North Carolina Season Preview: Top 10 Games to Look Forward to

Here's the big question in College Hoops this season: Can North Carolina go undefeated?

In short, NO.

The feat has only been accomplished six times. San Francisco was the first to do it in 1956 and in doing so were actually repeat National Champions. The following year North Carolina also went undefeated, beating Michigan State and Kansas in consecutive three-OT games to claim the National Championship.

During UCLA’s dominant run through the '60s and '70s, they went undefeated three times: in ’64, ’72, and ’73. The last team to go undefeated was Indiana in 1976, when Sean May’s father, Scott, Kent Benson, and Quinn Buckner went wire to wire as No. 1.

Thirty-plus years later, it is obvious that an undefeated season is much more difficult to obtain, with Illinois coming the closest in 2004-05. The talent across the NCAA has risen dramatically, so much so that any team can win on any given night. There are just too many variables that have to fall in place for one team to come out unscathed after 35+ games.

Injuries

North Carolina is vulnerable right now without Tyler Hansbrough and Marcus Ginyard. Hansbrough is out indefinitely, but Ginyard is slated to return in late December. The question arises, will Hansbrough be able to fully recover from the stress reaction in his shin?

Hansbrough is the heart and soul of this North Carolina team, and without his aggressive play, you have to wonder if Deon Thompson and freshmen Tyler Zeller and Ed Davis will be able to fill that void in big game situations.

UNC was able to overcome Ty Lawson’s ankle injury that kept him out a month last season, but if any major starters get injured, say goodbye to a perfect season and hello to some L’s.

Defense

Roy Williams never seems to be satisfied with his defense. Can UNC be consistent enough week to week to withstand their opponent’s best shot? The return of Bobby Frasor should help Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington contain the backcourt. UNC will be without their go-to defensive stopper, Ginyard, until late December.

Don’t get me wrong—I expect North Carolina will not lose more than two or three games. The Tar Heels are just too talented and deep to falter.  A couple of early season matchups will show if UNC is worthy of their preseason unanimous No. 1 ranking. The ACC should be more competitive this season as well and will provide a number of compelling games.

Here’s a look at the top 10 games to look forward to this season (in order of date).

1. Penn

First glimpse of the Heels without Hansbrough and Ginyard. Will the freshmen gel into the lineup? Think back to the first game of the 2005 Championship season. Maybe a loss wouldn’t be all that bad.

2. Kentucky

UK is considered the third-best team in the SEC behind Florida and Tennessee. The losses of Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford hurt, but power forward Patrick Patterson will be formidable in the paint.

3. Texas (Maui Invitational)

The Heels and the Horns could potentially meet in the championship game in Maui. Texas lost D.J. Augustin to the draft, but A.J. Abrams, Damion James, and Connor Atchley should keep Texas in the NCAA elite.

4. At Michigan State (Big Ten Challenge)

This is the best Michigan State team since their 2004-05 Final Four run. Raymar Morgan, point guard Kalin Lucas, and center Goran Suton are very talented.

5. At Nevada

Nevada is an extremely young team this season, but Mark Fox’s squads are always competitive. The Wolf Pack should compete for the WAC conference championship again this season.  Possible road trap for the Heels.

6. At Wake Forest

The Demon Deacons might prove to be the biggest challenge for the Heels. The entire starting lineup returns, along with the top nine scorers. Mix in a top recruiting class (Ty Walker, Tony Woods, and Al-Farouq Aminu), and the Deacons are going to be nasty. Wake has a huge frontcourt with six players at least 6’9". Ishmael Smith, L.D. Williams, and Jeff Teague are solid.

7. Clemson

Clemson almost ended the streak last season, but that might have been the best shot they’ll get for a while. The Tigers lost Cliff Hammonds and James Mays but return Trevor Booker, K.C. Rivers, and Terrence Oglesby.

8. At Duke

North Carolina has won at Duke three years in a row. Can the Senior class achieve the sweep? Read my review of Duke for more insight on the Blue Devils.

9. At Virginia Tech

VT has given the Heels fits over the past few seasons. Tech returns four of five starters, including leading scorer A.D. Vassallo.

10. Duke

Should be a very emotional game in the Smith Center, as Hansbrough, Green, Frasor, Ginyard, and Copeland will play their last game at home.