State, this game isn't played on paper. First of all, especially for State, this is a rivalry game, so you can never go purely on what should happen. State has shown it can beat good teams, sweeping both Maryland and GT this season. (Then again, they've also managed home losses to UVa and FSU.) Still, if State can keep it ugly, this game won't come easy for the Heels.

All that said, in the end, I still see the Heels proving to be too much for the pack. At the end of a closely faught first half, Carolina goes on a run, going up 45-34 at the half. State makes it's run in the second, but never takes the lead, as UNC pulls away mid-second half to win, 82-69.