Another brilliant performance from Roanoke's J.J. Redick. 35 points. 22 points in the 2nd half. A key 3 ptr late in the game to provide the necessary cushion to win a tumultous game in the Dean Dome.
I love Duke / Carolina games -- especially since Duke has taken 15 of the last 18 match ups. I started following Duke in 1988 when I entered Duke as a graduate student. Danny Ferry was a senior that year. I was instantly hooked.
Carolina won nearly every Duke / Carolina game in those days. Oh how times have changed.
Tonight's game was another classic. We nearly gave it away with one minute to play. Inexplicably, Carolina choked with some bricks from the free throw line and a strange shot selection at the end of the game. J.J. put in another national player of the year kind of performance.
To Carolina's credit, they have amassed another talented team. I thought this year was supposed to be a rebuilding year. Looks like I was wrong. Carolina will make a serious run in the big dance this year -- you watch.
I've long been a UNC fan and having Roy Williams at the helm just gives me warm fuzzies inside... :-)
However, whenever they play Duke I don't really care who wins. Both teams are class acts and just watching them play high-caliber ball is a treat.
Reddick is the real deal. If he doesn't get player of the year then something is wrong. I did think he made some dumb turnovers last night and had a tendency to get caught in the air with no place to throw the ball. But when you score 30+ points and hit clutch 3-pointers...
Posted by: brian | February 08, 2006 at 11:12
Redick has one of the prettiest outside shots I have seen in a long time. I agree that he is the real deal.
I didn't know he was a Roanoke native.
Posted by: Brian | February 08, 2006 at 11:45
J.J is a Roanoke native, and he went to Cave Spring.
Yay Knights. :P
-Doyle
Posted by: Molly | February 08, 2006 at 16:45
I can't bring myself to root for Duke until their coach learns to pronounce his name correctly. :)
Posted by: tgirsch | February 08, 2006 at 22:46
The Redicks are rock stars in Roanoke. J.J. put Roanoke on the map. Duke used to be a hated school in Roanoke ... till J.J. went there. Now I can proudly wear any one of my 10 Duke T-shirts in public.
"I can't bring myself to root for Duke until their coach learns to pronounce his name correctly. :)"
LOL. T, you can just call him K ... signed, J. ;-)
Posted by: Mr. Dawntreader | February 09, 2006 at 08:22
UNC fan since forever...oh, since I saw James Worthy play, my hoops hero. Michael got the media, Worthy got the rock! A PTP BABY!!
JJ will join the legions of Duke flops in the NBA: Dawkins, Hurley, Laettner ... and so on.
OK, the saracasm is a little thick, but it sure is fun living in ACC land, and having a Conference Store 2 minutes from my house.
Mr. D. need any gear?
:)
Later.
Posted by: BWB | February 09, 2006 at 13:18