Editor's Note: Last night our man Doyle caught up with the famous Dahm Triplets (the triplets have been in Daytona for the big race and advertising their three woman show "The Famous Dahm Triplets"). Not only do the ladies write their own stage shows and design their own costumes, turns out they are rabid hoops fans and fine essayists to boot. Here's what they told Doyle, who asks that we send them his love and his apologies, whatever that means:

Roy Williams is a straight shooting son-of-a-gun. He likes Coke. He probably wears slippers around the house. He doesn’t drink scotch or go to wine parties with his psychiatrists. He is the salt. We know firsthand, we partied with him at a Hooters opening once where we did a PA (personal appearance). He’s good people.

And if he thinks this is gonna help his team’s chances in Cameron on March 8, and in the ACC tourney, he is more delusional than we thought. Payback is, in a word we normally hate to use because of our liberated agenda, a bitch.

In this his senior season, when we’ve needed him most, Q has come through. It’s reminiscent of past Heels who were considered works-in-progress or “never-lived-up-to-their-billing” disappointments in the eyes of (shit)Heel basketball fans, but who came through during their final seasons to stiffen the backbone and vastly improve the lot of their teams. Guys like Madden, Hunter, Phelps, Colescott, and Noel.

Who wouldn’t gush over Q’s heart and effort at this point? Or his poise and his handle? Bambi’s brother has cut down on the frantic episodes that had too often marred his play. Over the last four starts (FSU essentially a start for him) Q has an assist-to-turnover ratio that would make Chris Corchianni pissy with envy. He’s brushing against 2:1, which ain’t too shabby. But more than that, it’s his leadership that has made the biggest difference. Outside of Tyler Hansbrough, Q has been the biggest reason for these last two gutsy wins.

Hansbrough made it clear how he felt about Q’s onions after the Clemson comeback victory when he said: “I think there was a period where some people were down, but I think some guys picked some people up, especially Quentin. He came in there, and he really got after us, and I think he picked up the whole team.”

More gushing for Q from the hardest-working-Heel, “He said to us ‘We can't be playing like this,’ especially the way we did in the first half. And I think he lifted us all.”

Amen, uplifting indeed.

There's an interesting breakdown of Ty Lawson's game and his pro prospects by Jonathan Givony over at DraftExpress. Here are a few highlights. It's worth a read.

There’s probably no better time to evaluate Ty Lawson’s contribution to North Carolina than right now, after sitting out the last four games with a high ankle sprain and giving us a chance to see just what he means to his team. North Carolina has struggled in every game he’s missed so far, losing one to Duke, needing overtime to defeat Clemson at home, and then struggling to defeat some of the worst teams in the ACC on the road against Florida State and Virginia. It’s pretty clear by now that they miss Lawson, and any talk of him just being a product of their system has been proven to be incorrect. From what we can tell—he is actually the key to the way they play. Look no further than the fact that they score 92.1 points per game with Lawson in their lineup, and “only” 83.4 points without him.

Defensively, we find mostly a mixed bag. On one hand, Lawson is very physical, strong, with superb lateral quickness, capable of staying in front of almost any point guard and being very pesky contesting shots. He also does an excellent job getting in the passing lanes, and will ignite some one-man fast breaks all by himself every game by picking up a couple of steals.

Should any reader doubt that Coach K's humanitarian record comes any shorter against Dean Smith's generosity than his record against Smith on the hardwood (that would be 14-28 lifetime), rest easy! Coach K's web site now features a page called "Share Your Coach K Story," and sweet mother of Jesus, are there stories to be told. In the past, we've taken our shots at Herr K, and so in the interest of fairness, we've decided to let him toot his own horn right here on our front page.

This unedited testimonial, entitled "Coach K has inspired and touched the lives of countless individuals and is Respected by everyone" features a "fiancee" with Substance Abuse Disease and Coach K supplying the miracle cure. Read it and weep. Please. Then perhaps send the site your own testimonial?

