Championship or Bust for North Carolina
North Carolina’s men’s basketball team had a remarkable year last season. The team ultimately did not achieve its goal of a national title, but its success laid the foundation for massive expectations for the season ahead for the Tar Heels. Unlike last year, this season is not one filled with potential and possibility, but instead firm, lofty expectations and demands. This season, absolutely nothing short of a national title will satisfy the fans, players and coaching staff in Chapel Hill.
When fans of North Carolina look back to last season, they inevitably deem it a painful collapse and a aching memory. While most would not be so brash as to call the season a failure, the humiliating loss they suffered at the hands of Kansas last March in the National Semi-finals is still a fresh wound.
It might be expected that the loss has come to overshadow the amazing comeback UNC put forth to get itself back in the game. Since the comeback was all for not there is little value in mythologizing it. That said, it is a shame that the defeat (as painful and authoritative as it was) obscured a remarkable season given that Roy William’s team won a school-record 36 games while dealing with numerous injuries to key players.
Tar Heel fans have monumental expectations this year and with good reason. The team returns 95 percent of last season’s scoring and did not lose a single major contributor for a rotation that has made it to two straight Elite Eights and a Final Four. They return the National Player of the Year and have a banner freshman class loaded with All-American talent.
With the deck stacked so heavily in their favor, its “win-it-all or bust”.
Which is exactly how the team’s leader Tyler Hansbrough would want it. Arguably the most intense player in basketball (college or pro), no one in the game gets more results from less natural talent than UNC’s leading scorer and rebounder (22.6 ppg 10.2 rpg). By deciding to finish his college eligibility, Hansbrough immediately assured that UNC would be the favourite in every game this year.
Hansbrough has dominated the ACC for three years now and there appears to be no one in the conference that can put a body on him in the deep post. Even more important than his offensive contribution is the fact that he is the most fearless big man in college basketball on the defensive end. His lack of quickness and leaping ability mean that his pro prospects do not project well, so he will certainly look to exit Chapel Hill on top to improve his draft stock.
To be sure though, Hansbrough is not alone. Joining him are fellow stars Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson, both of whom declared for the NBA Draft and were likely late-first round prospects before they elected to return to school. Lawson may be the fastest guard in the college game and is an excellent on-ball defender. He excels at driving-and-dishing and pairs fabulously with Ellington, who uses those kick-out passes to shot over 40% from beyond the arc.
Key veterans Danny Green, Deon Thompson and Marcus Ginyard also return for Carolina, as does sophomore standout Alex Stephenson. What’s more, the talent stockpiled on Coach Williams’ bench continues to be strong. Superstar recruit Larry Drew joins to bolster the team’s backcourt depth, as do McDonald’s All-Americans Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller who will help solidify their frontcourt.
Given all the talent on his roster, Williams two biggest problems will most likely be finding playing time for everyone and not allowing the team to fold under the massive expectations that will be placed on it.
With arguably the best starting five in college basketball, each of their games will hold the special weight of potential perfection. Many analysts and pundits believe the team has a realistic shot at going undefeated.
Some point out the high level of parity in today’s college game as proof against UNC’s chances to go without a loss. Mid-major teams and conference powers now stand on common ground, so there will be fewer easy wins on their schedule. Still though, the Tar Heels do not face a particularly difficult out of conference schedule outside of games against Michigan State and Notre Dame.
It is fair to say then that the team has a slim but legitimate chance at perfection especially since the ACC is down this season outside of Duke and Wake Forest. Carolina has not just the talent, but experience, to make such a run.
Perfect or otherwise, UNC needs merely to win its last game this year to make it a success. That of course would be a National Championship. There are a good deal of defenses UNC can take if they fail in this account. More talented teams have fallen short of a title. Teams with stronger chemistry and more history together have failed in the past.
But excuses will have no place on Tobacco Road. Not this season, not with this team.
Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media
This article was written by:
Trevor Smith - who has written 38 posts on Hoops Addict.
Trevor Smith is a management consultant living in Toronto, Ontario. He currently writes for HoopsAddict.com, and previously worked for NBA Cares. He is a graduate of Queen's University.