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Is playing UNC really that much worse?
Florida International does not want to face North Carolina, the defending national champion, in the first round of the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament. It has even gotten its legal department involved to try to get out of the game.
But is playing Ohio State — the opponent FIU says it was supposed to face — that much better? Really?
Yes, the Tar Heels boast one of the top recruiting classes in the country, return some experience from the title team and are already being predicted a pre-season top 5 team.
But OSU's team isn't too shabby, either. The Buckeyes return five starters from a squad that went 22-11 last season -- including Evan Turner, who led the Big Ten in scoring.
So for FIU, a minor mid-major that has quite a few holes to fill under new coach Isiah Thomas, the opponent swap is probably the difference between losing by 25 (or more) and 15 (or more). In traveling 828 miles to Chapel Hill rather than 1,150 to Columbus.
In getting a few extra fans to tune into the matchup, which will mark Thomas' debut as FIU's head coach, rather than flip the channel.
There's no doubt the Gazelle Group, organizer of the tournament, flipped the match-up because of potential ratings. It's what it should have done. That's its job.
The only surprising thing is that FIU didn't expect it when it hired Thomas as coach.
Athletics director Pete Garcia (a former assistant coach to UNC football coach Butch Davis at Miami) is apparently trying to stand up for the little guy, saying that a national program such as Duke or UNC wouldn't have its opponent so rudely swapped (even if the contract allows it).
But didn't that just happen to UNC, too? And the Tar Heels aren't complaining.
Plus, they have to play the Buckeyes in the semifinals of the tournament, too.
Robbi Pickeral
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at robbi.pickeral@newsobserver.com.
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In a funny way, of course.
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Wed, 11/11/2009 - 01:25 — mxcm428But there you have it. . wow power leveling wow power leveling
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In a funny way, of course.
What . . .
Thu, 08/27/2009 - 06:14 — chuckde424. . . is Isiah just skerd???
What can you say...
Wed, 08/26/2009 - 16:09 — UNC1998the fact is FIU, it's coach, and athletic dept. are showing a poor example to the players. Don't you think the players would rather travel to a mecca of college basketball to play one of it's most storied teams. Yes, OSU had a good record last season. It was in the Big 10. That alone begs an asterisk. I really hope the game takes place. The Heels need all the practice they can get. Drew needs to get used to running the point in game action. Oh well, we'll just have to wait and see.
melvinfurd
Wed, 08/26/2009 - 10:20 — melvinfurd"So for FIU, a minor mid-major that has quite a few holes to fill under new coach Isiah Thomas, . . . " pretty much describes the pathetic state of FIU basketball. My guess is Isiah, who has never been known for diplomacy or reasonableness, may have his mouth writing checks neither he nor his position in the college hoops world can cash. Good riddance, Isiah & FIU. FIU need the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament a lot more than the Coaches vs. Cancer needs FIU.
Answer is probably as simple as....
Wed, 08/26/2009 - 08:34 — JPDOhioIsiah Thomas not wanting to have his clocked cleaned on national TV. TV ratings are likely to be higher for a UNC b-ball game than an OSU b-ball game during football season. So, this could be all about protecting Isiah's fragile ego.
where to start
Wed, 08/26/2009 - 08:22 — gvillegatrthe "reason" FIU "claims" it does not want to play UNC is b/c of alot of graduates of FIU in and around Ohio and they feel they will attend the game or garner more attention.
no where in this blog is that claimed. now, i'm not sure i'm on board with that excuse but it should have at least been reported with a smart a$$ comment behind it.
and please don't ask if OSU is really any less of an opponent than UNC. we all know they are. if for no other reason than name only.
and, yes, there is a big difference b/tn 15 and 25 pt wins. 15 pt game could have gotten out of hand in the waning minutes. 25 pt game was prolly never in the ball game.
Why...
Wed, 08/26/2009 - 08:26 — willncsuAre there a bunch of FIU grads in Ohio? Weird. OSU should be pretty good but not nearly as good as UNC. We are talking number 1 in the big 10 vs number 1 in the ACC. Not close as seen from the title game last year.