Solace redefined...and I can't even bring myself to try and figure ooooout
A small recap.
Duke lost tonight to Villanova by 23. They were exposed in appropriate fashion.
Oh and we beat them a couple weeks ago, again, for the sweep. Hansbrough upped his record to 6-2 against Duke and Lawson upped his to 5-0. He played both games we swept them 2 seasons ago, the 1 game we beat them last year he played, and he played both games this year, both games we won.
I had the tremendous opportunity of going to the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament for both of the games that were held in Greensboro.
Game 1 was UNC vs LSU. Lawson had 2 points as we went into halftime with a 9 point lead. That lead quickly dwindled away as we came out in the 2nd half completely off and got down by 5. From there on it was the Ty Lawson show. He completely took over the game in the 2nd half and had a total of 21 second half points. Ellington did his thing again and we ended up winning 84-70, if we hadn't slacked for those few minutes, we could have won by 20 or so.
Game 2 was Duke vs Texas. How fitting I get to see the team I love and the team I hate the most in the same day, back to back. Duke pretty much lead the entire game and in the final minutes Texas brought it to a tie. With about 2 minutes left, some awful calls were made in favor of Duke and they ended up pulling it out. I was mad because for one, they shouldn't have won, not in that fashion at least. For another thing, I picked Texas in my brackets. They deserved to lose though. They played dumb. Abrams could not get open and hardly even tried. Damion James did not exert himself as a post presence at all and they didn't use 298 lb Dexter Pittman hardly at all. They post these guys up and exploit Duke's lack of inside presence, they win easily. Oh well, it's Rick Barnes, you can't expect much.
Duke lost tonight and that is all fine and dandy, but we have to take care of business against Gonzaga. People on the Rivals board are kind of worried but I honestly am not that worried. For one, Gonzaga is such a Jeckyl and Hyde team. They play in a mediocre conference and most, if not all, the teams they played this year from power conferences, they lost. Don't get me wrong, they have a ton of talent and are a very good team, just not on UNC's level in my opinion. Another reason I am confident is that Gonzaga is very susceptible in getting into a running game. I think it suits their style of play better than being a half court team. If that is the case, we are in good shape. Running is our bread-n-butter and teams that fall into that trap, don't win. Lastly, I go down their roster and I go down ours. I look at every position on their team in respect with their counterparts on our team and we're better at every position.
Lawson is better than Pargo. Pargo is a little bigger, but not as quick and won't be able to keep up.
Ellington is better than Bouldin. Bouldin is a spot up shooter, Ellington can spot up or create off the dribble.
Danny Green is better than Austin Daye. At the beginning of the year I thought Austin Daye was one of the best players and most under rated players in the country and I haven't really heard much out of him. Danny can shoot better, rebound better and play better defense.
Deon Thompson is better than Micah Downs. Never thought I'd say Deon was better than anyone. Deon is a much better rebounder and averages just over 2 points more than Downs.
Hansbrough is better than Heytvelt. This really goes with out question. Hansbrough can score better, rebound better, he will get to the line at will and plays better defense than he's given credit for.
Gonzaga beat us 2 years ago in the Preseason NIT and I think this gives us a little more motivation. We're much better now and much more mature. We have amazing chemistry and very tough to beat. Ask anyone. I say this in confidence that I think we win and I wouldn't be surprised if we won big, by double digits in the upper-teens. Don't know if that will happen because Mark Phew is a very good coach. Experienced and weathered, he'll have them ready for a fight, I just don't think their best effort will be enough.
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Still haven't gathered courage up to say something to that girl but I think I'm getting there. I've been reading my Bible a lot lately and I feel like I'm growing less tense. I realize when I'm tense or stressed and just take long and deep breaths to calm my senses. I also feel more confident. I don't walk around like a loser anymore and I actually feel like I belong in this world.
Part of it is just coming to terms with my religious beliefs. God made me and he made me this certain way and I shouldn't be ashamed of it. I shouldn't be afraid to share who I am. Who knows, maybe I have a lot to offer.
Another thing is just me noticing couples around me. In movies, on television or at school even. And I think to myself 'why don't I have a chance?'...'who says I don't have a chance?'. For one, the worst thing that could happen is that it doesn't go right and nothing happens. Nothing changes, I'm no worse than I am, I'm still single. Maybe a bit dejected but still the same. If it does go well, then it's a positive outcome. At worst I make a new friend, at best I take her out on a date and make something of it.
So the worst of the possible outcomes is a change in nothing and the best of the possible outcomes is a positive change.
So I say...why not? What exactly do I have to lose? Nothing!
I've been going over this for a couple of weeks now and still haven't talked to her because well thinking about it outside of the situation and thinking about it when the situation is a possible reality and very near, is very different.
