Did I say UNC could go undefeated? Really?

The flaw in my opinion that North Carolina could go undefeated wasn't that the achievement is impossible.

The flaw was that I failed to recognize that UNC always loses home games it shouldn't.

There was a home loss to unranked Miami three seasons ago; a home loss to unranked Virginia Tech two seasons ago; a home loss to unranked Maryland last season; and now there's a home loss to unranked Boston College this season -- an 85-78 home loss Sunday night in which the Tar Heels were 23-point favorites.

So long, perfection.

So long, No. 1 ranking.

So what the hell are we to make of this?

Answer: A lot and nothing, if that makes much sense.

It means a lot because it shows the Tar Heels are fully capable of screwing this up in the win-or-go home format that is the NCAA tournament. On various nights they have to outscore their opponents because their defense can be suspect, and that's always going to be a concern, whether they can beat a quality opponent when they need 85 points to do it. On the other hand, it means nothing because you can check with any Las Vegas bookmaker and I assure you he'll still have the Tar Heels as the favorites to win the ACC and national title even if they no longer have the nation's best resume or body of work. So in the grand scheme of things, it's not a big deal except for that it ensures UNC won't be the first team to go undefeated since Bob Knight's 1976 Indiana Hoosiers, and it probably takes the Tar Heels out of the running for Team of the Decade or Team of the Century or whatever.

And that's too bad.

Because that's what I thought they could be.

But now they look more like Ivan Drago with a cut over his eye against Rocky Balboa than Ivan Drago with a smirk on his face against Apollo Creed, and if you don't know what I'm talking about you should really watch Rocky IV. To quote Duke the Trainer, the Tar Heels have been hurt, which proves they're not machines; they're men. And now they're hurt men with a questionable home loss to an inferior opponent, just like they were at some point in each of the past three seasons, too.

You aren't alone in those who said Carolina would go undefeated. But we will let it slide. I had a pretty good hunch that my Heels weren't going to slide through the season with zero losses, the ACC is just too competitive. On any given night, anyone who executes their game plan perfectly can catch a break over a better team, who does not put it all on the court, heart and soul. UNC had let it go, had easier opponents that really had not challenged them to this point in the season. I had a feeling that their first loss was going to come in the early weeks of ACC play.

It's a positive loss, the target is now off the team's back, they can focus on the things they need to, and the game they should be playing, not the fact that they are going to be undefeated or be the National Champion...as that has still yet to be decided.

The polls did not fluctuate too much the first weeks of the season, but now going into conference play, we have 14 teams at this point that were ranked this week that did lose, we should see some major shuffling in the polls this week.

