University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Prepare for New Experience: NCAA Tournament
March 17, 2004 | Men's Basketball
March 16, 2004
By AARON BEARD
Associated Press Writer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - When Jackie Manuel decided to play basketball at North Carolina, he certainly shouldn't have expected to be answering questions about the failure of the program.
But there he was Tuesday, talking about making first NCAA tournament appearance - shocking considering the Tar Heels' longtime standing as a national power. They haven't been in the tournament since a loss to Penn State in the second round in 2001.
Then things got worse. The next season, North Carolina went 8-20, ending a run of 27 straight NCAA appearances.
"It was rough," said Manuel, a freshman on that team. "I expected a winning season, NCAA tournament and the Final Four.
"We didn't live up to those expectations, so it was really tough on me, especially being so young."
Now, the Tar Heels are back as the No. 6 seed in the Atlanta Regional. North Carolina, with not a single player who has been in the tournament, opens play Thursday against Air Force. The inexperience makes coach Roy Williams wonder what's in store for his team.
"We're concerned a little bit, but I think I'm hoping that our hunger will make that be a positive for us," he said. "I cannot imagine ... anybody in the country being more hungry than we are.
"If we're not hungry now, then we've got some major, major problems."
After playing in the NIT last year, North Carolina turned to Williams, bringing Dean Smith's former assistant back to his alma mater to return the storied program to prominence. Williams had led Kansas to 14 straight NCAA tournament berths.
Williams left North Carolina in the middle of its streak, but returned to find the roster lacking tournament experience that once seemed a birthright.
In fact, North Carolina has the same amount of experience as the 11th-seeded Falcons, and they're making their first trip to the NCAA tourney in 42 years.
North Carolina is in the tournament for the 36th time, tying it with UCLA for second-most appearances. Kentucky, the top-seed in the St. Louis Regional, is first with 45.
In addition, North Carolina is 81-35 all-time in the tournament with a record 15 trips to the Final Four and three national championships. This year's group of Tar Heels wants to add to that lore and erase the memories of the past two seasons.
"We want to win, simple as that," said forward Jawad Williams, also a freshman on Matt Doherty's 8-20 team of 2001-02. "I don't think anybody's ready to go home and call it a year yet."
