NIT: North Carolina @ Mississippi St.

• wildcats20

  

  Jesus.
  
  Dexter missed the front end of a 1 and 1 and then Henson fouls going for a loose ball.
  
  2 FT's coming for MSU to tie.
• wildcats20

  

  And he makes them both.
  
  Drew II hits a layup over Varnado with 2 secs left!!!
  
  Heels win!!!!!
• Azubuike24

  

  The alley-oop to Varnaro from Bost was one of the best I've seen in a LONG time. You just can't appreciate a pass from that distance and a one-handed finish like that enough.
• wildcats20

  

  I didn't see it, but I was coming back up the stairs and I heard the reaction.
  
  I love watching Varnado play, one hell of a defender.
• wildcats20

  

  Carolina now plays the winner of UAB/NC State.
  
  If State can pull the upset, Carolina will play another game back in Carmichael, if not they are headed to Birmingham.
  
  I would LOOOOOVE to see a game vs State in Carmichael, that place would be rockin'
• swamisez

  

  UNC vs. State at Carmichael would be a tougher ticket than any ticket sold in the triangle this season.
  
  Craziness. I doubt they will sell tix for 20 bucks like they did vs. W&M
• wildcats20

  

  Nope. Those tickets were originally selling for $40 too, they dropped the price because it was spring break for the students(I believe)
• hoops23

  

  Completely forgot about this game because I slept in late..
  
  Glad to see the Heels actually persevere and fight back for a win. This is why postseason play, no matter the tourney, is important because it gives the team more experience, especially in a tournament atmosphere.
  
  I'm hoping for a NC State win over UAB.
• wildcats20

  

  I didn't even watch the first half of Nova/St Mary's because of this. If the Heels continue this type of play, they will be at the Garden for the NIT Final Four.
  
  Honestly, I couldn't give a shit about the Big Dance this year.
• hoops23

  

  I'm paying attention to OSU because I still root for them as well.
  
  I also hope the worst for Duke, like a second round loss.
• wildcats20

  

  Well yeah, I mean those are givens.
• reclegend22

  

  Apparently, with Duke and UNC people, there really is no semblance. I hope OSU gets knocked on their ass in round two.
  
  Are you guys democrats -- ala big Dean -- as well?
• wildcats20

  

  Yes lol
  
  And for what it's worth, I had Duke losing to Louisville. But now that Cal beat the Cards, Duke will cruise into the Elite 8 IMO
• reclegend22

  

  Haha figured. North Carolina fans. Ugh.
  
  Actually, your prediction does make me feel happy. Although, the Cal game, much like the WVU game from two years ago, terrifies me. A team with supreme confidence and great guard play that just destroyed Rick Pitino's press is not a team to take lightly.
• reclegend22

  

  And the potential Baylor game in Houston would be a house of horrors for this Duke fan.
• Azubuike24

  

  Old Dominion is the team to fear. They can beat Baylor, and if Baylor has one of their "fall apart" games like they are prone too, ODU could smash Baylor.
• reclegend22

  

  So far, Baylor taking care of business. Still very early, though.
  
  I hope Baylor falls apart before the South regional final.
• Azubuike24

  

  Baylor really let ODU back in the game, but like they did against Sam Houston, really closed it out at the end and shut down ODU on defense.
  
  Baylor/St. Mary's will be about as contrasting of styles as you are going to find out there. That type of match-up is what things are all about.
• wildcats20

  

  Damn way to hijack my thread fellas!!! lol
  
  
  Carolina will be headed to Birmingham on Tuesday.
• ironman02

  Man, I really wanted Carolina to beat State a third time.
  
  Nice to see the Heels find a way to win a close ballgame in a tough environment. These NIT games seem to be helping this team, especially the young guys. Hopefully the Heels can continue to do some positive things and go into the off-season with some momentum.
  
  Great shot by Drew II to get the win, by the way. I really hope he decides to stick around Chapel Hill. Shooters are on the way, LDII.
• hoops23

  

  Yeah, I hope DrewII sticks around. He could be a good game manager if he wasn't relied on to do too much.
  
  He's got some good playmaking ability and I like him as a player.
• wildcats20

  

  I liked what I saw out of Larry yesterday. He managed the game very well and took shots when they came to him. The last play of the game, no doubt, was supposed to go to Graves; but Larry saw an opening in splitting a triple team and making the lefty lay up over Varnado.
  
  I really hope he sticks around, we need a TRUE PG next year. Not a combo guard who tries to play PG a la Dexter Strickland(even though I LOOOOVE his game).
• ironman02

  Marshall will end up being a very good PG at Carolina, but like Drew II, he's not in the mold of a Lawson or Felton. If Drew II does end up leaving, Carolina will be in the same position at PG that they were in this season...an inexperienced PG running the show, and as you said, a combo guard playing back-up PG. It would be nice to have a junior Larry Drew II leading the team (if he's committed to it), rather than a true freshman, even if he is talented.
  
  This off-season will be VERY important to Carolina basketball for the forseeable future.
• hoops23

  

  I have to admit, I haven't followed the story about DrewII and why he's thinking about leaving.. It kind of took me by surprise actually..
  
  Is it because of the class coming in next year? Family?
• ironman02

  I honestly don't know what the deal is, LTrain23.
  
  I've read a lot of rumors, but it basically seems like Drew II just isn't happy in Chapel Hill and doesn't get along that well with his teammates, outside of Davis and Watts. If the rumors are true, he's thinking about transferring closer to home in California, maybe to UCLA or a smaller school like Pepperdine.
  
  There's talk of Davis leaving for the NBA and there are transfer rumors about Drew II, McDonald, and Watts. I've even heard that Graves, who is scheduled to graduate this Spring, may choose not to return for his final year of eligibility. In the end, I think it's looking like Davis leaves, Drew II transfers, and maybe Watts transfers also.
  
  Even with all the rumors, I'm fairly certain that next year's team will have the following players:
  
  Graves
  Zeller
  Henson
  Strickland
  D. Wear
  T. Wear
  McDonald
  Barnes
  Bullock
  Marshall
  
  Davis, Drew, and Watts are question marks, in my opinion.
  
  If there are early departures/transfers, I think Carolina might try to pick up another player for next year's class. It would be nearly impossible to snag one of the big names left out there, but it seems as though the staff is showing interest in a JUCO point guard, which seems to indicate that the Drew II rumors have some truth to them.