Woody Durham has arrived and is ready to get started.
Terry, Hendersonville
This has been without question a strange year for those of us who follow
Carolina Basketball. It has long been the tradition of the Tar Heel Sports
Network to not only carry Carolina's games, but all of the tournament games.
While I know that you are familiar with all the players and coaches in the
league, how difficult is this to do this kind of "wall to wall" coverage, and
what special preparations do you and the broadcast crew do prior to the
tournament?
Woody Durham
Well first off it is a physical and mental chore. It takes a lot of preparation to get ready and it simply takes endurance to do it . However since it is the ACC Tournament and we are familiar with the players and coaches, it is easy to do from that aspect. We do have a feel for these teams and know what they have been through this season. The idea of doing all the games goes back to the old days of Ray Reeve and Bill Currie when they were just one of the networks to do all of the games in the Dixie Classic and the ACC Tournament. I think about doing eight games in four days and I remember the old Dixie Classic when they did 12 games in three days, so I don't complain.
Jon, Connelly Springs, NC
How do you see the Heels future as far as next team goes????
Woody Durham
It is still going to be a very young basketball team. There will be eight players on the roster next winter who are either freshmen or sophomores. The talent level will be better in some areas, but there will be a lot of inexperience, which Carolina has discovered this year is not the best formula to work your way through this league. I definitely think Carolina will be improved in some aspects of its play. Its overall improvement will directly be related to the rest of the league and its overall mix of experience and youth.
Eric, High Point
Who do you think has the best chance of winning the ACC?
Woody Durham
I will be surprised if it doesn't come down to Maryland and Duke on Sunday because they are definitely the two best teams in the league. I would favor Maryland because I believe the Terps are playing their best basketball of the year and I like what Drew Nicholas does for them in the backcourt and what they get from Taj Holden and Ryan Randle on the front line. They can use eight players and not miss a beat.
Marshburn, Dallas Texas
I know Kris Lang and Jason Capel have had the tremendous task of
leadership with such a young/inexperienced team while keeping their own
motivation in check. My hats off to them, my question - What are either of
their chances to be drafted at professional level?
Woody Durham
I think both will have that opportunity. Kris Lang is going to have to overcome a lot of the physical problems which have bothered him throughout his career at Carolina and Jason Capel will need to be a more consistent shooter. I think both will have the chance and it is up to them to make the most of it.
cw, southern pines, nc
what kind of talent can we expect the upcoming freshman class to
contribute to the tarheels next year? thanks for all the hard work woody.
Woody Durham
I really don't pay a lot of attention to incoming players. I seldom if ever watch these high school all-star games because it is difficult for me to tell anything about the talent level because there is very little defense played in those games. I wait until they get to campus and this has been a long standing routine of mine, then I talk to the coaches about their impressions and if they think any of the young players will be able to help. I have heard a lot of good things about Raymond Felton, Rashad McCants and Sean May and I am looking forward to seeing them play. As Carolina's play-by-play announcer, I can't comment on the other three incoming rookies because two will not sign until next month and the other one is a walk-on.
Dave, Greensboro, NC
What are your thoughts on this year's first team all-ACC team? Did you think anyone was left off that should have been on there?
Woody Durham
No, the first team turned out exactly the way I voted for it. The only question I had was about Carlos Boozer and Lonny Baxter and I thought over the last month Boozer played at a level which deserved the first-team berth.
Jay, Charlotte, NC
What are some things that the Tar Heels need to do extraordinarily well to have a chance in this one? I am keeping hope alive that they can pull off the upset.
Woody Durham
First, they must take care of the basketball. Carolina had 25 turnovers in each of its two regular season games against Duke. Last Sunday, the Blue Devils outscored the Tar Heels 30-11 on points off turnovers including 17-0 margin in the second half. That is absolutely the key if Carolina is to be in the game. Carolina has to take care of the basketball.
Todd, High Point, NC
If it is possible, what do you think is the one thing Carolina can do to try and keep Duke from going on one of its patented runs?
Woody Durham
Again, taking care of the basketball. Duke forces the opposition into 20 turnovers a game on the average. Ten of those come off steals. Carolina can not afford to let Duke take the ball and score before its defense can get back and set up. Carolina must force Duke to run its set offense.
Rod, Goldsboro, NC
What kind of chance do you think the Tarheels have in a upset of 3rd
ranked Duke in the ACC quarterfinals on Friday night. Do you think that could
inspire the Heels to win the ACC Tourament and sneak in to the NCAA'S. If the
Heels were to win the Tournament and advance to the NCAA tourney what seed would
they be and where could they open the 1st rd. How tough would it be for you
personnly if the Tarheels don't make the NCAA Tournament.
Woody Durham
As I indicated earlier it is taking care of the basketball which against Duke is much easier said than done. They had 25 turnovers in each of their two regular season games and Duke scored a lot of points off those turnovers before Carolina could set its defense. Carolina has to take care of the basketball. It will be a disappointment when the season ends, but we have known for sometime that a lot of the amazing streaks of consistency that Carolina has built would be coming to an end this year. However, I do believe they are only being temporarily interrupted. That is not to say that everything is going to be fixed next year, but I do think it will be better and it may take a couple of years to get it completely fixed.
That is all the time Woody Durham has today. TheACC.com would like to thank Woody for taking time to stop by.