Prior to my Freshman year in High School, 1994, I was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. I attended Duke Basketball Camp, and I was able to meet and have my picture taken with Coach K. This picture has always been proudly displayed since that day, and still today after relocating to Salt Lake City, Utah, it is one of my most treasured possessions. I have endured many challenges and trials following that memorable opportunity to meet and speak with Coach K. I became hopeless as I never achieved the success I dreamed about on the court. Needless to say, this was the part of my life that was the easiest event for me to overcome. I completed college at a small Liberal Arts College in Annville, PA, Lebanon Valley College, where I actually was blessed with the opportunity to play on a Division III Nationally Ranked Basketball team. Following graduation, I remained employed at my employer that I worked for since I was 17 years old. Then, what I thought to be an amazing career advancement opportunity was presented to me, as well as the opportunity to move to Salt Lake City to be with my girlfriend. I have experienced many medical conditions, in addition to supporting my now Fiancee' during her recovery from a Substance Abuse Disease. I have always possessed a very large heart, and no matter the consequences, I never would allow a person in need of help or assistance to be passed by or given up on. My prayers were answered as she is now in recovery from her disease, and had been clean since my employer discharged me following one year of employment. Needless to say, as I accepted the position, I was mislead about the work conditions, promise of a work/life balance, as well as proper training and assistance from my directors. So, I have been left hopeless all due to helping my Fiancee' get well, and due to my conditions I was entitled to reasonable accommodations that were never given any attention. This past Friday, however, I received a blessing of finally being diagnosed with the underlying chronic condition I have been experiencing for quit a long time, Bipolar Disorder. As frightening as I was when informed of my diagnosis, I finally have a renewed sense of hope in my life that was being destroyed each day. I quickly realized my need to come to grips with my disorder, and I can now live a life that is so called "normal" with proper treatment and counseling. Sorry for the long history of my life, and that was the short version, haha. I just wanted to let you know, Coach K, that I began reading your book, Leading with the Heart. I have forever been a Duke fanatic, and I remember the exact moment when I fell in love with the Duke Basketball Program. It was the game at the Meadowlands Arena when Christian L. hit the turn-around jumper from the foul line, following a perfect pass from Grant Hill. I remember praying during the TV commercials for God to help Duke pull off, what ended up being one if not the greatest moment in NCAA History! I also have to rank it up there with the comeback win against Maryland with 1 min. and 1 sec. to go and Duke trailed by 10 or 11 points. Then, Jason Williams scored 11 points in less than a minute I think to take the game into OT. As I reflect back upon these moments, I believe it was your leadership philosophy and the players knowing that YOU believed they could come back and win! As I have begun reading your book, it has provided me with a great help as I pursue a new career opportunity. You have proven that your leadership and approach to coaching, leadership, and business will lead to success! This current Duke team, as all Duke teams, I always have confidence because of the leadership and morals they gain from you. This will be a magical year, and you can count on my work that Duke will win the NCAA Championship! Well, I apologize for rambling, I just wanted you to know the impact you have made upon my life, as well as countless others who I do not even know. Thank you for everything, and as I approach a new career, I am following the blueprint you have established. I am doing this because I know it will never fail! I wish you, your family, and the Duke team the best of luck and may God's blessings be with you each and every day! Thank you for taking the time to allow me to thank you, and for listening even though you do not know me! Respectfully, Erik

Doyle: Desmond, you mountainfuck of ignorance! Regardless of whether Singleton goes off against our hapless guards, as you call them, the key to this game is in the paint. I'd expect Tyler to get 46 if he wasn't coming off a Herculean effort just 48 hours ago. But as it is, he'll only drop 33 or so. Even without Lawson, the Heels should win in a cakewalk. How easily we forget about Deon Thompson's stronger play of late. To paraphrase Pitino: Wally Walker ain't walking through that door. Mark Ivarone ain't walking through that door. Hell, even Tom Sheehey ain't walking through that door. Heels win in a romp, 92-68.

