UNC vs. Florida International

This season kind of snuck up on me a little bit.  My apologies for not getting a preview sent out!

The first game of the season was last night again Florida International University.  FIU brought with them a new coach, Isaiah Thomas.  (Yes; the very same Isaiah Thomas that beat us in the 1981 National Championship Game.)

Some interesting things have happened in Isaiah’s life in the mean time: He won a couple of NBA titles with the Pistons and then tried coaching and being GM of some NBA teams.  Somehow he also found enough time to sexually harass at least one employee and, according to Magic Johnson, develop a severe case of homophobia.

As a side note to this game, Isaiah is pretty much a baby.  Earlier this year he pitched a fit because the 2K Coaches vs. Cancer planners made FIU play Carolina instead of Ohio State.  (Note to Isaiah: Get yourself a string of 20 win seasons and several NCAA Final Four appearances and then you can pick who you play in the early tournaments.  Until then, SHUT UP!)

Carolina wiped the floor with FIU last night 88-72.  Deon Thompson poured in 20 points and snagged 10 rebounds to lead all Tar Heels.  Ed Davis and Marcus Ginyard added 13 and 12 respectively.

Overall the Heels shot 56% from the floor while holding FIU to 37%.  This is a testament to the size of the Tar Heels.  As I watched last night I noticed that we were contesting EVERY SHOT.  This is a much welcomed departure from last year’s tendency to just try and out-score everybody.

There are a few things to remember about this year’s team.  We are young and we are tall.  We will make mistakes.  Last night we had 26 turnovers, which allowed FIU to put up some points they wouldn’t have probably scored on our defense.  We will get creamed in conference play if we continue to turn the ball over.

Tomorrow night the Heels take on NCCU in Chapel Hill.  Look for that preview tomorrow!  I hope you all are as excited about this edition of Carolina Basketball as I am!

Let’s get some game watch parties going ON!!  Feel free to send this to anyone and everyone and point them to my website!