North Carolina a different team without Henson

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 08:34 AM ET  03.12 by 2012 BB Champs 06

Go Kentucky GoGo Kentucky GoGo Kentucky Go

You're Wild"rats" looked about an enthusiastic in playing the Vandy rematch (3rd game) as LSU did playing the Bama rematch in the NCG!

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 09:42 AM ET  03.12 by Docmadinejad

I don't see Carolina getting past the Elite 8, but even if I'm wrong, a national title in 2012 will not be theirs which is what I am most happy about. ABC. ANYBODY BUT CAROLINA!

Once they have Henson back...watch out. I don't think there is any clear cut dominant team this year that we can look at and say "YES" they have "it" and will be nat'l champs. But I do think there are 5 or 6 teams that we can look at and say with 90% certainty that the Champ is among those, and yes, UNC is one of those. No matter how much you hate a team, a realistic and INFORMED fan has to be able to separate "hope" and reality. You may HOPE they dont make it past the Elite 8 but the reality is, they are one of the top favorites to win. My top 6 that I definitley think the championship will come from are: UNC, KY, (surprise) Florida St, Syracuse, Kansas and Missouri.

Give credit where credit is due Florida State was 4-1 this year against Duke and NC...congrats to a group of kids who have stuck togher and shown that a team of seniors can learn to play basketball as a team and beat a bunch of 1 and done kids.

Good for CBB, IMO.

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 10:34 AM ET  03.12 by WPS

Give credit where credit is due Florida State was 4-1 this year against Duke and NC...congrats to a group of kids who have stuck togher and shown that a team of seniors can learn to play basketball as a team and beat a bunch of 1 and done kids.Good for CBB, IMO.

Agreed!!!

Who are the 1 and done carolina players? Duke is another story, don't wrap Duke 1 and doners with carolina greatness, carolina graduates the majority of it's players and if they leave a year early or not they actually have successfull NBA careers.

FSU has a quality team that will go far in the tournament and capable of winning it all, hence the #3 seed.

Kendall Marshall is the most valuable player on UNC's team.

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 10:54 AM ET  03.12 by FiveX

Who are the 1 and done carolina players? Duke is another story, don't wrap Duke 1 and doners with carolina greatness, carolina graduates the majority of it's players and if they leave a year early or not they actually have successfull NBA careers.FSU has a quality team that will go far in the tournament and capable of winning it all, hence the #3 seed.

Seriously, from that comment you would think FSU had knocked off Kentucky. UNC starts a senior, a junior and 3 sophomores (and that was senior, 2 juniors, 2 sophomores before Dexter got hurt). UNC doesn't normally recruit "one and dones" though occasionally they will have a player who plays well enough as a freshman to impress NBA scouts and become lottery picks. Traditionally, UNC has never held anyone back if it was in their overall best interest to turn pro rather than stay in school.

Congrats to FSU... they are one of only two schools in the last 14 years to win the ACC and reside outside of North Carolina.

I think it is good for college basketball and atheletics for schools that don't normally contend to find success. Hamilton runs a good program, is a pretty good recruiter, but not necessarily the best coach.

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 10:34 AM ET  03.12 by WPS

Give credit where credit is due Florida State was 4-1 this year against Duke and NC...congrats to a group of kids who have stuck togher and shown that a team of seniors can learn to play basketball as a team and beat a bunch of 1 and done kids.Good for CBB, IMO.

Yes, they deserve a lot of credit. I am a HUGE UNC fan, and I hated to see my Heels lose to FSU yesterday. BUT, as a college BB fan, I am glad to see FSU step it up! For so long it was almost "predetermined" that the ACC Champ would always be either UNC or duke. Nice to have another legit contender in the group and I also personally like the FSU coach. Seems like a great guy. I do disagree with the 1-and-done comment though. We have had VERY few of those and Williams personally does not like to recruit those. Everyone like the "story" of drawing out the Barnes "will he or wont he" jump to the NBA last year...but he had already told Williams he wasnt going anywhere for at least 2 years.

As for the one-and-done players, too bad the NBA can't adopt a rule similar to the NFL that requires a player to be at least a junior. It is really hard to tell how good or bad some of these players will be in one season.

Without the college years it is also to build a following. There are a handful of players that the average fan doesn't know much about much less where they played college hoops!

On another note, UNC has never been known as a one-and-done type of school. They typically don't recruit that type of kid. Overall a great program and well respected.

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 10:54 AM ET  03.12 by FiveX

Who are the 1 and done carolina players? Duke is another story, don't wrap Duke 1 and doners with carolina greatness, carolina graduates the majority of it's players and if they leave a year early or not they actually have successfull NBA careers.FSU has a quality team that will go far in the tournament and capable of winning it all, hence the #3 seed.

No disrespect to UNC, you or Dark Claw....just talking in general. It's good to see a team with 7 seniors who have progressed for 4 years to obtain a goal. I HATE the 1-yr rule and think it's ruined CBB. That model has been very successful over the last few years (maybe not NC's but lots of final 4's for KY, tOSU, etc).

FSU is just a story/team that's easy to get behind and pull for..

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 10:31 AM ET  03.12 by Joester

Once they have Henson back...watch out. I don't think there is any clear cut dominant team this year that we can look at and say "YES" they have "it" and will be nat'l champs. But I do think there are 5 or 6 teams that we can look at and say with 90% certainty that the Champ is among those, and yes, UNC is one of those. No matter how much you hate a team, a realistic and INFORMED fan has to be able to separate "hope" and reality. You may HOPE they dont make it past the Elite 8 but the reality is, they are one of the top favorites to win. My top 6 that I definitley think the championship will come from are: UNC, KY, (surprise) Florida St, Syracuse, Kansas and Missouri.

I see UK cutting down the net, in the end!

QUOTE(#18):

Originally posted 12:03 PM ET  03.12 by PAPA ROCKS

I see UK cutting down the net, in the end!

I dunno....no disrespect to 0-6, but that's a lot of pressure on a bunch of freshmen. AD is probably the best player, but the supporting cast is YOUNG and inexperienced.

Ought to be a fun tourney