Post Season Thoughts

Last night was icing on the cake. Albeit not very good icing but still, it felt like a bonus to an already incredible season.

Sure it would’ve felt good for the team to get one last win, to bring home the big National Championship trophy, and to ride into next season with the ease of a team who knows they gave it their all and saw it pay off tremendously. 

But that didn’t happen. Now, I’m left thinking back on our significant wins this season; the kind of wins that left me (and the entire campus and Carolina Family) flying. I remember both our wins over Duke, our win over Baylor and UCLA. All times that UNC was counted out and pulled through. 

I was fortunate enough to go to three games in person at the Smith Center this season, watching UNC play UVA, VT, and Syracuse. UNC won each of those games. 

It’s not special. I mean we all kind of expected those wins. They were home games, the energy was good, and the team wasn’t suffering any injuries at the time. While each win does help cement their standing in tournaments, those games were no national championship. 

Those wins are a testament too, of how this team works together, deserving a spot in our minds decorated with joy and accomplishment and tenacity. Because at the end of the day this team, the 2021-2022 Carolina Tar Heels, have shown us that while they can’t have their cake and eat it too, they’re gonna have a good time baking it. 

Last night, and every game this season, UNC gave it their all, investing themselves into what Coach Davis’ direction promised to be either satisfying wins or losses. We saw the return last night. We’ll continue to see the return in the coming days, months, and season, as interviews come out, players enter the transfer portal, and another year of Carolina basketball begins. 

Because it’s obvious Coach Davis knows how to play Carolina basketball. I’m not talking about the strategies in playbooks from 30 years ago.

I’m talking about that feeling that comes from playing and playing well; knowing you can hold humility and competitiveness in equal measure, not forgetting to be kind while enjoying the fight.

To me, that’s Carolina basketball. That was the sportsmanship on display this season, my first real season as a Tar Heel. I’ll never forget it. 

It’s live action out there. And that’s why we play the game.