Lunardi with some bulletin board material for our guys...

[wardle2wade]

On the "Experts" panel on ESPNU today...

Joe Lunardi:  "I don't think there's a guy on Marquette who could crack the top on UNC.  I think this is an easy win for the Tar Heels."  Also said UNC dodged a bullet vs Washington and their length.

On the other hand, Dino Gaudio was very complimentary saying the MU players are junkyard dogs and Marquette is one of the toughest teams in the country.  Dino believes UNC is in for a real challenge.

Personally, I have full faith that MU will prove Joey wrong and compete this weekend... I don't believe UNC's defense is anywhere as good as Syracuse.

Should be a fun one.

[NickelDimer]

I know this much, UNC better bring their hardhats and lunch pails.  If they try to win pretty they're gonna get punched in the mouth.

[Wade for President]

I know this much, UNC better bring their hardhats and lunch pails.  If they try to win pretty they're gonna get punched in the mouth.

So true.  Que the heavy rotations.

Friday can't come soon enough!

[NersEllenson]

I know this much, UNC better bring their hardhats and lunch pails.  If they try to win pretty they're gonna get punched in the mouth.

That's cause it ain't a beauty contest!!  At the risk of sounding like a fanboy again of Buzz - I've got to say if you are Roy Williams and saw that halftime interview of Buzz - you pretty much know his team is going to be f'in bring it.

[JD]

That's cause it ain't a beauty contest!!  At the risk of sounding like a fanboy again of Buzz - I've got to say if you are Roy Williams and say that halftime interview of Buzz - you pretty much know his team is going to be f'in bring it.

Did you have a link to the interview?

Thanks.

[nyg]

Need to get Zeller and Barnes in some foul trouble and MU will have a shot.  Their frontline of Barnes, Zeller and Henson are very talented, but not as deep as you would expect.  Would be great to make Lunardi eat his words.

[NersEllenson]

Need to get Zeller and Barnes in some foul trouble and MU will have a shot.  Their frontline of Barnes, Zeller and Henson are very talented, but not as deep as you would expect.  Would be great to make Lunardi eat his words.

I can Gardner getting in for a few minutes when Henson is out of the game..Henson's length could cause DG problems.  I can see Gardner abusing Zeller thru his brute strength - much the way he did Plumlee and Duke.  Jimmy can neutralize Barnes - this a $$$$ opportunity for JFB - he shuts Barnes down..his stock keeps going up.  Buzz will play that up...

[buckchuckler]

Granted I haven't seen a ton of UNC games, but it doesn't seem like they play defense at all.  I like our chances against anyone in run out, high scoring game.  Especially if our D can continue to be tough and force turnovers.

[brewcity77]

Granted I haven't seen a ton of UNC games, but it doesn't seem like they play defense at all.  I like our chances against anyone in run out, high scoring game.  Especially if our D can continue to be tough and force turnovers.

That's not really the case, I suspect because they play so fast that people don't realize just how good their defense is. They have the 8th most efficient defense in the country according to kenpom.com. You don't get that by playing bad defense.

Looking at their losses this year, 4/7 came to teams that played significantly slower than UNC's #16-rated tempo. Those losses were all to teams at 141 or lower on the tempo chart (Minnesota, Vandy, Illinois, Texas). Their other three losses were to Georgia Tech and Duke twice. I think Duke can be chalked up to simple talent. Georgia Tech I'm not so sure, just seems like UNC was awful on offense, shooting below 28% for the game. If I were Buzz, that's the game I'd look at. Teams that play really fast but lack UNC's talent tend to stay in the game against them but lose at the end (see Washington, Long Beach State). We need to play it at our pace, maybe slow them down a bit, and crack down on defense.