Doherty's chance to silence Tar Heels' critics arrives

The worst part wasn't the 20 losses, although Matt Doherty describes each and every one of them like "a kick in the stomach."

The worst part wasn't facing the fans when North Carolina lost to Davidson or Hampton or Ohio. The fans were actually pretty patient.

"The first exhibition game, we lost by 30-something-points," said Doherty. "I think people realized, 'OK, it is going to be a challenge.'"

Matt Doherty says, 'Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong (last season).'(AP)

Challenge is a nice way to put it. The 2001-02 Tar Heels turned into the worst basketball team in school history. But at least during the season there is always some optimism.

"When you go through it you have hope," Doherty said last week from his office in Chapel Hill. "You hope winning the next game starts a streak. You hope the next practice things start to click."

Which is why the worst part came when the season was over.

"In the spring, people take shots, that was hard. You have to sit there and digest it."

Say what you want about Matt Doherty -- and rival recruiters do -- but you can't question his competitiveness, pride or confidence. In the midst of the demoralizing losses and even embarrassing victories (by two, at home, against Binghamton?), he never backed down, never doubted the Heels would return to dominance soon.

"A lot of people are getting their shots in now," Doherty said last winter. "But they better get it out of their system soon because the hammer will drop. And it will drop hard."

Carolina fans ate that up.

Which is what made the spring so difficult. All of a sudden he had plenty of time to hear what everyone was saying about his program, his coaching style and his personality. Two players transferred and didn't leave love notes behind. Another, freshman Jawad Williams, said he'd do the same if there weren't "changes."

Dean Smith disclosed in his autobiography that he initially wanted Rick Majerus to be the coach. Talk radio and Internet boards shrilled with predictable outrage. It became a mountain of second-guessing, complaining and criticism that is bound to happen when a storied program suddenly stinks.

"It's the rumors more than anything," Doherty said. "The rumors of transfers. You hear this player is not happy. You hear this player is going to leave. There were quotes in the paper by different people, and you have to sit there and take it. Digest it all."

So here we go, Monday night, new season, new chance. Doherty says he isn't coaching for revenge or to prove something to the critics, but then again ...

"When you compete in anything and someone beats you, you want to beat their brains in the next time you play. You want to shut them up. Sure. That's human nature."

Human nature is to want to drop that hammer. The question is, is Carolina strong enough yet to swing it with much force?

Doherty is a confident guy, a former Heel himself. He has never doubted he could handle this huge job. He has never backed down from his beliefs that he is a good coach and recruiter.

When he was on the staff of Kansas, he wasn't your typical antsy assistant ready to jump at the first head-coaching job offered. Instead he waited until a really good one came along. That turned out to be Notre Dame. That's a rare patience being rewarded.

But after just one season in South Bend, he was handed the keys to one of the nation's best jobs, mainly because of his Carolina ties and because Roy Williams turned it down.

In terms of resume, he wasn't the best candidate. He wasn't the worst, either, but the question lingers among Carolina fans, foes and coaching peers (many of whom would love to see the chosen one fail): Can he do the job?

Doherty thought he answered that question in 2000-01 when his team won 18 consecutive games, was ranked No. 1 in the country and captured a share of the ACC regular-season title.

But by mid-March, Carolina had been humbled by Duke in the ACC tourney and fallen to Penn State in the second round of the NCAAs. The doubters Doherty had silenced in February were back in March. That's how it is at a place like UNC. Last season didn't reassure anyone.

It's one thing to lose to Duke, but Davidson?

"Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong," Doherty said. "I do believe in our staff though. We won 22 at Notre Dame, we won 26 our first year here, won a share of the ACC regular-season title, we were ranked No. 1. I don't feel I have to validate myself to anybody."

In reality, he does. The Carolina people who matter -- the administration and big money alums -- were appropriately quiet last season. But there needs to be a sign of progress this year, a glimmer of hope that things are beginning to click.

Doherty brought in a bunch of talented freshmen to go with a bunch of talented sophomores. He really doesn't have much of anything else. Over the past 50 years, UNC has averaged at least eight upperclassmen on its roster. This season there are two, and one is a former walk-on.

There is youth, limited depth and the kind of challenging schedule that is a Carolina trademark.

"I'm confident we are going to have a good season and turn this around," Doherty said. "But with our schedule and our youth, what's a good season? I'm not going to say we will win 20. I'm not going to say we will win 12. I'm not going to say we will win 25. I don't know.

"Hopefully we'll show progress, although that progress might not show up in the record."

It starts Monday with the opening round of the Preseason NIT when Penn State comes to town. It's the start of a challenging slate of games.

"If I had my choice I'd play five Division II schools, gain confidence and then start with the big guys," Doherty said. "But this is North Carolina. You are going to play tough teams every year. I don't think our fans or players want to play any other way."

He enters a season where all eyes are seeking progress even if that may not translate into wins. He begins his third year trying to answer the same question as Year 1: Can he do this job?

There are days when the answer is obviously yes. Others when that doesn't seem so certain. What would pass as proof this year? Ten victories? Fifteen? Beating Duke? Beating Davidson?

The only thing that is clear is Matt Doherty, competitor, is happy the games are finally here. Starting Monday, he gets to swing his hammer again.