For one thing I believe the best opportunity to approach her is when she is alone. This has been difficult, often times I see her in a rush or in a group of people.
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On another note, I went to another Campus Outreach meeting two Tuesday's ago. I've become pretty good friends with a couple of the guys in the group and I'm meeting with one of them for lunch tomorrow at UNCG. He wanted to meet up to get to know me a little better and to also talk about getting together a Bible study. I've told him how passionate I am for growing closer to God and living in His image and living what the Word teaches us and I feel like he wants to meet with me because he knows how passionate I am and would like to network. I think it's awesome. For one I am networking with people at UNCG. I hounded myself for not really knowing anyone on campus and not really putting forth the effort to do so. Now that I am putting myself in a place to meet people, I am meeting people and meeting people that share the same interests that I share. It can only get better from here. Meeting more people, learning and talking about the Lord together and reaching out from there. I'm really excited for this, and the opportunities that can unfold from this.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For once in my life I finally feel that what I have stood for and what I have believed in have put me in a positive setting. I feel like occurances in my life that have led up to each other and ultimately led up to where I am now have come full circle and have opened a new door if you will. A new window of opportunity. I always felt like what I was doing in my life wasn't going to get me anywhere specific, that my journey would just be a constant never-ending journey with no solution or satisfaction. One thing is coming to terms that nothing is or will ever be perfect, so expecting it is pointless. I always searched for or expected something completely perfect. I wondered why I never found it and now I know why. Another thing is just sticking to your guns. I have stuck to mine. Being a reserved, kept to myself person. Not being boastful and being appreciative of what I have and making the best of my opportunities. I feel like all of these elements have made me mature and come in to full swing. A lot of it actually comes from my piss-poor grades during first semester. I had to sign up for SAS 100-Student Academic Services. Basically a rehab class for students that didn't perform up to academic university standards the previous semester. I learned study habits and had to write journal assignments in which I had to really focus and look into my mistakes, my habits, and things that I could improve on. The teacher of the class was a lady that had been in the situation before and was interested in being a part of it and sharing with current students, her mistakes of the past. We had to schedule one on one meetings with her for personal growth and opportunities to talk about similar experiences. I was able to connect with her on a personal level and it gave me confidence that someone that shares the same views and beliefs as me had been in my shoes and that things could improve. I kind of feel confident and happy for the first time in a very long time.
Man, this was a long entry.
Duke lost tonight to Villanova by 23. They were exposed in appropriate fashion.
Oh and we beat them a couple weeks ago, again, for the sweep. Hansbrough upped his record to 6-2 against Duke and Lawson upped his to 5-0. He played both games we swept them 2 seasons ago, the 1 game we beat them last year he played, and he played both games this year, both games we won.
I had the tremendous opportunity of going to the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament for both of the games that were held in Greensboro.
Game 1 was UNC vs LSU. Lawson had 2 points as we went into halftime with a 9 point lead. That lead quickly dwindled away as we came out in the 2nd half completely off and got down by 5. From there on it was the Ty Lawson show. He completely took over the game in the 2nd half and had a total of 21 second half points. Ellington did his thing again and we ended up winning 84-70, if we hadn't slacked for those few minutes, we could have won by 20 or so.
Game 2 was Duke vs Texas. How fitting I get to see the team I love and the team I hate the most in the same day, back to back. Duke pretty much lead the entire game and in the final minutes Texas brought it to a tie. With about 2 minutes left, some awful calls were made in favor of Duke and they ended up pulling it out. I was mad because for one, they shouldn't have won, not in that fashion at least. For another thing, I picked Texas in my brackets. They deserved to lose though. They played dumb. Abrams could not get open and hardly even tried. Damion James did not exert himself as a post presence at all and they didn't use 298 lb Dexter Pittman hardly at all. They post these guys up and exploit Duke's lack of inside presence, they win easily. Oh well, it's Rick Barnes, you can't expect much.
Duke lost tonight and that is all fine and dandy, but we have to take care of business against Gonzaga. People on the Rivals board are kind of worried but I honestly am not that worried. For one, Gonzaga is such a Jeckyl and Hyde team. They play in a mediocre conference and most, if not all, the teams they played this year from power conferences, they lost. Don't get me wrong, they have a ton of talent and are a very good team, just not on UNC's level in my opinion. Another reason I am confident is that Gonzaga is very susceptible in getting into a running game. I think it suits their style of play better than being a half court team. If that is the case, we are in good shape. Running is our bread-n-butter and teams that fall into that trap, don't win. Lastly, I go down their roster and I go down ours. I look at every position on their team in respect with their counterparts on our team and we're better at every position.
