No Achilles' heel for UNC

Hansbrough, mates favored

ROY WILLIAMSNothing for granted

The pickup games were part of their summer ritual; just good competition among the core group of North Carolina players. But Tyler Hansbrough had believed last summer would be different. He thought it would be their last hurrah before the young men went their separate ways this winter.

Oh, the 6-foot-9 inch, three-time All-American and reigning National Player of the Year had decided to return to Chapel Hill for his senior season, but his underclassmen running mates - guard Ty Lawson, forward Danny Green, and guard Wayne Ellington - had all declared their intentions to enter the NBA draft in June.

Hansbrough wanted to stay simply because he was having too much fun. But he knew the decision was personal, and "I didn't talk to them much during the process," said Hansbrough. "I didn't think we'd all be here to the end."

But that is exactly what has happened on Tobacco Road as Lawson, Green, and Ellington all said thanks but no thanks to the NBA. And just like that, the pickup games had new meaning, new intensity, and the Tar Heels had gone from a good team to a super team.

How good are the Tar Heels? Consider they finished 36-3 last season (losing to eventual NCAA champion Kansas in the national semifinals), return 91.7 percent of their scoring and 86.5 percent of their rebounding, and sport eight McDonald's All-Americans. The leader, of course, is Hansbrough, who needs only 123 points to surpass legendary guard Phil Ford as North Carolina's all-time leading scorer.

Throw in a freshman class that has three super recruits in 6-10 forward Ed Davis, 6-2 guard Larry Drew II, and 7-foot center Tyler Zeller and that's the main reason the Tar Heels were a unanimous pick as the No. 1 team in the country for the first time since the Associated Press began listing preseason No. 1 teams before the 1981-82 season.

"Everybody says on paper you are the best team," said senior guard Bobby Frasor, who missed the last 27 games of last season with a knee injury. "But the game isn't played on paper."

Carolina is so talented and deep that it can even absorb early-season injuries to Hansbrough, who has been sidelined with a stress reaction on his right shin, and forward Marcus Ginyard, the team's best defensive player, who has a stress fracture in his foot that will keep him out until mid-December.

The Tar Heels say they are comfortable with the attention and expectations. "Everybody shakes your hand and says, 'It's your guys' year; you guys have to do it this year,' " said Ellington, the 6-4 junior guard who averaged 16.6 points per game last season. "Everybody's always putting that little whisper in your ear."

Lawson says he would rather be the hunted than the hunter. "I like having a bull's-eye on our back," he said.

Record of achievement

North Carolina is dealing with history, which has not been kind to teams with great expectations.

The 1991 Nevada-Las Vegas team was coming off a national championship and was led by veterans Larry Johnson and Stacey Augmon. The Runnin' Rebels finished the regular season unbeaten (27-0) and were being called one of the best collegiate teams ever.

Until they lost to Duke in the Final Four.

"We had a veteran team," said former Rebels coach Jerry Tarkanian. "We didn't have the depth Carolina has. [Coach Roy Williams's] biggest job will be to keep their heads in every game. There's no question they've got the best talent and Roy's a great coach. The big thing is they've got to bring it every night. It's very easy to lose your concentration and let up and anything can happen."

Williams has coached talented teams with great expectations. "In 1997, we had all five starters back [at Kansas] and were picked No. 1 in the preseason, and we were the best team all year," said Williams, recalling a team that was 32-1 going into the NCAA Tournament but lost to Arizona in the Sweet 16. "But it didn't make any difference because we didn't win it."

Florida proved the exception two years ago, when the defending champion Gators returned five starters and won their second consecutive title.

Williams says the expectations are realistic for a team with so much returning talent and a program that has been to 17 Final Fours and won four national championships. "I enjoy it a lot more than having no target on our back," he said. "It makes us play to a higher standard. I like the fact that we're the big game for everybody."

Asked if he thought the Tar Heels could go undefeated, he said, "Probably not. I don't think anybody can. I think there's seven or eight teams that can compare with the team we put out there. But I think where we may have an advantage over a lot of teams is when we get to a game where the seventh man, eighth man, and ninth man is a huge factor. I don't think as many teams are as talented or as experienced."

Even Williams was stuck for an answer when asked about any "glaring weaknesses" he felt needed to be fixed going into the season.

"We were 36-3 last year," he said. "There's not a heck of a lot of glaring weaknesses out there, I don't think."

The players say they need to improve their defense, and the loss to Kansas still stings. But they know what they can do.

Deon Thompson, who will get more playing time while Hansbrough rests the next few weeks, put it bluntly. "This team is going to be stacked and loaded all the way down the line."

Motivating factor

To a man, the Tar Heels want to enjoy their final go-round in college basketball.

"There's still a lot of things I want to accomplish," said Lawson. "I didn't think we'd all be here, but it's something I'm really going to enjoy. We have the same team coming back and lot of experience knowing what it takes to be in this position again."

The Tar Heels will take their show on the road to places such as Detroit (site of the Final Four) and Maui as they move into a season in which the goal is clear.

Green, like all the other veterans, said he relishes the challenge. "If we didn't want any pressure or high expectations, we wouldn't have come to Carolina," said the 6-6 senior. "You expect to go into everybody's gym and have a target on your chest because you're North Carolina. It's the reason why we are here now."

It is the motivating factor for all of them.

One of the ways Williams relaxes before a game at the Smith Center is to listen to music. One of his favorite songs? "Let's Get it On" by Marvin Gaye.

An appropriate theme for the Tar Heels this season.

Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.