The Illini and Rashad
First, off, today I checked the messages left on my voicemail while I was in St. Louis. Four of them were UNC-related, two jabbing me for picking Illinois in the final. I thought there might have been more of these -- I think it's the first time I've picked against the Heels in print (we don't predict scores in the regular season) since I had Texas beating them in the second round last year. So I figured I might catch some grief.
But it's not like I called for an Illinois blowout. I thought it would be 85-82 or something very close. Just gave the edge to a team that had won 37 of 38 games, whereas I wasn't totally sold the Heels would make all the right decisions and big plays down the stretch.
I stand corrected, but I don't think there's any need to apologize for my pick.
Now, to a question Heels fans are pondering: Are they better off without Rashad next year? While the media might be better off without him -- he cultivated an enigmatic image as soon as he arrived in Chapel Hill and, this year, only talked to reporters right after games -- I don't agree that the team would be better with him in the NBA. The N&O's Caulton Tudor slams that theory today.