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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 8-20;
4-12 in ACC (Tied 7th)
Postseason: None. Last NCAA appearance was in 2001.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Williams 9.8
Rebs: Williams 4.2
Assists: Manuel 2.1
FG: Scott 40.0%
3pt: Johnson 42.9%
FT: Scott 63.9%
01-02 Stats:
North Carolina | ACC
KEY LOSSES
Jason Capel | 15.6 ppg
Kris Lang | 14.0 ppg
Adam Boone | 7.2 ppg
Brian Morrison | 7.1 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Ray Felton | Fresh
G | Melvin Scott | Soph
F | Ra. McCants | Fresh
F | Jawad Williams | Soph
C | Sean May | Fresh
Player to Watch
Raymond Felton
Freshman Guard
The point man in Doherty's restoration project has all the tools to lead Heels back to top -- if he sticks around.
DATE TO REMEMBER
The Tar Heels close the regular season, as they always do, with Duke -- this year getting the Blue Devils at home for the finale. By then, both freshman-dominated teams should be playing their best, and North Carolina would sorely like to avenge last season's 87-58 loss in Chapel Hill.
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NORTH CAROLINA
TAR HEELS
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The Tar Heels aren't ready yet to go about the business of being the Tar Heels -- 25 wins a year, an annual shot at the Final Four -- but they're not going to be last season's 8-20 disappointment, either. The talent level has been radically improved by one of the best freshman classes in school history, and that's saying something. UNC coach Matt Doherty added three McDonald's All-Americans in 6-0 point guard Ray Felton, 6-3 wing Rashad McCants and 6-8 forward Sean May. He also signed a 6-11 center, Damion Grant, who will have to play major minutes -- ready or not -- and a 6-5 sleeper, David Noel, who signed with the UNC football team but has given up that scholarship to walk on in basketball. A scholarship awaits Noel next season, Doherty has said. In the meantime, he will join the other freshmen on a team that returns two solid all-around ACC players, 6-8 Jawad Williams (9.8 ppg) and 6-2 Melvin Scott (6.2 ppg), along with 6-8 senior leader Will Johnson and 6-5 sophomore defensive specialist Jackie Manuel.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Nobody around Chapel Hill is worrying about the readiness of Felton, McCants and May. All three were ACC-ready the moment they stepped onto campus, and the only real worry among the UNC faithful is how long these guys will stay in school. While they're here, Felton could be a scoring point guard along the lines of former Duke star Jason Williams -- yes, that's saying a lot -- while McCants and May have an unusual combination of skills for players their size. McCants is a low-post scorer, while May can shoot three-pointers.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
Size matters, and North Carolina doesn't have a lot of it. May will have to play center at times in a small lineup featuring the slender Williams at power forward. At all other times, the center position will be manned by freshmen, usually Grant but occasionally 6-9 Byron Sanders, the least heralded member of the six-man class.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
It's a big jump from 8-20 to the postseason, but the Tar Heels have enough exceptional talent, even if it is young talent, to post a winning record and maybe make a run at the NCAA Tournament. The wild card is Grant. He looks to have the body to play solid defense in the post. If he can rebound and stay out of foul trouble, the Tar Heels could be pretty good. Not great, not yet. But pretty good.
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