From: jdt29225@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Jazzy J )
Subject: Re: Duke tops AP and USA Today/CNN polls... Michigan tumbles
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 20:38:13 GMT

hurtje@wkuvx1.bitnet writes:
>   Charlotte?  .... by 35?   HA!!!   If you will think back with me to
>the summer/spring of 1992 when the OLYMPIC TEAM was practicing against
>a group of college kids that they were beat 3 of 3 times in 20 min

	Hold on.  I think the college guys only beat them once.  They
	then went on to get smoked by a ton in the next few games.

>   Yeah, Charlotte would have clobbered these college players... NOT!!

	Well... let's compare the two teams -- last year's championshp
	Duke squad, vs. this year's Hornets:

	Point guard -- Bobby Hurley vs. Muggsy Bogues
	While Hurley might have the height advantage, Bogues is an 
	established veteran who will give Hurley fits on defense.  He also
	is quicker than Hurley, which may give 'ol Bobby some problems. 
	ADVANTAGE:  None

	Shooting guard -- Thomas Hill vs. Kendall Gill
	Thomas is an underrated, budding talent.  He probably has all the
	physical skills to keep close with Gill.  However, Gill probably
	has too many moves for Hill defensively.  Gill has been called
	a "poor man's Jordan", and should be in the All-Star game for
	years to come.  Hill has the talent, and should be in the NBA
	next season.
	ADVANTAGE: Gill (but not by as much as U would think)

	Small forward -- Johnny Newman vs. Brian Davis
	Given, Newman is currently injured, but we'll throw him in, since
	he's the usual starter.  Offensively, Newman has an assortment of
	moves, and will certainly keep Davis, the defensive specialist
	on his toes.  Neither are much of a factor on the boards.  Newman
	and his offense are pretty much negated by Davis and his defense.
	ADVANTAGE: None

	Power forward -- Larry Johnson vs. Antonio Lang
	No contest.  While Lang certainly has potential, LJ is an all-star
	for years to come.  There's no way Lang could keep up with LJ
	either outside or inside, and as some on the net would put it --
	"he'd eat him for lunch".  Johnson would just be too much.  Grant
	Hill could fill in here, but certainly would get outmuscled by
	LJ.
	ADVANTAGE: Johnson (by quite a bit)

	Center -- Alonzo Mourning vs. Christian Laettner
	Here we have 2 rookies that are doing quite well in the pros.
	Mourning has the defensive ability and strength -- Laettner the
	outside game.  Based on present performance in the NBA, call it
	even.

	ADVANTAGE: Even

	Bench --
	Charlotte has the likes of David Wingate, Del Curry, Kenny Gattison,
	Sidney Green, and Tony Bennett off the bench.  Duke has Grant Hill
	(or Lang), Marty Clark, Cherokee Parks, Erik Meek, and Kenny
	Blakeney off the bench.  Hill is certainly great for Duke off the
	bench, but Curry supplies the offensive firepower for Charlotte.
	Given Parks and Meek were still raw last season, but there's no
	way they (or the rest of Duke for that matteR) could bang with the
	likes of Green and Gattison.  Wingate serves as the defensive
	stopper, and could shut down anyone on the Duke squad (this is a
	guy who held Mullin to 4 pts once).  Coach K really didn't use his
	bench much last year, and Charlotte is much deeper than the Devils.

	ADVANTAGE: Charlotte (by a long shot) 

	Analysis:

	While I don't think the Hornets would win by 35, I'm sure they
	would win by at least 20.  The Hornets have better athletes, and
	MUCH more strength inside.  They'd outrebound Duke by a ton.
	They're so much bigger, Duke would have lots of defensive problems.

	Charlotte is an up-and-coming playoff team.  To think a college
	team could beat them at this point in time, is pretty outgoing.

	Jazzy J
 
-- 
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|   " I try to discover a little something to make me sweeter..."   --Erasure |
|   Jazzy J               jdt29225@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu         U-Illinois/Urbana |
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