The title says it all. And I believe it.

The Tar Heels beat the Virginia Cavaliers by 45 points last night. Forty-five. That's 20 more than 25. The Virginia Cavaliers are an NCAA Division I Men's Basketball team. They are in a major conference. They beat the Tar Heels the last time the teams met. But the Tar Heels won by 45 last night. On a night when Thomas Wilkins and Will Robinson started, and played the opening minutes through a deadball. And they contributed.

I have seen some great things in the Dean E. Smith Center. I never saw a Dean Smith-coached team lose a game there. I saw a Dante Calabria tip-in beat Duke. I saw Rashad McCants nail two three-pointers to beat UConn. I was at the snowed-in game, when the students packed the lower level to help the Heels come back to beat Maryland. I saw Tyler Hansbrough drop 40 points on Georgia Tech not too long ago.

But last night was magic.

Last night was David Noel's night. For David, the basket was like a "big old huge bucket," if I may quote my friend J-Mac. Everyone in the Smith Center knew David was creeping in on his career high. And he got it. In his last home game as a Tar Heel.

And there was Byron Sanders, giving his all just as he has for four years. An odd career, in that he started most of his freshman year, and saw his role diminished and then re-built. But a Tar Heel.

"Score, Byron, dammit!!!" I implored as he got the ball in the block. And he did.

They both scored. Two Tar Heels that helped rebuild the North Carolina basketball program got the recognition they deserve last night.

And it doesn't stop.

The Tar Heels roll into Cameron Saturday with nothing to lose but a basketball game. The game will be on three ESPN channels. It's Senior Night for Redick, Dockery and Williams. The Blue Devils are no longer unbeaten in conference play. It can be done.

And if I've ever been confident that a Tar Heel team can win in Cameron, I'm confident in this year's team.

Go Tar Heels.


Senior speeches on Tar Heel Blue.

Adam Lucas is brilliant again.