unexpected greatness

I love Adam Lucas. I've never met him, but I feel like we could be best friends. After every big Carolina game, I wait in expectation to see what he will write on tarheelblue.com. And then I usually cry.

You see, I just love this basketball program. I love what they stand for. I love the university that they represent. I love the history. I love that last night, in what was arguably their biggest game of the season thus far, the coaches chose to start bench-warming seniors (despite critics who said it was foolish), just because it was Senior Night and "This is what we do."

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Adam wrote this article after last night's 81-67 victory over Duke (that feels so good to type!). Just in case you don't want to read the whole thing, though I think you should, here are a few of my favorite excerpts:

"It's one thing to see greatness when you expect it. It's quite another to see greatness when you're a little nervous and maybe even a little pessimistic."

"As Carolina fans, we so rarely get to enjoy a team that exceeds expectations, simply because expectations are always astronomical. We don't get surprised. We just get wins, which can sometimes get a little boring. It is exhilarating, as the 2006 team recently showed, to watch a group discover how to be a team"

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That may sound arrogant to some people, but it's an all too accurate description of the Tar Heel fan's mindset- even I have learned to expect greatness. It's not fair to the kids that kill themselves on the court only to fall inches short of greatness. I realize that. I wish it was different, but it's not. That's why this year has been so refreshing... I just didn't expect it. After last year, I don't think many did. And yet, the boys have shown up and have fought hard against these surprisingly low expectations.

"You know that journey Roy Williams always talks about, and how important it is to enjoy it? We're on it right now. That's why the court was stormed. Not because of the opponent or the awards and rewards involved in the win. But because man alive, as the head coach would say, it sure was fun watching those guys figure it all out together. It wasn't a methodical court-storming. It was a rush, like they couldn't hold back anymore. That's what the unexpected does to you."

It was fun. Joyous, in fact. And, for better or for worse, my expectations are rising!

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We let Cooper get back out of bed and join our game-watching party for awhile last night (he was a little too excited to sleep), and he was still pretty amped up about the Heels this morning as well. We start 'em early around here. :)

 

Happy March Madness!