To say that North Carolina is struggling, coach Roy Williams said after his team lost 92-71 at Maryland on Sunday, "is the understatement of my entire life."
Here's another one: "[In] 21 years as a head coach, I've never been in this spot, but I've got to find a way to help the kids get out of it,'' he said. "Two-and-6 is not comfortable. It's not good."
The crowd at Comcast Center started chanting "NIT! NIT!" in the closing minutes of the blowout, and for good reason. With eight games left in the regular season, and UNC at 2-6 in league play, the Tar Heels would likely have to win at least five to earn an NCAA tournament berth. And that appears unlikely, especially with the way UNC played defense (the Terps shot better than 51 percent).
Carolina senior Marcus Ginyard, back in the starting lineup after struggling with his shot and confidence for weeks, was a bright spot with 17 points. But yet another guard -- this time, ACC Player of the Year candidate Greivis Vasquez, who finished with 26 points -- lit up the Tar Heels.
It marked the worst loss of the Williams era at UNC.
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at 
Comments
QUESTION OF THE DAY?????
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 13:40 — bluecat69bluecat69who has the worst team and coach in the acc??? 1. holes and ol roy 2. pack and skid. go duke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Count 'em
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 19:10 — heelsno1At least Roy-Boy will not try to saddle the losses of a bad season onto an Assistant Coach...can anyone spell Pete Gaudett?
For that matter, can anyone spell Coach Kseshefssuskieee?
none here
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 19:47 — gvillegatrthere are no Mike Krushekov's or Jimmy Calhoun's on this UNC basketball staff.
if they did their record may
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 23:55 — duke_blueif they did their record may be better than it is.....
DUKE-BLUE!!!!
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 09:03 — bluecat69bluecat69great comment, u put a gator -chomp on poor ol g-alligator, u can tell he needs proffesional help, he is beside himself , that his baby blue holes are a sorry excuse for a team, ok go duke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
another question of the day
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 16:38 — gvillegatrUNC is 2-6 to start the ACC for sure, but who is 2-6 in the last 8 games against UNC?
DUIke.
you can live in the past all
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 23:56 — duke_blueyou can live in the past all you want...but it doesn't change what is going on this season now does it?
Yes
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 11:05 — SurferActually it does. Most people knew that this would be a down year for the Heels. This bad? No, but the mountaintop experience of last year and the short 4 years prior, make this year all the more managable.
The good, the bad and the ugly
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 11:59 — SurferThe good: No one is leaving early for the NBA; they were actually in this game until about 8 min? to go; all 5 freshman have some "game"; Zeller is getting hungry; Barnes, Bullock and Marshall are really good.
The bad: defense, turnovers, agressiveness.
The ugly: Dion having the ball knocked out of his hands and off his leg out of bounds for two straight games.
SUFER-GIRL
Tue, 02/09/2010 - 11:30 — bluecat69bluecat69THERE IS NO GOOD, IT IS ALL BAD AND UGLY, OK, THE PROBLEM IS THAT MOST OF THEM WILL BE BACK NEXT YR., THAR ONLY MEANS THEY WILL BE BADER, AND UGLIER, NEXT YR. OK, GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!! MAY BE U ALL CAN CONVIENCE MATT TO COME BACK, OK, GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!!
Toughness
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 19:05 — heelsno1This team has talent but lacks toughness and heart. I do not recall witnessing before so many uncontested layups by an opponent. Likewise, Maryland snared a bunch of offensive rebounds. Fighting through or around screens, snaring rebounds and denying easy shots...these attributes are more about hustle, desire and toughness than they are about talent.
Even though Ginyard finally had some shots go down (and led UNC in scoring), he also helped lead his team to its worse loss in the "Roy-Boy" era. Coach Williams needs to talk less about how frustrating this season is for him and focus more on motivating his players to compete.
This Season
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 10:39 — LetsGoPitt1. With all the talent carolina lost, there was no way they were doing much better than 8-8 in league play.
2. As defending national champs, every place they go teams are going to bring their A-game wanting to knock off the champs. Hence, Maryland's performance yesterday.