One-Eye'd Dick: There's a big game in Charlottesville tonight, and that reminds me of something: how great does Coach K have those Dukies playing, baby?! I mean, you really have to hand it to him to take this rag-tag group of kids who are still learning the ropes and get them to perform at such a high level considering their modest backgrounds! I can't say enough about them even though I never stop! Ever, baby! Now that I've got my voice back, and I thank god every day for it, I am not going to waste a minute -- I raise my voice to the sky and shout for the world to hear! I really do! Watch out for those Duke Blue Devils from Durham, North Carolina my friends!]]> http://www.collegehoopsgazette.com/blog/archives/2008/02/virginia_pregame_our_three_pre.php http://www.collegehoopsgazette.com/blog/archives/2008/02/virginia_pregame_our_three_pre.php Main Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:39:03 -0500

Maybe we're reading too much into a few of the quotes we've read from Roy Williams since Ty Lawson's ankle injury, but he seems to be calling out his player in a way doesn't quite read simply as easy-going, aw-shucks goofing around. Asked when Lawson would return, on Monday Williams said, "I don't know that there is a timetable. I think we've just got to wait until he starts feeling better with it. The kid's not been hurt very often and kids that haven't been hurt think that sometimes things have to be perfect before they come back. That could be part of Tywon's deal. But at the same time it still hurts. We're just going to have to wait until it stops hurting."

He's clearly saying he's not sure if Ty is giving him the straight scoop, or rather, that Ty himself knows what it is. Fair enough, perhaps. But Williams does have a habit of questioning his guys, to say nothing of ripping his players in the press after poor performances. Particularly for their defensive efforts. Or foibles, as the case may be.

This is no great sin, but it sure is different than what Roy's mentor Dean ever did, and sometimes it makes us scratch our heads here at the main office. Most of us, anyhow. Doyle Hargraves paces around the office pulling his hair and and reminds us that, as he understands it, Roy has lost teams late in the year when this strategy backfires on an exhausted group. We'll see what happens. But boy do we miss Mr. Lawson.

]]> http://www.collegehoopsgazette.com/blog/archives/2008/02/why_is_roy_calling_out_ty_laws.php http://www.collegehoopsgazette.com/blog/archives/2008/02/why_is_roy_calling_out_ty_laws.php Main Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:11:44 -0500

The great thing about Duke is that opponents don't have to doctor videos or photoshop pictures. Those guys just let it all hang out there for the world to see. First they grind their groins together in celebration (see below). Now this. Not that it wouldn't be fun to drop Dick Vitale's voice into the scene here, calling the play-by-play... not that there's anything wrong with it.

]]> http://www.collegehoopsgazette.com/blog/archives/2008/02/duke_is_at_it_again.php http://www.collegehoopsgazette.com/blog/archives/2008/02/duke_is_at_it_again.php Main Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:56:35 -0500

There is reason to feel queasy about tonight's game. Ty Lawson's ankle may keep him out of the game, and if so, the Tar Heels simply cannot expect to run their offense as they'd like to. In fact, the expected quickness advantage goes to Duke, at least in terms of running the break off of defensive pressure. Suddenly finding ourselves the underdogs, we here at CHG will abstain from making predictions, especially just a few days removed from the recent unexpectedness of the Super Bowl.

Should you be worried and need firing up, or worry about the Heels' own level of fire, try this article from the Fayetteville Observer, in which Ty Hansbrough appears to be nursing a grudge with Duke and Coach K, typically, shows his ass.

Speaking of which, in this piece from IC, Coach K expresses doubt about the extend of Lawson's injury (he has a habit of doubting our players can actually be hurt, doesn't he?).

And lastly, here's what Roy has to say about the state of Lawson's ankle. May it improve mightily during the course of the afternoon... we'll finish by quoting Hansbrough and we'll keep our fingers crossed:

“You know how fast [Lawson] is and what he brings to the court. But also, I think that ‘Q’ is going to step up big for us.”

I’ve got three pet peeves: the first being ladies like my cousin Jenni, leaving shoes in the middle of the gawddamn floor!!! Second is an otherwise-talented, well coached basketball team not locking up or rotating out on great wide-open three point shooters. (Not normal, not good, not a freakin’ afterthought-to-their offensive-philosophy shooters, but great, and potent 3 point marksmen). Third, and mostly, I cannot abide said team not playing solid, consistent, brick-wall team defense! Not when it is my frickin’ team! These Heels don’t stop “no drive, twelve feet in!!!” Sorry Roy.

