Chansky’s Notebook: 33-1 Ain’t Too Bad!

You remember the one NCAA loss UNC has in North Carolina?

The Tar Heels play their 35th NCAA tournament game in the state today against 15-seeded Lipscomb and hopefully their 36th Sunday against the winner of Texas A&M and Providence. The first one will be easy, the second not so much.

Playing in Charlotte is a big boon to Roy Williams’ team, which will enjoy a highly partisan crowd at the Spectrum Center cheering for the light blue, which got there by virtue of beating Duke in the ACC tournament for a second win over the Blue Devils this season. A loss and Carolina would have been in Pittsburgh instead of the Dukies.

The Tar Heels are peaking at the right time, as long as Cameron Johnson is healthy, and should win two games this weekend to advance to the West Regional at the Staples Center in LA. Waiting there will be either Michigan of the Big 10 or Houston with high-scoring North Carolina native Rob Gray, who gave shout out to the Tar Heels after getting 39 points and the winning basket to beat San Diego State Thursday night.

They have to keep playing – and especially shooting – well, but it’s a winnable regional with a great opportunity to reach a third straight Final Four. Now wouldn’t that be something for a program that went through all the “junk,” as Ol’ Roy calls it, for the last four years? Also, did you see Kenny “The Jet” say that if Joel Berry leads Carolina there again, he would take his place as one of the all-time greats and be our Christian Laettner?

Lipscomb gives Carolina a second chance at Wofford, since both teams run and shoot the same way. That loss back in December will have the Heels paying close attention, particularly to guard Garrison Matthews, who has shot over 100 free throws more than anyone on our team this season.

We beat Providence two years ago in Raleigh, and the Friars always have great guards. But Texas A&M should beat them because of their rebounding and shot-blocking ability, which will mean Brooks and Manley would see considerable time against the Aggies, if they are Sunday’s opponent.

Over the years, we’ve won 33 NCAA games in old Reynolds Coliseum and the new PNC Center, three different Charlotte Coliseums and two sizes of the Greensboro Coliseum. You recall that one loss yet? Black Sunday in Raleigh to Penn in 1979.

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