North Carolina Tar Heels Basketball

It pains me to come to this decision.After running for almost a year, it's time for me to move on from TarEye or BuckHeel. I Started this blog as an inexperienced writer, looking for an "in" into the sportswriting world. It's amazing to look back over my work, beginning with my first post in which I showed zero aptitude for writing like a journalist. I consider this blog a success and have decided to focus on professional writing instead of carrying the banner of a "UNC sports blogger,"... which carries a connotation unfit for my career and despite my attempts to present unbiased columns and accounts based on UNC athletics, this cannot be the case under this blog.Fortunately, this is nowhere near the end of my writing career. For the past few months, I've dual published much of my serious work on here and on the Indy Weekly's sports blog. This coming fall, I will serve as the UNC football beat writer for the Weekly, covering mid-week news and analyzing the games from the press box. There is definitely a good chance I'll post every once in a while still. I know I will continue to visit my site in order to follow the mass of excellent links that I've compiled on the left side of the blog. Thank you to all who have followed me and offered advice. Again, visit the Indy Weekly if you'd like to continue to see my work. more>>

It pains me to come to this decision.After running for almost a year, it's time for me to move on from TarEye or BuckHeel. I Started this blog as an inexperienced writer, looking for an "in" into the sportswriting world. It's amazing to look back over my work, beginning with my first post in which I showed zero aptitude for writing like a journalist. I consider this blog a success and have decided to focus on professional writing instead of carrying the banner of a "UNC sports blogger,"... which carries a connotation unfit for my career and despite my attempts to present unbiased columns and accounts based on UNC athletics, this cannot be the case under this blog.Fortunately, this is nowhere near the end of my writing career. For the past few months, I've dual published much of my serious work on here and on the Indy Weekly's sports blog. This coming fall, I will serve as the UNC football beat writer for the Weekly, covering mid-week news and analyzing the games from the press box. There is definitely a good chance I'll post every once in a while still. I know I will continue to visit my site in order to follow the mass of excellent links that I've compiled on the left side of the blog. Thank you to all who have followed me and offered advice. Again, visit the Indy Weekly if you'd like to continue to see my work. more>>

Here's a novel idea: What if Tyler Hansbrough, the leading scorer in the illustrious history of the ACC, actually succeeds in the NBA?The bar has been set so low by the countless talking heads on ESPN and also by those who try to diminish the career of one of the ACC's best players of all time by claiming he will fail in the NBA.At best Hansbrough can come off the bench and provide hustle minutes, so they say.So what would be considered success? Even Carolina fans would be thankful if he at... least contributes to a team so they can dangle it over the heads of their rival Blue Devils.Critics point to J.J. Redick and Adam Morrison who both have had quiet beginnings to their careers. Still, it's even too early to label both of these college stars as NBA busts. Redick has had a few decent games in the playoffs and Morrison will get a chance with the Lakers next season after struggling with injuries in Charlotte.Hansbrough has a unique ability to get to the free throw line -- and he can even knock them down at a high rate for a big man, 84.1 percent. Insert Shaq jab here....The problem is his athleticism. When matched up against freak forwards like Blake Griffin or athletes such as Florida State's front court, Hansbrough's production dropped off significantly. But not necessarily his defense.In a league where most teams desperately need a Griffin, I think many could use a Hansbrough to grab a few rebounds and show his durability in an 82-game season.What then is success for Carolina's most decorated player?Maybe not putting up 20 points per game as he did in college... but the guy has a feel for the game and has shown the ability to knock down jumpers. I wouldn't put it past him to get his shots off.If Hansbrough can adapt and score around the rim against longer teams, don't be surprised to see him contributing in a Glen Davis-esque fashion, coming off the bench and providing a lift for a winning team's front line.Plus, he's played in a system that translates to the NBA -- an up-tempo offense that pushes the ball and values inside-outside play. He might not ever be an all star ... very few ever achieve that status. But to write this guy off before he has even played a minute in the league is foolish. Hansbrough's game wasn't supposed to translate to college either. Duke's hyped recruit, Josh McRoberts, was easily thought to be the superior forward prospect. How did that turn out, again?Considering Hansbrough most likely will be drafted in the late first round/early second round means he will join a playoff team needing a supporting cast instead of a franchise player. Morrison was pressured to carry the scoring load as a Bobcat and Redick is buried behind talented guards for the Magic. No. 50 will get a chance somewhere. Are you sure you want to write him off before he even takes a shot?Most college basketball fans have grown to hate Hansbrough -- for whatever reason -- like his predecessor, Redick. But I've never understood the lack of respect for a guy who did what all college basketball fans secretly want from their teams' star players: He stayed for all four years and was a model student-athlete. What could be better for the game of college basketball, a game slowly becoming overrun with agents, shoe companies and fraudulent SAT scores?more>>