A Season Ends: North Carolina Tar Heels

Unfortunately the North Carolina Tar Heels lost today to the Kansas Jayhawks in the Elite 8 80-67.  The score really doesn't show you how close the game was and Kansas really won in the last two minutes.  But this is a bitter end for the Tar Heels, they played their hearts out and over came many hardships this season to be a #1 seed in the tournament.  Unfortunately during the round of 32 Kendall Marshall was injured and he broke his wrist.  This injury could not have come at a worse time for the Tar Heels, as he was the assist leader and really was a major component for the team this season especially once Dexter Strickland was injured early on and Coach Williams had to revamp the offense and the defense.  The Heels responded amazingly well and adjusted to the loss of Strickland and continued on their path though having lost their pre-season #1 ranking with a few early losses.  Kendall Marshall ended up becoming the glue that held them together and gave them the ability to overcome many troubles and be one of the best teams in the country.

While yes the Tar Heels did have some spectacular and mystifying losses they always were able to bounce back and prove why they are one of the best teams in the country.  The tournament started and it seemed like everything was going their way until that fateful game and sadly the loss of Marshall was something that could not be overcome.  But we can look at the bright side and the career of Tyler Zeller, he has been amazing in his time at North Carolina and his unselfishness and ability to take charges and block shots.  His game against Ohio was an ACC record game where he registered 22 points and 20 rebounds.  This was the first time anyone in the ACC had and the first time in close to 20 years that someone had done so in the NCAA tournament.  Tyler Zeller will have an amazing career in the NBA and I hope he will be a high draft pick.  I will certainly watch his career in the NBA with pride as I have watched the careers of other Tar Heels like Ty Lawson and Tyler Hansbrough.

I can't wait for next year for North Carolina, I hope that Marshall comes back to finish unfinished business and win a ring.  I also want Harrison Barnes, and Leslie McDonald to come back for their senior seasons as well.  I think that if everyone came back then North Carolina has a very great chance of winning next year hopefully though there won't be anymore injuries.  I love my North Carolina Tar Heels and I am so proud of them this year.

I hope you all enjoy this post and keep reading my love affair with sports.

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