My G-G-Generation

You get the feeling that next six games will define how history judges this team. This generation of Carolina players is as talented as any we’ve seen, but they’re playing through a season of injury and surprising parity. Of course, any team that manages to win a National Championship is judged as better, or at least better remembered. But does losing in the Final Four diminish a team’s talent? Of course not, but college basketball is not the NBA; there often is no “next season.” You have a defined lifetime in college basketball, not to be exceeded, and often to be shortened, which really changes the way the game is played. It necessitates a sense of urgency that the NBA lacks. That being said, it stands to reason that Championships are the central criteria of enduring teams; but if National Championships are the bottom line definer of a team, then this team has yet to fulfill expectations.
But are any of us really disappointed with this team so far? And if not, what does that say about how we judge success? We’ve witnessed the ascension of one of the most dominant college basketball players of all time; we’ve seen maybe the prettiest jump shot one can ever hope to see; we have a point guard that can pick apart defenses like no one we’ve seen since Phil Ford (sorry, Ray Ray). So how will we judge this team? Where do we place it in the canon of Carolina legends?
If you ask me, the legacy of this team is already set. The next six games are icing, no matter what happens. Can you imagine explaining the phenomenon of Hansbrough 15 years from now? When we talk about him, we’ll shake our heads, smile, and say, “No, you just don’t get it,” and we’ll remember what it was like to be a part of something indefinably special. Is there any way to describe Wayne’s jump shot, in a way that gives you the same chills that you get every time you see it? If I could, I would bet the house on a made basket every time Wayne elevates for a jumper. Or how about the look on Ty’s face when he decides he’s going to the lane, and you aren’t going to stop him? Come on. We all know we’ve witnessed something greater than we expected after the 2005 season… and yes, relish it; this team is the stuff of legends.
After all, it’s only Carolina basketball.