Column: Time to let it go

Marcus. Dear, sweet, struggling Marcus.

A lot of people, and I’d wager it’s most of the student body, want to blame either me or you for your recent shooting woes.

But I’m not so sure that’s the case.

My main chore growing up was doing the dishes. Loading, unloading, scrubbing pots and pans and trays — the sort of thing every little kid hates.

I wasn’t the tallest kid, so I had to hand the beige ceramic plates to my mom, and then she would put them on the tall shelf in the cupboard.

But one day I dropped a plate. Or she did. Either way, it fell and smashed against the black-and-white tiled floor into a million floral-printed pieces.

“Ma, that’s your fault.”

My mother did not like to be told she messed up.

“No Brennie, you dropped it. It’s your fault.”

I also did not like being told I messed up.

So we would bicker, like siblings but worse, over who was the “wrong” one, the oh-so-terrible one who had cracked the cute little sunflower plate.

Marcus, now we’re in the same place.

Maybe I made the mistake. I asked you — some would say jinxed you — about that poor shooting night at Syracuse. Three points, in the Carrier Dome, in Coach Jim Boeheim’s return?

Not a totally unreasonable question.

Maybe it’s you. Three, three, two and then seven points in the last four games? Not exactly the scoring output one would expect from the ACC Preseason Co-Player of the Year.

But truth be told, I don’t think it’s either of our faults. I think my dad hit it on the head when he settled the argument between my mom and I.

Sometimes, things just happen.

And when they do, it’s everyone’s job to pick up the pieces.

Your jump shot isn’t broken — you’ve led the North Carolina men’s basketball team in scoring the past two seasons.

That isn’t a skill someone loses overnight. You said it yourself after the N.C. State game: Eventually the shots are going to fall.

In the meantime, keep doing what you are doing. Assists, rebounds, letting your teammates thrive and grow.

The team is still undefeated in ACC play, and that’s happened even in the midst of this slump.

So yes, I apologize for jinxing you. I should’ve known better, and I really, really, really wish I hadn’t said anything.

But what has happened the past four games isn’t my fault or yours.

You’ll score 20 points soon enough — probably even this weekend — and everyone will forget this little slump ever happened.

What I do know is there’s only one way to move on from this, for the both of us. I’ve said my apology, and you have another game coming up soon.

It’s time for us to let all of this go.