Take a Breath Please.....

.... just the absolute best ACC game of the season. Jackets beat Wake Forest 102-101. That's right, the Jackets give up 101 points AND WIN!!!! I don't have time to go through all my thoughts, but suffice it to say this is the type game this team needed. Contributions all-around, a real team effort, a battle. Wow. One for the ages. So many outstanding performances - Jack, Bynum, Ish, Morrow, Dickey, McHenry, etc..... It took everyone.


1. Free Throws. Jackets shoot 31-38 from the line, which includes 2 J.Jack misses in OT. Very impressive


2. GT shoots 54.5% from the field and 43% from long distance. Bynum was on fire again early, and Morrow hit some good momentum shots in the 1st half. Jack goes 7-11, scores 23, Bynum drops 30, Ish has 17 and Morrow gets 11 (all in the 1st half).


3. Interestingly, GT is outrebounded 33-32 and still wins. Combine that with the 70+ points we gave up and this was a real crazy win.


4. Fouls - 53 of them between these teams. E.Williams was a one-man wrecking crew, dominating our inside guys. Didn't matter how many of them defended - he either got the hoop or the foul, and sometimes both. He ends with 27 points and has to leave with cramps....thank goodness!! West fouls out, Luke has 4, Dickey has 4, Morrow has 4, Ish and T-Mac have 3 - should I go on.


5. Injuries. T-Mac and Ish fights cramps.


6. I have to give major props to Ish. The guy just made some bigtime plays tonight. He really was the man. He ends with 17 pts (7-11), 3 boards - one of which was super-critical - an offensive board and assist to Luke for a dunk - 2 steals, not to mention 6 assists. He just made so many good plays and man did he have another ESPN top 10 play. A Jack 3pt miss bounces up and he comes out of nowhere to throw it back down. You have to see it to understand it.


7. Dickey and Morrow play well. Dickey gets 8 minutes, 5 pts, 5 boards, but he gets into foul trouble which limits his minutes. Morrow hits some big shots early, going 4-6 from the field. I tell you, Morrow just has a beautiful stroke and it's quick.


8. In the end, Jarrett Jack proves why he is the team leader. He plays 43 minutes and has fresh enough legs to drain two critical free throws in the end. I don't care how much guys like Paul and Felton get hyped, I'll take Jack everyday of the week and Sunday. Tonight he did a better job involving the team. He took the ball to the hoop when the time was right and just would not let this team lose. Great outing.


Sweet dreams to all!!! GO JACKETS!!!!