Nov. 30
What a difference a year makes. Last season, Matt Doherty's North Carolina team finished 8-20 and skeptics were questioning him. This year, thanks to hard work on the recruiting trail, good coaching and a solid effort from his team, the Tar Heels left Madison Square Garden with the gold trophy as Preseason NIT champions.

The Tar Heels defeated Stanford 74-57 on Friday night to win the tourney championship. North Carolina had upset Kansas 67-56 in the semifinals Wednesday. Stanford surprised Florida to reach the final.

Let me tell you, this year's North Carolina squad is nothing like last year's team. Quickness, quickness, quickness; there is no substitute for speed and quickness. You could see it in the way the Tar Heels played defense and in their ability in transition.

This is a different North Carolina team because of the freshmen. Watching them in person, they are not playing like freshmen. Rashad McCants brings explosiveness and confidence and it boosts the entire team. I love the way he elevates to the basket. He is a special player, stepping up big time in earning the Preseason NIT MVP.

Raymond Felton shows tremendous ball-handling skills; you can't get the ball away from him. He can penetrate, dish and deliver, plus he showed great scoring ability in the first half against Stanford as the Tar Heels built up a 20-point lead. Everybody will love Raymond in Chapel Hill.

North Carolina showed so much poise in winning the Preseason NIT. The Tar Heels rallied from an 11-point second half deficit against Rutgers. Last year, Doherty's team would have lost a game like that.

Sean May is a force inside, especially on the glass. You can tell he has solid basketball instincts, learning from his father, former Indiana star Scott May.

The play of the freshmen has helped improve the sophomores. Jawad Williams, Jackie Manuel and Melvin Scott have elevated their games and become factors. Last year, there was so much pressure on this trio, and now they seem to be having fun playing hard. The second year players fit in perfectly with the speed and quickness brought in by the freshmen.

North Carolina showed so much poise in winning the Preseason NIT. The Tar Heels rallied from an 11-point second half deficit against Rutgers. Last year, Doherty's team would have lost a game like that.

McCants and company showed something early in the first half against Kansas, a confidence that this squad would not be denied.

North Carolina brought a great defensive intensity. You could see that the players have bought into Doherty's philosophy. The speed and quickness was so effective in the man-to-man defense.

These kids have a bounce in their step. I could see it in watching the shootaround, and it translated when they took the court in the Big Apple. I was so impressed with this team. They were able to run and convert in transition. How could this club been picked seventh in the preseason ACC poll? Are you kidding me? If there are six better teams in that league, some of those clubs belong in the NBA, baby!

The one area of concern for Doherty and his troops is rebounding. They do have to do a better job of blocking out.

The road doesn't get easier for the Tar Heels. This week features the ACC-Big Ten Challenge matchup against Illinois, followed by a showdown against Kentucky. Think about it -- Kansas, Stanford, Illinois and Kentucky all in a row. There's no cupcake city there, but it gives Doherty a true evaluation of his team.

North Carolina basketball is back where it belongs. Trust me, this team will be back in the NCAA tournament after a one-year absence.

There will be a lot of fun on Franklin Street this year. It should lead to great excitement in college basketball's best rivalry when North Carolina and Duke hook it up. Give Doherty a lot of credit for turning it around. What a difference a year makes, baby!