UNC won again last night and "The Body" Paul Mac should be excited about that. (though he was probably like me, watching Texas cover for Mack Brown's step-son as he touched a live ball in play) UNC is now 13-0 and #1 in the country, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. Memphis is great, and Kansas is good. UCLA is talented. But UNC is on an entirely different level. They just are. They are undefeated, but can it last? Should it?
Every few years a team is undefeated going into its conference tournament and in the cases of St Joseph's and Stanford about 4 years ago, each lost early. But was that a bad thing? They got to rest going into the Big Dance, though neither won the tourney that year.
The last team to streak through completely undefeated was UNLV, who lost to Duke in the Final Four (1991, I am pretty sure). Indiana was able to run the clean undefeated sweep, but they played far fewer games then than they do now, so that record is a bit tarnished.
The real question is, SHOULD UNC, if they are undefeated entering the tourney, go for the unblemished mark? I saw yes, but I don't think they will make it unscathed.
Duke is young, but you play them in Cameron and those Crazies will get on you quick. I know UNC is the more talented and experienced team, but the home court neutralizes that.
NC State treats you like their Super Bowl every time you play, so watch out there. They have SOME skilled players.
UVA has a great point guard in Sean Singletary who can take over games late, plus their front court can throw waves at Psycho-T all night long.
Maryland has Gary Williams, a championship coach. The team may not be the strongest, but as one analyst once said, "he takes players with chips on their shoulders and paints them blue." He is a great coach.
Clemson has been known to upset a top ranked team before, but they haven't won in 43 tries EVER at the Dean Dome. Just watch out for Littlejohn Coliseum.
VaTech shouldn't be feared AT ALL and Miami, well they are undefeated now, but let's see when they play UNC.
Boston College lost some quality players, but always seem to show up with Al Skinner.
FSU and Georgia Tech...they both have talent, but are on the bottom tier of the conference.
Lastly Wake Forest, if you catch them on the wrong day, maybe they pull one out for Skip...(But they DID lose to UGA, so you have to immediately discount this team)
If UNC is undefeated going into the Conference tourney, WHY NOT try and win it all before running off 6 straight come March. If this team, with these players goes undefeated, it HAS to be looked at, in this age of players and schedules and teams as one of the best, IF NOT THEY BEST ever.
Great coach (maybe #3 all time behind Wooden and Smith, ahead of Knight and Coach K-sorry Rat-face)
REALLY fast Point Guard-Ty Lawson
Smooth shooter Wayne Ellington
Dominant Post Player Psycho T(yler Hansbrough)
great role player Marcus Ginyard
These guys are ready. I think this crew could beat the 2005 team, and had they played the Florida Gators last year, we are talking about THIS team repeating, not that team repeating. But they blew a late lead against Georgetown. That is something that shaped this team, Motivated this team and will be the reason they win it ALL this year.
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