I know, I know. Four games into the basketball season and I haven't updated. Well what better way to analyze this team than with last night's gutty performance, a home loss to Illinois.

It was billed as a rematch of last year's title game. Note to ESPN: If you must use that to sell an ACC/Big Ten Challenge game between two of the nation's best programs, then I can't help you.

You know this isn't the same North Carolina team. You also probably know it's not the same Illinois team. Would have been even more different if Dee Brown doesn't break his foot this summer (he intended to enter the NBA Draft).

Anyway, so here we go. I'll cut to the chase: I have never been more impressed with a North Carolina basketball team. Not a national championship team, not a Stackhouse/Wallace team, not a Jamison/Carter team.

I'll address this first: We (yes, we) should not have gotten down 64-50. The slow start to second half was ultimately the reason the Heels lost. Illinois forced the Heels to play their offense between half court and the free throw line. The basket is not in between those two lines.

So we establish that the Heels should not have allowed the Illinois run to start the second. Beyond that, you have to be impressed with the young Carolina squad.

Down 64-50, the crowd at the Smith Center seemed a little deflated. But the young Heels never gave up, and they laid everything they had on the line. The four freshmen showed us all what they will bring to Carolina basketball, and that's a whole lot of heart.

Tyler Hansbrough is a beast. He's going to be one of those all-time great Tar Heels. He may be one you talk about in 15 or 20 years. "Remember the tenacity of the Missouri Mule?" You will. For a long time.

Marcus Ginyard and Danny Green are very pleasant surprises. I don't know if Danny is great in any one area, but he sure is good in a lot of them. Marcus, besides being a terrific defensive asset, has an uncanny ability to create his own shot.

Bobby Frasor and Wes Miller shared the point guard duties. They both did a fine job, though there were times when Bobby and Wes seemed reluctant to take shots that I wish they would. Both ran the floor and did a fine job on Dee Brown, who didn't have a great shooting night. Wes and Bobby showed a lot of composure in a big game.

David Noel is the leader he needs to be. Reyshawn Terry, on the other hand, really needs to find his role. He's got to realize that he doesn't have to carry this team by himself. He's got Noel. He's got the freshmen. Reyshawn has to be find a comfortable role to play.

Quentin Thomas' foot injury must be worse than we thought. The Heels missed him, at the very least to have an extra body to give some breathers to Frasor and Miller.

So, given the expectations for this team, and keeping in mind the fact that Sports Illustrated doesn't have the Heels making the tournament, you have to be impressed with the resiliency and fight in this year's Tar Heels team. Don't get me wrong: I want to win every game. But I am realistic as well. I think this losing effort will pay dividends way down the road, beyond what just another win would.

I had been saying that I was just looking at this year at a minimum as a preseason for next year. The freshmen now will at the very least gain big-game, ACC experience to be leaders in 2006-07. But that's not fair. It's not fair to David Noel and Byron Sanders to want to look beyond their senior seasons. It's not fair to Tyler Hansbrough to not want to count his freshman year. It's not fair to the walk-ons who are helping this year's team get better in practice. I now realize the value that we have in the 2005-06 Tar Heels:  a fun team to watch, and a team that will give you everything they have night in and night out.

I hope all that made sense.

Check Adam Lucas' article if you want to tear up. Just a little bit. Honest.