Halfway Point
As you’ve probably heard, Oliver Purnell’s team completed the first half of their season last night with a convincing win over a pretty good Alabama team. The 11th ranked Tigers won 66-59 while shooting only 13-22 from the free throw line (perhaps that word, “throw”, causes some confusion for our shooters?).
At the halfway point the team is undefeated at 15-0, which is impressive and fantastic. But it is not something that hats can be hung on. There are games left, all of which are in-conference, and we know from past experience that ACC play in the 2nd half of the season isn’t the same as OOC play in the first. At this point, the correct way to judge this team is based on how well they do in the 2nd half. Good/great starts are fine, but they’re worth almost nothing with a bad/horrible finish.
The 2nd half kicks off with with games against NC State, Wake Forest, and a road trip to UNC. Those teams are a combined 35-4 at this point. Talk about a challenge!
From my perspective, this season is just getting started.
I hope we go 2-1 against that 3 game stretch.
I think we can win against the Wolfpack, though beating the Deacs is going to be a lot tougher than people think. Also, I’m just speculating, but this might just be the year we pull it out up in tarhell land