THE CASE FOR UNC

When second-ranked North Carolina walks on the court at the start of each game, the opposing team knows it is physically outmatched.

With or without star swing-man Rashad McCants, who has been out with an intestinal disorder the past four games, the regular-season champions take the court with two All-ACC first team players, wide-bodied and soft-handed Sean May and ultra-quick point guard Raymond Felton.

The starting lineup also features two third-team All-ACC selections in McCants and Jawad Williams. Add to those defensive standout Jackie Manuel and the Tar Heels’ sixth man, Duke killer Marvin Williams, and UNC (26-3, 14-2 in the ACC) has a team that dominates anyone else on the court.

Then again, no critic has challenged the Tar Heels’ talent. Head coach Roy Williams took over the program a season ago and, despite obvious progress, still hasn’t gelled his stars into a team.

Defeating Duke in the regular-season finale Sunday, UNC hustled around May and allowed him to lead the team with his fantastic play (26 points and 24 rebounds).

From a purely statistical standpoint the regular season champions blow the competition away. Their ACC-leading offense (89.3 ppg) has the highest field goal percentage in the league and outscores teams by an average of 19.7 points per game, easily tops in the conference. They also lead the ACC in rebounding margin, assists and steals.

No team in the conference—not even Duke or Wake Forest with their own big bodies—can stop May. Duke does not have the quickness to keep up with Felton or the UNC fast break, especially with Dockery sidelined, and Wake Forest will have trouble containing Marvin Williams and Jawad Williams.

And if McCants can make it back into the lineup, the gap between UNC and the other top teams in the ACC grows even larger.