The Presidents Choice - North Carolina is Built for March
by Ian James
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They are Obama’s choice to win it all, so it's national championship or bust for UNC. Not only does the president choose you but you get every vote for preseason No. 1 in the media and the coaches poll, talk about pressure. But the Tar Heels have it all: NBA talent galore, a Hall of Fame coach, depth, speed, size, experience . . . yeah, you get the idea.
Maybe the only surprise was that Wake Forest. Nothing to get too excited about, besides, a dose of humility isn't bad, and there's not the pressure of an undefeated season hanging over UNC's head. With just about everybody of note back from last season's Final Four team, North Carolina had to fight the regular-season blahs, which won't be an issue in March.
The big question is the health of their most important player, junior point guard Ty Lawson. No I didn’t forget that senior forward Tyler Hansbrough is the reigning national player of the year but Lawson is the one that sets the tone on both ends and he was working on being more of a vocal leader, as well as a defensive hound that takes the opposing point guard out of his game. He’s nursing a stubbed toe that kept him out of both ACC championship games and missed their first game today against Radford. Hopefully he’ll be good to go in the second round, when his presence or lack there of will be felt even more. If he can’t go it will be up to their big man to carry the team until Lawson can return.
Hansbrough should be able to handle it as he is the face of the program and perhaps the entire face of college basketball. He won't repeat as national player of the year, but his 20-plus points a game is nearly as sure as death and taxes. He's an all-out hustle player, but don't use that as a knock against him; he's plenty skilled, too. It will say a lot about his character if he handles the added pressure with his star point guard out of action.
Junior guard Wayne Ellington suddenly becomes more important as does Wing Danny Green, who had three 20-point games by midseason. Deon Thompson and freshman Ed Davis will need to be big in the post to help North Carolina rip down rebounds around the hoop.
This team has all the tools and the backing of the most powerful man in the world, I like their chances.