Lawson is better than Pargo. Pargo is a little bigger, but not as quick and won't be able to keep up.
Ellington is better than Bouldin. Bouldin is a spot up shooter, Ellington can spot up or create off the dribble.
Danny Green is better than Austin Daye. At the beginning of the year I thought Austin Daye was one of the best players and most under rated players in the country and I haven't really heard much out of him. Danny can shoot better, rebound better and play better defense.
Deon Thompson is better than Micah Downs. Never thought I'd say Deon was better than anyone. Deon is a much better rebounder and averages just over 2 points more than Downs.
Hansbrough is better than Heytvelt. This really goes with out question. Hansbrough can score better, rebound better, he will get to the line at will and plays better defense than he's given credit for.
Gonzaga beat us 2 years ago in the Preseason NIT and I think this gives us a little more motivation. We're much better now and much more mature. We have amazing chemistry and very tough to beat. Ask anyone. I say this in confidence that I think we win and I wouldn't be surprised if we won big, by double digits in the upper-teens. Don't know if that will happen because Mark Phew is a very good coach. Experienced and weathered, he'll have them ready for a fight, I just don't think their best effort will be enough.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Still haven't gathered courage up to say something to that girl but I think I'm getting there. I've been reading my Bible a lot lately and I feel like I'm growing less tense. I realize when I'm tense or stressed and just take long and deep breaths to calm my senses. I also feel more confident. I don't walk around like a loser anymore and I actually feel like I belong in this world.
Part of it is just coming to terms with my religious beliefs. God made me and he made me this certain way and I shouldn't be ashamed of it. I shouldn't be afraid to share who I am. Who knows, maybe I have a lot to offer.
Another thing is just me noticing couples around me. In movies, on television or at school even. And I think to myself 'why don't I have a chance?'...'who says I don't have a chance?'. For one, the worst thing that could happen is that it doesn't go right and nothing happens. Nothing changes, I'm no worse than I am, I'm still single. Maybe a bit dejected but still the same. If it does go well, then it's a positive outcome. At worst I make a new friend, at best I take her out on a date and make something of it.
So the worst of the possible outcomes is a change in nothing and the best of the possible outcomes is a positive change.
So I say...why not? What exactly do I have to lose? Nothing!
I've been going over this for a couple of weeks now and still haven't talked to her because well thinking about it outside of the situation and thinking about it when the situation is a possible reality and very near, is very different.
For one thing I believe the best opportunity to approach her is when she is alone. This has been difficult, often times I see her in a rush or in a group of people.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On another note, I went to another Campus Outreach meeting two Tuesday's ago. I've become pretty good friends with a couple of the guys in the group and I'm meeting with one of them for lunch tomorrow at UNCG. He wanted to meet up to get to know me a little better and to also talk about getting together a Bible study. I've told him how passionate I am for growing closer to God and living in His image and living what the Word teaches us and I feel like he wants to meet with me because he knows how passionate I am and would like to network. I think it's awesome. For one I am networking with people at UNCG. I hounded myself for not really knowing anyone on campus and not really putting forth the effort to do so. Now that I am putting myself in a place to meet people, I am meeting people and meeting people that share the same interests that I share. It can only get better from here. Meeting more people, learning and talking about the Lord together and reaching out from there. I'm really excited for this, and the opportunities that can unfold from this.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For once in my life I finally feel that what I have stood for and what I have believed in have put me in a positive setting. I feel like occurances in my life that have led up to each other and ultimately led up to where I am now have come full circle and have opened a new door if you will. A new window of opportunity. I always felt like what I was doing in my life wasn't going to get me anywhere specific, that my journey would just be a constant never-ending journey with no solution or satisfaction. One thing is coming to terms that nothing is or will ever be perfect, so expecting it is pointless. I always searched for or expected something completely perfect. I wondered why I never found it and now I know why. Another thing is just sticking to your guns. I have stuck to mine. Being a reserved, kept to myself person. Not being boastful and being appreciative of what I have and making the best of my opportunities. I feel like all of these elements have made me mature and come in to full swing. A lot of it actually comes from my piss-poor grades during first semester. I had to sign up for SAS 100-Student Academic Services. Basically a rehab class for students that didn't perform up to academic university standards the previous semester. I learned study habits and had to write journal assignments in which I had to really focus and look into my mistakes, my habits, and things that I could improve on. The teacher of the class was a lady that had been in the situation before and was interested in being a part of it and sharing with current students, her mistakes of the past. We had to schedule one on one meetings with her for personal growth and opportunities to talk about similar experiences. I was able to connect with her on a personal level and it gave me confidence that someone that shares the same views and beliefs as me had been in my shoes and that things could improve. I kind of feel confident and happy for the first time in a very long time.
Man, this was a long entry.