So yesterday I decided to dive into why this UNC vs LaSalle game is actually kind of a big deal for the 2024 season. Been sitting on this matchup idea for weeks, just letting it stew in the back of my head.
First thing I did was pull up my worn notebook. Always gotta start with pencil and paper for me – scribbling down messy thoughts about why this game feels heavy. LaSalle ain’t Duke, right? Everyone knows that. But last season… man, they snuck up on a couple teams and slapped ’em around. I flipped open my laptop and hunted down last year’s box scores. Took me a solid hour just piecing together who they beat and how. Stats were scattered everywhere.
The Digging Part Got Real
Got kinda obsessed honestly. Found myself watching grainy highlight reels late last night. LaSalle’s got this guard… whats-his-name… Matthews? That kid plays angry. Like, constantly attacking the rim like he’s got a personal grudge against it. Started comparing his numbers to some other guards UNC has faced. Realized this wasn’t just some cupcake game tucked into the schedule. This Matthews dude could cause actual headaches if UNC doesn’t lock down the paint early.
Then I remembered UNC’s shaky start this season against those smaller, scrappy teams. Against Charleston? Man, they looked lost for stretches. Heart palpitations material. I started listing out UNC’s known weak spots:
- Turnovers when pressured
- Sometimes snooze on defense for 4-5 minutes
- Letting smaller guards drive way too easy
Suddenly, LaSalle’s whole “underdog with nothing to lose” vibe made way more sense. This matchup? Textbook trap game stuff.
Why My Writing Process Fell Apart
Got everything laid out this morning ready to write properly. Coffee hot, notes organized. Felt great. Then the baby decided blowing raspberries and demanding my undivided attention RIGHT NOW was the top priority. Spent an hour and a half basically trapped under a drooling toddler while my carefully crafted outline sat lonely on the screen. Typical Tuesday.
Finally wrestled some free time after lunch. Tried to dive back in… only to see my workspace looked like a hurricane hit it – toys everywhere, leftover breakfast crumbs all over my notes, cat lounging majestically on my keyboard. Pure chaos. Kinda mirrored UNC’s chaotic moments this season, honestly. Had to laugh while scrubbing oatmeal off my player comp sheets.
Just shoved it all aside eventually. Sat down with the laptop balanced precariously and started hammering words out. Skipped the fancy intros. Stopped worrying about perfect sentences. Just vomited out everything rattling around:
- Why UNC should actually sweat a little
- That Matthews guard being an “X-factor nobody is talking about
- How UNC’s bigs need to own the glass
- The danger if UNC’s guards play sleepy
Ended up more passionate than planned. Felt raw, real. LaSalle ain’t the main event, but how UNC handles them? That tells us everything about their focus heading into the real heavyweights later on. Hit publish before I could overthink it. Sometimes the messy, unexpected part is the point, you know?