Great site!! This is my first post on heelsblog.com and won't be my last. I thought the men's basketball team is playing as well as any team since the 1997-1998 team. We have better depth than that version of the Heels. However, I am concerned with a few things. I am concerned that our fans and our players may overhype this team. Granted, we are playing great basketball and are ranked #4 in the country. However, our schedule hasn't been the strongest. We beat a great Iowa team in Maui as well as a young Kentucky team at home. We struggled in our only true away game at Indiana and lost to Santa Clara in Oakland. Even without Raymond, we still should have beaten Santa Clara. So hopefully, as the conference season starts, Roy will have his team mentally prepared. My second concern is that of complacency on offense especially that in the half court set. We played into William and Mary's hands on Sunday early in the first half. They zoned us and we shot way too many three pointers. Coach Williams made the necessary adjustments and we won easily. Eric Montross on the Tar Heel Sports network said that if were playing anyone else we would have been down by 15-20 points at that point in the game. I have to agree with Mr. Montross. We just need to be consistent on the offensive side. Defensively, I think we are much better than last year. I think are pressure defense has forced a lot of turnovers but it has also given up easy layups. The next 17 games are crucial to the program Roy is building. There are only a few cupcake games in the ACC this year. It will be very interesting to see how well this team can handle a tough stretch in league play. All in all, I think we are definitely a Final Four contender but this team needs to prove to me that it has what it takes to cut down the nets in St. Louis.

I agree that the team hasn't been really tested on the road just yet. However, the Tar Heels have played twice on the road (at Indiana and Virginia Tech), and four times (Maui and Oakland) at neutral sites. At the same time, however, the folks in Durham have yet to play an away game, and won't do so until January 13th. I think (and hope) the Tar Heels won't make the same mistakes they did against W & M because each game is a learning experience with this team. We are seeing a team grow before our eyes, and it is something special.

Just a small point, but I think that the road game at Indiana was quite a test and a great win for several reasons. It proved that we really are a very good team. I know this Indiana team isn't the Indiana team of past glory but I don't think it should be overlooked as simply a non-conference road win. They wanted to beat us as much as anyone and being able to hold on in that environment spoke very highly of the Heels. I think we can look at that win as a game that really toughened our guys up. That is the kind of play we may see in the ACC this year. Also, with each game, this team is maturing and improving, mentally and physcially. That's obvious. It is true that with conference play starting on Saturday the true tests will come. But I think that we've got lots to look forward to and a team that wants to win.

also, IU almost beat UCONN, at uconn. despite not having the best record they are a talented team.