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Knowing how to win

Pretty strange to see any real disagreement here.

Basketball is like any other skill. There are basics that have to be covered before you can expand your capabilities. When you're rebuilding a team with a new offense, defense, rebounding approach, and work ethic in the gym - you can't also throw in extensive end-game situation drills, out-of-bounds plays, one-off scoring plays or multiple presses. Closing out games and succeeding in situations consistently is about being prepared.

Of course raw talent can win games - good offense scores against good defense routinely in basketball. But I think it's fair to say our team is vastly improved as far as the overall keys to the game are concerned, but we still struggle with situations. Our out of bounds plays are mediocre, our end-game scenarios have been rough, and we've had trouble closing out halves and defending set plays.

Much of the excitement despite the record this year is because last year we were a fundamentally flawed team that didn't rebound, couldn't shoot, but occasionally fed off enough excitement with a decent game plan and an off night from a good opponent to win a big game. But then the flaws led to zero consistency and horrible losses against bad ACC teams so everyone knew the overall direction of the program was poor. This year we look like a program that is tough, well coached, can execute the basics well and just needs some polish and/or some talent to start closing out these games.
 
DC makes many great points about the rebuild process and how the installation of more basic concepts will certainly delay the implementation of end of game strategies, situational rehearsals and the like.

Interestingly, after a fairly busy stretch and a road trek to the frozen tundra of Syracuse, the Deacs have had all week to shore up defensive deficiencies, game plan for the Holes and work on end of game stuff.

Therefore, I would not be surprised to see the boys in B&G pull off the upset tonight as UNC is coming off a Sunday game, two days of drinking and partying as class is optional at Carolina. And hopefully they haven't scouted Crab, G-Mc and Dinos as well as they should have although it will be tougher for the Greek Deac to fly under the radar. Luckily, he doesn't have to. He just needs to be in the right places again and keep knocking down that quick release jumper.
 
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My experience is that winning has 3 main parts:
Talent and preparation
Knowing that you are good and expecting to win
Experience - once you win a close, important game, you gain confidence that allows you to make the plays necessary to win (even a lucky win gives you this confidence).

Just my opinion.
 
Another good example of a team not knowing how to win - VT's 3 point loss to UVa this afternoon. The Hokies had a 7 point lead at home with about 5 minutes to go. If Buzz had any hair, it would have been torn out today.
 
No, VT just isn't good and UVA is.
Is there a bigger self- fulfilling prophesy than the "knowing how to win" narrative?
 
nope. strange that better players know how to win
 
You'd think Wake fans would know more about talented teams that don't know how to win big games.
 
Our "good defense" held Carolina to 87 points on our home court.
 
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