PantherPride Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Nov 17, 2006	Posted on: January 4, 2009 8:57 pm Score: 92 Did I say UNC could go undefeated? Really? I love the Rocky IV reference. I was actually thinking the same thing while watching this game. [ Reply to Comment ]
dookisevil Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Jan 26, 2007	Posted on: January 4, 2009 9:07 pm Score: 95 Did I say UNC could go undefeated? Really? You aren't alone in those who said Carolina would go undefeated. But we will let it slide. I had a pretty good hunch that my Heels weren't going to slide through the season with zero losses, the ACC is just too competitive. On any given night, anyone who executes their game plan perfectly can catch a break over a better team, who does not put it all on the court, heart and soul. UNC had let it go, had easier opponents that really had not challenged them to this point in the season. I had a feeling that their first loss was going to come in the early weeks of ACC play. It's a positive loss, the target is now off the team's back, they can focus on the things they need to, and the game they should be playing, not the fact that they are going to be undefeated or be the National Champion...as that has still yet to be decided. The polls did not fluctuate too much the first weeks of the season, but now going into conference play, we have 14 teams at this point that were ranked this week that did lose, we should see some major shuffling in the polls this week. [ Reply to Comment ]
freebirdmaw Reputation: 89 Level: All-Star Since: Apr 2, 2008	Posted on: January 4, 2009 9:09 pm Score: 91 Did I say UNC could go undefeated? Really? It just shows again how hard it is to go undefeated. NC should still be the favorites although a number of teams have the talent to knock them off. I actually they had a legit shot at it even with a much tougher schedule then Memphis had last year. Now Gary, I can't wait to see who you give #1 to? Especially since that one ranting Dear Gary from the guy who thought you hated Pitt and were undermining the Big East conference. You should vote for someone else just to hear the dude go balistic. [ Reply to Comment ]
hoopsisbest Reputation: 96 Level: Superstar Since: Jan 10, 2008	Posted on: January 4, 2009 9:15 pm Score: 91 Did I say UNC could go undefeated? Really? You forgot NC has a coach named Roy Williams. While "all world" as a recruiter off the court, he keeps "all world" recruited talent under check by being an average tactician on the court. [ Reply to Comment ]
freebirdmaw Reputation: 89 Level: All-Star Since: Apr 2, 2008	Posted on: January 4, 2009 9:15 pm Score: 90 Did I say UNC could go undefeated? Really? Another indication on how tough it is to go undefeated. Carolina should stil be the favorites but there are a few teams that have enough talent to stay with them and on a given night anything can happen. Now Gary, who are you going to have at #1 this week? Since that guy in the Dear Gary Mailbag was ranting how you hated Pitt and were undermining the Big East.......it must be a tough decision for you....lol That guy was funny. At least he didnt call you a redneck. [ Reply to Comment ]
ChicksDigIt Reputation: 49 Level: Rookie Since: Aug 5, 2008	Posted on: January 4, 2009 9:16 pm Score: 75 Did I say UNC could go undefeated? Really? Always better to go with a BOLD prediction and lots of them, that way you can forget about the 99 you get wrong and focus on the 1 you get right. A college basketball team is far less likely than an NCAA/NFL team doing it - because they don't have set schedules for work out, practice, school, class, etc - plus the obvious - MANY MORE games in a year. The only way a team will ever go undefeated is if they play defense like the old school Hoosiers or Badgers of WI and have an insane scoring threat like Stephen Curry who can get them 25+ a night and let the defense hold their opponents to 55 points or less Keep up the dolb predicting, it doesn't cost anything and is always fun when that 1 in a hundred longshot comes in! [ Reply to Comment ]
PGHGrunt81 Reputation: 2 Level: Amateur Since: Jan 4, 2009	Posted on: January 4, 2009 9:19 pm Score: 24 Did I say UNC could go undefeated? Really? PITT should be ranked #1 now. [ Reply to Comment ]
terpsrock6 Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Nov 27, 2006	Posted on: January 4, 2009 9:32 pm Score: 94 Did I say UNC could go undefeated? Really? I think as long as the ACC remains at the level it is at, no one will go undefeated in it. There are so many good teams, it's almost impossible to bring your "A" game every single time, and if you're undefeated, everyone's gunning for you. [ Reply to Comment ]
soxandpats1 Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Sep 27, 2006	Posted on: January 4, 2009 9:38 pm Score: 94 Did I say UNC could go undefeated? Really? BC is lot better than most thought, Rice could be a consensus all american, Sanders all ACC and this Jackson kid looks like a real find at guard for Al Skinner. [ Reply to Comment ]
coachbill4pres Reputation: 96 Level: Superstar Since: Dec 20, 2006	Posted on: January 4, 2009 9:39 pm Score: 92 Did I say UNC could go undefeated? Really? It takes a big man to qualify his previous statement. Who are you, Parrish? Bill Clinton?? Can you tell me what the meaning of "is" is now?? LOL. What I care about is that BC should be ranked. Who the *&^%$ cares who #1 is now. It appears all the rubber with the OOC schedules has now met the hard pavement. BC has been disrespected in the ACC forever; so in my opinion, BC needs to be in the top 25. In my mind, that's the least the AP or any other poll of "experts" should acknowledge. [ Reply to Comment ]

Gary Parrish

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