Do not doubt for a minute that Coach K has tweaked his entire program to compete with the juggernaut that Roy Williams has awakened just down the block from his ESPN-sponsored ‘corner’ of the college basketball precinct.
The spank-down that Roy has put on him over the past few years, usually without the same level of experience, or overall talent, or his kids’ acumen for his ‘system,’ has changed the way K recruits and coaches. Tonight, it will be enough. Down the line, who is to say? Well, me: UNC and Williams will own Duke for the foreseeable future.

Overall UNC has the advantage in individual talent, except for Gerald Henderson, obviously. As a team, however, they are woefully behind the Devils. They do not play team defense. They do not stop the dribble. They do not help out in the paint. They do not see man-you-ball. They do not aggressively close-out on shooters. Most of all, they don’t run a half-court set. Ever. That is a recipe for shit stew against the Blue Devils.

Sadly, inevitably, the Devils win by 12, 88-76.

If you want proof of how beautiful and peaceful it is here on campus, don’t take my word for it! You should go visit Princeton University, an authentic Ivy League school that copied Duke’s architecture almost building for building! Copying from someone else’s ideas is the highest form of flattery! Shakespeare said that so it must be right! The Princeton Tigers, baby! The Princeton Offense! I’ll bet Shakespeare would’ve seen the poetry involved in that, especially when young John Thompson the Third was running it. What a special father-son relationship there is between Thompson the Elder and his incredible 1984 National Championship team and his son now running the Georgetown program who got them back to the Final Four last season! Symmetry, baby! Climbing up the family tree, baby!

Makes you wish Coach K and his lovely wife Mickie had had sons so they could carry on the family coaching lineage! Of course, they have three outstanding daughters who are wonderful people if not much to look at! Not that I don’t sometimes look anyhow! If I weren’t so old and bald, and if only my plastic surgery had gone better, who’s to say I wouldn’t have made a move on one of them and married into Basketball’s First Family! I’m serious! But hey, like I tell Mickie, the day Coach K finally has that aneurism on the court and goes to that great Fixed Game with Terrified Refs in the Sky, I’ll be right there should she want companionship! Like I told her, I’d even change my name to hers, so that I’d be Dickie Krzyzewski, baby! Mickie and Dickie! And all those daughters! I’d be surrounded in Krzyzewski! Ensconced! I’m starting to tingle here and Mike Patrick isn’t within 10 miles of me!

So yes, recuperating here at Duke has really been something special! But Coach K finally told me it was time to move forward with life! He said it’s time to get back in the game! He said the world missed me! He said ratings were suffering!

Actually, what he said was that it’s inappropriate for me to be waiting for the team in the sauna after they practice and that he didn’t like the looks I’ve been giving Mickie after dinner while I’m doing the dishes at his place! But that’s his way! Tough love! Just ask J.J. Redick about the time Coach K smashed a picture of him off the wall and told him he deserved to lose because he didn’t have the heart of a champion! Nothing says to a young, impressionable kid “I love you, son” like the combination of violent actions and words! And think about how beautifully Redick played under tournament pressure after such treatment!

Are you kidding me!? Coach K leads with his heart! And that’s led me out the door and back to courtside, where I have to tell you, I like Duke’s chances! With Ty Lawson hurt and Gerald Henderson looking to settle the score after unfairly being run over by Tyler Hansbrough in last year’s regular-season finale, I don’t see that Carolina has much chance!

There’s no shame in being abused by the boys in Dark Blue, though! Trust me on this, Tar Heels!

One of the criticisms and concerns we've had about this year's model of Tar Heels is that they've looked sluggish and disengaged at times, despite kicking ass in most of their games. And we've suggested that our weak defense, especially help D, might be a product of the team simply having a finite amount of energy at this stage of the season. If they're going to run constantly, at some point they're going to find time to rest. Either physically or mentally, or both. And as a consequence, the D suffers.

Possible cure? Last night's use of a 5-for-5 substitution against Boston College. Think about it -- regular use of a Blue Team would serve a number of purposes, not least of which would be disorienting and disheartening our opponents. We've sure as hell got the horses to pull it off for stretches, despite claims that we aren't all that deep. And when guys like Copeland and even QT come in, they play their asses off, especially on D (okay, their skills might be limited on this point, but enthusiasm and determination count -- they sure seem to inspire the starters when those guys return to the game).

