valo35

I think Ohio State is every bit as good as these two teams, but it's close between them. I don't know if UNC has gotten tired or what, but their bigs don't seem to be as dominant the past 3 or 4 minutes, as they was for the first 15 minutes. Kentucky has been getting on the offensive glass the past few minutes, and it has helped to keep this score close. Terrence Jones is having a big day so far.

Yeah, kind of read that wrong, I guess at this point it doesn't really matter which one we amnesty cut. I would say still Arenas, just because his contract runs one or two more years, and Turkoglu is slightly more useful than Arenas still.

As far as right away, cutting Arenas doesn't really do much, but by the start of next season it does a lot. While the owners still have to pay that money, it doesn't go towards our cap, or cap flexibility at all. By the end of the season, Hedos contract will come off the books, and not count towards our cap room anymore. So cutting Hedo doesn't really do much, outside of stop us from having to pay him for another year. It will still keep the Arenas contract counting towards our cap space for the remainder of his contract, and it would make us be able to afford much less in the long term. So cutting Arenas is the main thing we need to do.

The Tar Heels have a lot of work to do if they want to be considered the best team in the nation. First off is defending the pick and roll, as well as the three point line. They don't have any especially good defensive players, especially on the perimeter so guys are able to get past them easily, and into the pain easily. The whole team looks to play the passing lanes/crash on the guy driving, which opens the 3 point shot. It's something they have struggled with going to last year and will continue to struggle with this year. They don't have any three point shooting outside of Hairston on the bench, Marshall doesn't like to get played physically and full court pressure bothers him, especially against athletic players. He also never shoots off of the pick and roll, which makes it a whole lot easier to play his pick and roll. Barnes can't create off the dribble, is just a one dribble and shoot kind of person. Finally, their big men are paper soft, especially Zeller. Easily boxed out, doesn't grab the ball but just kind of paws at it like a kitten, and doesn't like getting played tough and physical down low. Michigan State showed that, but was too young on the perimeter to capitalize on this. Now to their credit it takes a certain kind of team to beat UNC, unfortunately there are quite a handful of those teams that have the ability to full court pressure Marshall with athletic guards, body up the big men, and shoot the three. Unfortunately Duke, Kentucky, Ohio State, Syracuse, the big dogs from this year ALL have that ability.