or your statement that winners adapt losers make excuses and your UNC example is spot on. Having said that, a team from up North that normally plays and practices outdoors in reduced temperature environments may more readily adapt to conditions than a team from a warmer environment that may also have access to indoor practice facilities. The same type of adjustment advantage may also go to a team practicing in rain or wet ball environments regularly versus one that does not. I will go back to read the original poster again, maybe I misinterpreted what they were saying as I did not read it as an excuse just an observation of fact. Like I said, maybe I am wrong. In my case that observation is not intended to be an attempt to excuse the loss but, merely an observation to possibly understand the factors that may have affected the outcome.