Lucas: One Of One

By Adam Lucas

Be forewarned: that likely won't be the last time we see Carolina play the way they did in Monday's 69-56 win over UNCW.

At least, if we're lucky.

The Tar Heels weren't artistic in the Smith Center in front of nearly 20,000, including a healthy student contingent that arrived early and rowdy (that's 20,000 on a Monday night at 9 p.m. against a nonconference opponent—find another school that can do that). The Seahawks executed their gameplan well, slowing the pace of the game, crashing the backboards and taking reasonably good care of the ball.

So, no, Carolina wasn't pretty. But here's what they were: the top-ranked team in the nation. And if they want to continue to hold that spot, they'll have to win a game like this again at some point.

The Tar Heels entered this season with the luxury of having numerous known quantities. We know Armando Bacot is close to a double-double machine, even though foul trouble held him one rebound short on Monday night. We know the Tar Heels have guards who can create their own offense. We know Leaky Black is one of the top defenders in the country.

Here's what we don't know: we have absolutely no idea how Carolina will handle playing with expectations. The entire run to the national championship game was accomplished last year mostly while national observers scoffed at any inkling that Carolina had a chance.

Now the Tar Heels are the consensus top team in America and the preseason league title pick in the best basketball conference in the country. That moves you into a very different spot on the schedule for every other opponent you face.

For Carolina, this was one of 31 regular-season games. For Wilmington, it was one of one. One chance to beat the nation's top team. One opportunity to get a win they would talk about forever. One opening to be the lead story across the sports world for a few hours.

That's what Carolina is playing against every time they take the court right now. It's a fantastic problem to have. It means the Tar Heels have had some success and are expected to have some more. It's also a feeling with which every member of the coaching staff is familiar. Their Tar Heel teams all spent time at number-one.

The 1997-98 team had Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter and Ed Cota, and still needed overtime to beat a Georgia squad that missed the NCAA Tournament. The 2009 team that we mostly remember as a postseason demolition squad started 0-2 in the ACC, including—while ranked number-one—a home loss to a Boston College team that barely finished above .500 in the league.

This year's roster is learning exactly what it's like to be not just an opponent, but an opportunity. Bacot, he of the many accomplishments, is in his fourth year at Carolina. During the regular season, he previously had never been on a team ranked higher than fifth. That came during his freshman campaign, whereupon the Tar Heels promptly lost four games in a row and were never seen again in the rankings.

In many ways, Hubert Davis got exactly what he needed from Monday night. A win, most importantly. But he and the staff had also made explicitly clear that Wilmington would crash the boards. Winning the rebounding battle was the second key to the game listed on the UNC scouting report. The Seahawks won the rebounding stats, 37-32 overall and 16-7 on the offensive glass.

After Tuesday's off day, Wednesday in practice he'll be able to emphasize that the scouting reports aren't just for entertainment purposes, even against an opponent that doesn't possess a marquee name.

"I'm really happy with this game," Davis told Jones Angell on the Tar Heel Sports Network after the win. "It taught our guys a lesson. Now they understand the type of physicality you have to bring every night in order to compete."

They'll also have a slightly better understanding of why it's so difficult to get to number one, and then stay there for any appreciable length of time.

Carolina's second once in a lifetime opportunity this week comes Friday night against College of Charleston.

Related Videos