News-Record.com

as those musical poets Survivor once sang, "The search is over, Al was right before my eyes."

Or something like that.

Ever since Jarrett Jack sadly gave up his senior year of eligibility, I've been searching for my new ACC man crush. Man crush being defined as a player I just love to watch. Preferrably that player should play on a non Big Four school because hey, objectivity still matters to me, people.

I'd struggled this year to find that guy that made my hearstrings zing every time he touched the ball. In the first half, it hit me like a thunderbolt. I love Al Thornton.

There, I said it.

What's not to love? The man can do it all. Rebound, run the floor, muscle his way to the hoop in drives, or in the low post and yes, shoot the perimeter J.

Did I mention he can also run the floor like a deer and jump out of the gym?

He had it all on display in the first half, making six of eight shots, including two threes, scoring 18 points in 18 minutes. Yes, he did have four turnovers. My man crush love is not blind.

But it's not just stats that qualify for man crush status. It's also the way a guy plays. Late in the first half, Thornton went up for a dunk and came crashing down hard, having to use his hands to break his fall. He came up shaking his wrists and I thought - uh oh. The next time down the floor, he grabs a big rebound. He then closed out the half with a long 3-pointer to give the Noles the lead.

By that time, I was hopelessly in love.