UNC: We May Never Know

Great news for Tarheel fans.

Lawson, Green and Ellington are all coming back to Chapel Hill. That, coupled with the return of Tyler Hansbrough allows the Heels to be the prohibitive favorites next season.

It also allows the rest of us to wonder:

How good is Tyler Hansbrough. Really.

We were looking forward to the departures of Lawson, Green and Ellington. Not because we wish ill will toward the Heels. But, we wanted Hansbrough to have the opportunity to prove to the world that he is one of the greatest collegiate players of all time.

Unfortunately, now he has so much returning support, that we won't really know if all the awards and praise are truly his.

Last season, Hansbrough was the Heels standout. The heart and soul of a talented team. But, certainly the leader.

We had hoped that Hansbrough would be given the opportunity to take his leadership ability and his relentless effort to the next level. To be put in a position in which he was the only option for success. To have the chance to prove once and for all that if he goes down as the greatest Heel of all time...that it is he, and not those other players, that deserve immortality.

Unfortunately, if he has a huge season and wins a title; we will be left forever to wonder:

Is Hansbrough that great, or is it those 5 or 6 athletic Negroes that make him seem so good.

Observation in Chapel Hill

A quick note of possible importance for next year's college basketball season.

One of our operatives was in Chapel Hill this past evening.

Enjoying the majesty of Franklin Street at the legendary Player's Dance Club (the PDC, Players...etc...whatever you choose to call it).

North Carolina basketball great Tyler Hansbrough was present.

Observations:

i. The TV adds a solid 20 pounds to him. Hansbrough is tall and thin (despite his muscular and mature appearance on TV) and in person, in street clothes, is nowhere near ready to play in the NBA.

ii. Hansbrough was drinking the Players' signature drink, 'Holy Grail'. A feminine concoction of small amounts of alcohol, beer and fruit juices. A staple of the PDC, and a favorite of management. Employees laugh at those that fall into the trap of thinking it is a high alcohol content drink. Why is this important? Because any budding NBA star who drinks two and ends up dancing, doing the white man overbite, is light years from being NBA ready.

iii. Hansbrough's female companion was not even 'desperate' NBA groupie caliber. Enough said.

iv. A well lubricated Hansbrough stated he would be back in Carolina Blue next year.


You don't have to believe us.

It doesn't matter.

We are just relaying (not reporting) what our operative heard and saw.

FInal Four: Preview and Prediction

As you are well aware, this year marks the first time that all four #1 seeds negotiated their way to the Final Four.

Here is the NOIS take on coming proceedings, and a prognostication that will certainly prove to be a righteous forecast.

UCLA: The grinding defense and potentially explosive offense is all predicated on the play of Darren Collison. Collison has set the tempo for the Bruins and his game management has allowed Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Josh Shipp to excel. The Bruins offer a rare combination of physical defense and explosive athleticism.

Memphis: The match up of point guard Derrick Rose and UCLA's Collision should prove to be one of the best of this year's tourney. The difference in this game should be the presence of Joey Dorsey in the front court. UCLA's Mbah a Moute and Lorence Mata are solid players, but the Bruins probably don't have an answer for Dorsey.

Outcome: Memphis, not a blowout, but comfortable.

Kansas: The Jaywalks eked out a close one against the Cinderella Stephen Curry's. The 'Hawks have also had some issues against teams with a strong inside game. That could pose a problem against the Tar Heels.

UNC: The 'Heels have the athletic depth to match any team in the country and should be able to match up with KU's strong perimeter game. The difference should be underneath. Marcus Ginyard, Deon Thompson, Danny Green and Wayne Ellington have been a collective force on the glass. And freshman Alex Stephenson has had some key 'bounds as well.

Prediction: UNC, in a pretty close game.