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Somewhere in the arena on Friday night, there was a certain blond usc cheerleader who was undoubtedly cheering like crazy -- jumping up and down, even -- just after Taj Gibson picked up his 4th foul.
That was the turning point of a game that was painful for trojan-haters for a long time, before it became a little piece of Heaven for us, and a living Hell for trojans.
USC absolutely dominated the first 25 minutes of the game, just like they did for the whole game in December 2005, when sc delivered North Carolina's worst loss of the Roy Williams Era -- a 15 point thrashing. This time, despite virtually no contribution from their big star player, the Tarheels came back.
The trojans put together an 18-0 run across the two halves, with Taj Gibson and Nick Young leading the way. Freshman Gibson was 1 Board short of a double-double at the Intermission. But when he went out with his 4th foul, the Heels finally got their collective sh*t together. They finally started to control the boards, get second-chance points, and fastbreak opportunities.
They made their dramatic move basically without star Center Tyler Hansbrough, who scored 33 in the Heels' last game. Against sc, he played worse than Pitt's big man Aaron Gray did against UCLA. Hansbrough made only one shot. Luckily for NC, with Gibson on the bench, Hansbrough wasn't needed.
HEELS ON WHEELS: UNC turned a 16-point deficit into a 3-point lead in about 8 minutes, during which the choking and exhausted trojans didn't make a single field goal. The trojan bench failed to contribute anything, and the starters just ran out of gas.
When the Heels extended the lead to 10, you could tell that the trojans had shot their wad prematurely, and had nothing left. The trojans went a startling 2-for-17 down the stretch, while getting outscored 29-7 (and outboarded 22-9, for good measure).
Despite sucking hard for 10 minutes, the trojans still had a shot with a minute to go, until their Coach sabotaged them from within, with his immature lack of composure. In what was still just a 2-possession game, when Taj Gibson stupidly (and obviously) committed his 5th foul (far away from the basket, setting a screen), Floyd went ballistic, running onto the court screaming, throwing a tantrum, and finally THROWING HIS NOTE CARDS ONTO THE COURT. The ensuing Technical Foul shots CLINCHED THE GAME, and terminated the trojans' entire season. What a perfect leader for the Boys of Troy: A whiny, poor loser, who shows no grace under pressure, and no class.
Speaking of "no class," trojan starting Tailback Chauncey Washington admitted that he doesn't go to class. It's about time. For years we've been trying to tell everyone that trojan football players don't actually attend school, but now you've got it from the horse's mouth.
Now you know how someone can fail Ballroom Dancing. The only difference between Washington and his other trojan Rape Acquittals-waiting-to-happen is that Washington got caught by the only trojan on campus who doesn't have Football Season Tickets. But no worries; Just like last season, as soon as Pom Pom really NEEDS him, Chauncey will suddenly pull straight A's.
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If it weren't for Tennessee choking away a 20-point lead to Ohio State on Thursday, this sc loss would have been the biggest choke in recent memory. The only question that remains, is: Will the trojans be raising a "Sweet 16" Banner in the Galen Center, to put next to their "Elite 8" Banner, of which they're so proud?
If they do, then next year, O.J. Mayojuana can take it down, roll it up, and smoke it (on his way to the Final Four, if Nick Young stays).
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