The basketball season is young, but North Carolina and N.C. State have to be seriously concerned by early reality bites.
Although both teams should be more successful against another collection of weak ACC opponents, the Tar Heels and Wolfpack have offensive problems.
Some of those woes can be blamed on inexperience, but a bigger issue has been a lack of leadership and improvement by veteran players.
Shooting accuracy, shot selection, half-court offensive execution and old-fashion competitive resolve have marked UNC’s losses to Illinois, Minnesota and Vanderbilt.
The same troubles have been even more of a burden for the Wolfpack in losses to Georgetown and Wisconsin.
While the five combined losses have been against name opponents, the results also serve as evidence that the Wolfpack and Tar Heels aren’t yet good enough to be deemed legitimate NCAA Tournament at-large picks.
The three prized freshmen in each program clearly are suffering from competition shock, which is hardly unusual. For every Kyrie Irving at Duke, there are dozens of rookies each season that face bewildering adjustments to next-level size and speed.
What has to worry North Carolina coach Roy Williams and N.C. State’s Sidney Lowe more than their freshmen has to be a lack of progress by their veterans.
The Wolfpack will be much tougher when Tracy Smith returns from a knee injury, but the 87-48 loss at Wisconsin will not be easy for anyone to forget, possibly even for new athletic director Debbie Yow.
North Carolina anticipated broad offensive improvement from perimeter players Dexter Strickland, Larry Drew II and Leslie McDonald. Thus far, they’re shooting as erratically as last season.
It’s also obvious that the unexpected off-season frontline attrition — transfers by Travis and David Wear and the expulsion of Will Graves — has created a void that Williams doesn’t have enough personnel to offset.
Both teams will improve, but it’s going to take a lot of improvement for either to become a top-20 contender.
Columnist 
Comments
Laughable .......
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 23:17 — TheMambaSTRIKESNo Tar Hole said jack about the #8 ranking being LAUGHABLE..... until Nov 19, 2010...when the Gophers tore into this LEADERLESS team......
OMG...."it is.... last year all over again.!!! "
The difference between "Reality Check" and "Growing Pain"
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 19:26 — Z1234567How can this be "Reality Check" for the pack when they were not pre-seaon pick top 25? It's call "learning Pain" for the Pack!! On the other hand when you were pre-season picked at #8 in the poll like UNC and got spank twice, then it's call "Reality Check". How can a team be preseason pick at #8 when you had a horrible seaon last year and with no quality player back?
Heels didn't vote themselves number 8
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 19:38 — Heels20In fact, Roy Williams and nearly all fans totally disagreed with the ranking...
Piggy back on H20 I know of
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 21:59 — unc098Piggy back on H20
I know of 0 UNC fans who thought the #8 ranking was deserving. However we did expect some improvement over the summer from D2, Strickland and Mcdonald. That has not happened. I agree that the freshmen should start and play the entire season as a group and maybe this team will improve.
As far as State goes, I am a little surprised that they haven't started a bit better. I really thought this team was coming together last season. The loss of Smith is big and once he returns things will turn around
unc098
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 22:05 — JPDOhioCheck your inbox later. On Lebron night, you'll see a link that takes you to a Lebron song that will lift your spirits for a couple of minutes. I know it worked for me.
Thanks JPD
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 22:07 — unc098Thanks JPD
We mind as well forget about
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 20:05 — Z1234567We mind as well forget about playing this season and forget the NCAA tournament and just UNC the trophy. By the way, I wonder if Butch Davis/ Baddour / Thorp are on the coaches poll?
The coaches poll must be
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 19:43 — Z1234567The coaches poll must be smoking some good stuff when doing the poll?
I'd say so
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 19:53 — Heels20It seems as though they thought all of last year's problems would be solved by the freshmen. The Heels still hurt at point guard, though, just as every rational fan would have expected if they were told that Drew II had regressed. That's why Kyrie Irving was my pick for preseason freshman of the year. Not only is he a proven, talented point guard, but he has a lot of tools to work with.
