UNC Basketball: Tar Heels Playing Below Potential Headed into March Madness

There is no question that the North Carolina Tar Heels are a top-10 team, but they simply aren't playing up to their potential, and it has the potential of burning them come March Madness.

On Tuesday, the Tar Heels allowed the North Carolina State Wolfpack to get back into the game in the second quarter. The Wolfpack went on a run to close out the half by driving at the Tar Heels' frontcourt, which is supposed to be their strength.

This is all fine and dandy in the regular season, where the Tar Heels can use their sheer talent to come away with a win, but March Madness is an entirely different story. You can't have breakdowns on defense and expect to go deep into the tournament, let alone with a national championship.

The Tar Heels have faced three top-10 teams this season, and lost to two of them (Kentucky and Duke). They have the talent to blow teams out of the water, but the inconsistency has been troubling, with a loss against UNLV and a 90-57 embarrassment against Florida State on Jan. 14.

Even recently, against the Miami Hurricanes, the Tar Heels got a scare.

With players like Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Tyler Zeller, the Tar Heels have formidable talent, but you have to wonder if the loss of Dexter Strickland will be pivotal in the NCAA tournament.

The Tar Heels obviously have the offensive firepower to blow past teams in the tournament, but their defense needs work, and, as they say, defense wins championships.

Fortunately for UNC, there's still time to get it together. Their March 3 rematch against Duke will be telling after they lost to the Blue Devils on Feb. 3, 85-84.

But they can't keep allowing teams like the Wolfpack to stay in games if they want to go on a run come March Madness.

Regardless of their impressive record, the Tar Heels still have plenty of work to do.