Written by Clark Gerber, contributing writer for WRAL Sports.

Without being constantly connected to the internet, it is impossible to stay updated on everything. It is not advised to always be plugged in. You are bound to miss out on things.

We will perform that task. It is possible to maintain a healthy balance and still keep up with all the exciting sports highlights of the week, with a simple overview…

with his own jumper

Cormac Ryan seals the win for his team by making a jump shot against Duke.

In the future, supporters of North Carolina (and possibly Duke as well) will recall the Battle of the Blues that took place on Saturday, with four short words: The Cormac Ryan Game.

Cormac Ryan, who transferred from Notre Dame, solidified his status as a hero for the Tar Heels during this weekend’s game in Durham. He scored a game-leading 31 points, guiding UNC to victory over their biggest rival and securing the top spot in the ACC regular season.

He made six 3-pointers during the game, which helped Carolina take an early lead and secure the win with two more shots towards the end. This was the highest number of points scored by a UNC player at Cameron Indoor Stadium in over three decades. The only other player to surpass this record was the current head coach, Hubert Davis, in 1992, when he scored 35 points (although it was in a losing effort).

Upon the team’s arrival in Chapel Hill, Ryan appeared to be having a great time. He even went as far as to climb on top of a bus and showcase the ACC trophy to a crowd of enthusiastic fans!

Moving into the tournament, Ryan’s potential impact could greatly benefit North Carolina.

Most people are familiar with R.J. Davis, Armando Bacot, and Harrison Ingram. However, if their opponents have to also consider the possibility of Cormac Ryan scoring 30 points, it adds another level of concern and challenge.

Ryan earned the ACC Player of the Week award this week, which he fully deserved. Let’s see if he can maintain his momentum and play a key role for the Tar Heels in their quest for success in March Madness.

Is Duke reverting back to the dark side?

Without a doubt, Duke is among the top college basketball teams that are widely disliked.

After Mike Krzyzewski’s retirement, there was a noticeable absence in the past few years. The animosity towards the Blue Devils from rival fans seemed to have diminished.

However, after Saturday, it is possible that we will have completely recovered.

During the first half, Kyle Filipowski, a forward for Duke, mimicked Grayson Allen and intentionally tripped Harrison Ingram from UNC while running down the court. However, Filipowski has stated that it was unintentional and has since apologized to Ingram after the game. The video evidence, however, is difficult to ignore.

I don’t think it was an accident.

But wait, there’s more!

Following the game, the enthusiastic fans of Cameron Indoor Stadium expressed their disappointment by hurling water bottles towards taunting players from the University of North Carolina as they exited the court.

It is not ideal. A completely filled water bottle could cause harm if it were to hit someone in the head or eye. However, at least there was no sudden rush onto the court, correct?

I am pleased to see Dark Side Duke return. It adds a lot of enjoyment to college basketball.

The Panthers have made a trade involving Burns and have also incurred the loss of Luvu.

The NFL’s free agency period began on Monday with the opening of the “legal tampering period,” although it is not yet officially confirmed.

This was the initial opportunity for supporters of the Panthers to feel enthusiastic about the team’s new direction, led by general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales… however, all hope dissipated by the end of the day.

The New York Giants acquired talented edge rusher Brian Burns in exchange for two draft picks: a 2nd round pick and a 5th round pick.

While it may not be a considerable amount, it is understandable that the Panthers were hesitant to provide Burns with the lucrative contract extension he desired (as he was offered a 5-year, $150 million deal by New York).

Although it was reported that Carolina could have received two 1st round draft picks for Burns less than 18 months ago, fans, including country music star Luke Combs, were outraged by the trade.

Some people have put together a comprehensive analysis of the recent major trades made by the Panthers and the findings are quite unsettling.

However, the trade involving Burns was not the only negative development on Monday. Linebacker Frankie Luvu, who has emerged as a standout player on the defensive side for the past two years, chose to depart from Carolina as a free agent and instead inked a 3-year contract with the Washington Commanders.

By any measure, Burns and Luvu were two of the top three players on the Panthers’ defense last season. And in a one-hour span, the team lost both of them on Monday.

It should be mentioned that the Panthers have added guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis to strengthen the offensive line and shield Bryce Young, but these acquisitions have not calmed the anger of the fan base.

Hopefully, Carolina can turn things around and make some successful decisions leading up to next month’s draft.

The NC State women’s basketball team fell short in the ACC championship game.

At the ACC tournament championship game on Sunday, NC State was close to winning their fourth title in five years. However, their offense struggled due to a sudden drop in performance, leading to a 55-51 loss against Notre Dame.

NC State finished just 3/17 from beyond the arc all game, and managed just 2 points in the final 7 minutes of the fourth quarter.

This strategy is unlikely to result in winning many games, particularly when the opposing team is able to make 8 out of 17 shots from beyond the arc.

Hannah Hidalgo and Maddy Westbeld were responsible for all of Notre Dame’s scoring in the fourth quarter, while also leading the team’s defense that held NC State to a mere 1 out of 9 shots and forced 3 turnovers in the last 12 possessions.

The Wolfpack still has a chance to recover, as they have almost two weeks to prepare for the upcoming NCAA tournament. It is expected that their first two games will take place at their home field.

As previously mentioned, the NC State team is both well-rounded and resilient. They will be a formidable challenge for any opponent in a do-or-die scenario, and I am confident in their ability to make a substantial advancement, potentially even reaching the Final Four once again.

What are the chances?

As some may know, Monday marked the legalization of sports betting in North Carolina.

Let’s pause to recognize a truly exceptional basketball team that likely brought in some additional earnings for those who bet against them this year.

I am discussing the Pacific Tigers.

In general, teams are expected to have a close to equal record against the spread, but this was not the case for Pacific. Their record of 6-24 against the number was extremely poor this year, making them the worst performing team in Division I basketball.

If you had placed bets of $100 against Pacific in every game this season, you would have earned approximately $1600 in profits. That’s pretty good, isn’t it?

Regrettably, there will not be another chance to defeat the Tigers during this season. They were eliminated from the WCC tournament on Thursday evening, suffering a crushing 102-43 defeat against Pepperdine.

The margin was 9.5 points, so they did not meet the requirement.

Fortunately, this is not just a temporary success for Pacific. In reality, two seasons ago, their performance was even poorer with a 4-22-2 record against the point spread.

I understand that many of their games are scheduled for late hours for those on the east coast, but please consider supporting the Pacific men’s basketball team next season – it could lead to financial gain.

Kangaroo stampede!

There are no deceitful or exaggerated headlines present.

Last week, a group of hundreds of kangaroos was captured bouncing through a golf course in Melbourne, Australia. Video footage of the event is available as evidence.

Although they can pose a threat when disturbed, I must admit that kangaroos rank highest in my personal Golf Course Stampede Power Rankings. They may fall to second place if a koala bear stampede ever emerged.

I have a strong dislike for alligators, geese, and bugs. I am okay with deer, but I believe they may damage the greenery.

The creator of the video, Stephen Roche, mentioned that the kangaroos’ feet were incredibly gentle, as they left only footprints in the sand traps. It seems like they would make for the perfect tramplers!

Next week, we will see you.

Source: wralsportsfan.com