You are OK in my book,
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 20:13 — Z1234567You are OK in my book, Heels20. You speak the fact.
If the two played today
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 19:19 — Heels20I'd be betting on State. We've had atrocious point guard play and inconsistent post play, while still waiting for Barnes to have his breakout game. Good thing we don't see the Pack for awhile...
Maybe
Fri, 12/03/2010 - 14:59 — SurferI would have thought the same thing until the Wisconsin game, but then again, Smith will certainly help the pack when he returns. He would not have made enough difference to change the outcome against the varmits though.
Anyone Else...
Fri, 12/03/2010 - 15:53 — YAR8packAnyone else get those "Stop badgering me" commercials stuck in their head?
OK GO WOLFPACK!!!
pACK OVER unc
Fri, 12/03/2010 - 10:01 — JPDOhioYour point is well taken, but until the Pack actually beats UNC, I will defer making any predictions.
Disagree
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 21:58 — mad_maxIf the two teams played today, State would not have Tracy Smith. They would have no chance at winning.
Howell and Painter
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 22:15 — Heels20Are two big man who can at least hold their own against our bigs while our guards self-destruct.
no PG
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 18:01 — statefanIt remains about the guy setting up the game on the court. Three teams in the triangle needed a freshman point guard to have a good year. Only one is ready, as expected. Going to be a long year, and probably Lowe's last. UNC wins the 60-point contest (or any other) easily, because the Pack also doesn't play any defense.
lowes last?
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 22:02 — JPDOhioDoubt that. Bad as the Wisconsin loss was, it has to be looked at in context.
The Badgers are an experienced team coming off an embarrassing loss playing at home where they are close to unbeatable. State has too many freshmen and is missing Tracy Smith. The Pack lost its composure and, to its credit, Wisconsin never took its foot off the pedal.
Syracuse will be tough, but I will be happy if State comes out with energy and sticks with its offense. One on one won't work. Hopefully, this experience has humbled the team and they understand they have to get back to work and work better together. We'll see.
one more thing
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 18:10 — statefanBest chance for either team to win is to start the freshman and get them as much PT as possible. Neither will, though.
Agreed on both counts.
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 21:41 — JPDOhioI have defended Javi for over three years. No more. Sid praised him in preseason, but he has mostly been a train wreck this season. At least Harrow and Lorenzo have struggled against more experienced competition. Javi has been bad against everyone. I do worry about Ryan's confidence, especially against the likes of Syracuse, but I'm not sure Sid has much of a choice.
UNC vs NCSU
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 13:29 — SurferFirst one to 60 points wins, no matter how long it takes.
Ha!
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 14:09 — willncsu34So true. Duke is going to destroy everyone.
This is the second year in a
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 13:21 — UNCblueThis is the second year in a row that no one on the UNC team is willing to step up and be the leader of the team, take pride in who they are. Some one needs to do some barking and getting people's attention...and I'm talking about on the team itself, not the coaching staff. But, I have to wonder why Roy isn't using an erasable whiteboard to diagram plays to remind the players what they're supposed to be doing. Please, somebody plant a 10 1/2 into the seat of learning and get the team kick started.
Agreement
Thu, 12/02/2010 - 12:56 — tarheel73As far as the Tar Heels go, I agree based on what we have seen so far. I would add that there has not been an improvement in playmaking or defense against stronger teams. Unfortunately for UNC fans, this could be a tough year against ACC opponents like Duke, Maryland, and Virginia Tech who all appear to be more athletic at this stage than Carolina. There is always reason to be optimistic when you are a Tar Heel considering the talent that has been recruited and the long tradition, but last year's experience dampened the spirit. With an uncustomary three losses in November and tough opponents Kentucky and Texas still to come before conference play commences, there are plenty of reasons to worry that there is little improvement over last season.