Bring it on, Roy. Twice a game make the wholesale changeover. Might be the last piece of our puzzle. And it's as much fun to watch as any other aspect of the game.

But Duke fans have reason to think they can beat the Tar Heels, and some of their points should be worrisome. To wit:

1. Duke plays physical defense that apparently cannot be properly officiated. I subscribe to the theory that when K has everyone fouling constantly, the refs simply cannot call them all. And so the roughness escalates.

2. Gerald Henderson will be the 2nd best player on the floor behind Ty Lawson, and don't look for Carolina fans to rattle him. My guess is that he'll thrive on the jeers that await him. It's the Duke Way.

3. Greg Paulus (Fainting Goat), Kyle Singler (Le Cadavre), and Taylor King (Cro-magnon) can all light it up from deep, and we don't defend the three well enough.

4. Duke can run on us, which will take away our advantage in the paint, but they can also force us into half court by getting back on defense even better than Maryland did against us.

5. Guard play. Yes, you read me right. Nolan Smith has come along as a solid offense point guard. Paulus will always knock down the open 3, and he'll get a lot of looks. He lit up N.C. State last night and he'll look to do the same against us.

6. Tyler is starting to pass out of trouble, and against Duke he must pass out of the collapsing pressure. If not, Carolina is toast. We are improving, but outside of Danny and Ty, we are not a good passing team. You have to make that pass mid-range after getting the advantage on Duke. Don't see us capitalizing on them like that, and that goes for back-doors as well.

We have some concerns about how hard Duke is playing, and we plan to elaborate, but on that exact point, sometimes a picture says it all. Take a gander at what they're getting up to at Duke, and then consider this -- the Duke people are so proud of the way their boys play together, they actually feature this kind of shot on the front of GoDuke.com.

We bet you'll agree, it sure must suck to lose to guys who celebrate like this.

As first shot across the bow, we offer our Poet Laureate Benjamin Pryor's thoughts on Duke's emerging threat. More to follow:

We need to fear the gap-toothed Irish-Catholic-reform-school/Attila attack of the Duke machine, the Aryan-fisted brutal might that makes an auditorium throb with menace, and especially the Dookian ability to make a mutant team execute under almost any threat (3-ball after 3-ball), the abused Rottweiler toughness and desperate measures required by Herr K. The good guys will need every ounce of John Henry, Pecos Bill, and Bunyan to root this mountain down.

I know Roy hates the zone. I know it goes against his entire philosophy and this team's greatest strengths. And I know it's late in the season to teach and implement it. Never mind that at this point using a zone might be interpreted as a sign of weakness or surrender. So he probably won't go to it. But there are good arguments for trying it.

Carolina is susceptible to being taken off the dribble and being backed down in the paint. And our Help D is spotty. I understand the response that we should simply work harder on this and it'll resolve itself. That's one answer, and the great potential benefit of it is that it leaves in place the benefits of our quickness on the transition breaks.

But at what cost? Tyler has been exposed and teams are coming at him down low. My theory on his bend-don't-break D is that he's under orders -- don't foul out, whatever points we lose down low will come at a cost for the other team, and will be made up for with your offense and drawing of fouls on that end. This is probably a sound strategy, so long as the opponent doesn't have big bodies (or thugs) to take Tyler from bending to full out breaking. But as we've seen, there aren't that many N.C. States left on our schedule, and there sure won't be any come NCAA time.

Also consider that the zone might give our guys a chance to intimidate in the paint (or at least play reasonably tough) and perhaps make opposing big men think any trip down low, even against man-to-man, will be difficult.

Speaking of psychology, there's also the element of surprise. Throwing in zone occasionally will, if nothing else, give opponents a new problem to solve.

Of course, it can be argued that bad D is bad D, and if we aren't helping now, why would things change in the zone? We're not much of a shot-blocking team, either, and so the advantages of the zone might be limited. And finally, we'd be susceptible to the three-pointers raining down on us. Especially against a Duke-type wing team. I can't refute these points, but I don't think they are reason enough not to go for the advantages that would come with the occasional use of a 2-3 zone. I won't be holding my breath, however. Just hoping that more Thompson and Stepheson, surely Roy's answer, will also work.