This has been a most enjoyable basketball season. Not much was expected for my beloved Tarheels. Won the National Championship last year. We are supposed to do that every 10 years or so, being one of the nation's top programs. But, with winning, you pay the price... your players are very valuable to the pros. So, in addition to the 3 seniors, we lost the 3 juniors who were the heart and soul of the team, and also lost the hope of the future, the ACC's rookie of the year. 7 of the top scorers from the Championship team gone.

The cupboard was bare. Nothing left but a couple of rising seniors, one of which was a former walk-on and the other a wash out; A very short guard who transferred in from a smaller college; a sophomore jitter-bug point guard who couldn't shoot and loves to dribble and throw the ball away; and 5 incoming freshman. At least we had Ol' Roy, our coach who returned just in time to lead us back to the glory land.

So this year was a pleasure to watch. Didn't expect a lot, maybe go 50-50 in the ACC and play in the NIT. Dare we hope for the NCAA big dance?

I used to have to tape the games and then watch them if we won. Too much stress watching live. We were supposed to win somehow and we usually did. But hard on an old guy. This year was different. I saw the first game in Smith Center...We won on a last second 3-pointer by the former walk-on senior against a very small North Carolina college. This was supposed to be a warm up in earlier years. Well, not much to expect from this group of very young kids. You can't let your self-worth be determined by a bunch of 18-19 year old kids who just happen to be wearing baby blue. Let's just lean back and enjoy this year just for the sake of enjoying basketball.

But this bunch of freshmen, lead by David Noel, the former walk-on, doing a great impersonation of George Lynch, over-achieved time after time all season. The little short transfer guard was deadly from 3 point range and a great defender, the jitter-buy point guard settled down and was very productive, and the freshmen... WOW! Tyler was ACC freshman of the year, Marcus was a shutdown defender, Bobby was a very steady pointguard, starting every game. This group was great, ending with the thumping of the Big Blue Ugly Giant from West Durham, on their senior night on their home court. Doesn't get much better than that. I enjoyed these gifted young people like I have never enjoyed Carolina basketball before. We won some and we lost some. What a joy this season was.

Next year, the calvary is arriving. The best recruiting class in the nation will arrive to join this year's over-achieving freshman class. The top point guard, the top power forward, the top shooting guard, some big boys from California...How is Ol' Roy going to keep everyone happy with playing time?

I am going to have to tape some games next year and watch them after I find out the score. You see, I am fully expecting this team to go undefeated and win the National Championship one more time. Great expectations equals great stress. Maybe I can just relax and enjoy next year's team as much as I enjoyed this year's.