What UNC basketball fans really have to sweat out in ‘08-’09 isn’t so much Tyler Hansbrough’s injury, or Marcus Ginyard’s injury, or Ty Lawson’s injury-in-waiting.
Instead, it’s that so many sportswriters and coaches are in total agreement that the Tar Heels are a lock to win the national championship. The last time so many experts were in such total agreement on a single subject, long-shot Syracuse beat Roy Williams’ Kansas team for the 2003 NCAA title in New Orleans.
And before that, there were these bafflers: the Carolina Hurricanes over Canada in 2006; Duke over UNLV in the 1991 NCAA semifinals; Villanova over Georgetown in the ‘85 championship; N.C. State over Houston in the ‘83 championship; State over UCLA in the ‘74 semifinals; Carolina over Kansas in the ‘57 final; and, of course, the New York Jets over the Baltimore Colts in the third Super Bowl.
The late N.C. State basketball coach Jim Valvano came up one of his million-plus classic comments before the ‘83 Final Four in Albuquerque, N.M. The Wolfpack had to play Georgia on Saturday and, with a win, face the winner between Houston and Louisville on Monday.
“Our best chance to win it is nobody thinks we have a chance in hell,” Valvano said a day before the Saturday games. “That being the case, I like our chances.”
Valvano, as you can imagine, was a big Joe Namath fan.
And that being the case, a good pick to win it all in ‘09 is Duke, which is in the triple-witching position of having to deal with Carolina in the ACC regular season, the ACC Tournament and then maybe in the NCAA Tournament.
It’s time — for the time being — to apply the first law of reverse logic: Duke over Carolina in the final college basketball game of the season.
Somewhere up there in the great pool in the sky, Valvano is laughing and already doing his brackets.
Columnist 
Comments
WHAT AN ENLIGHTENED WRITER
Tue, 11/04/2008 - 00:54 — Anonymous (not verified)Wow! This article has opened my eyes. I had no idea that upsets could happen in the sports world. Before I read this article there was no doubt in my mind that UNC would win the championship, because they're #1, right? But now, the great mind of Tudor has shown me the light and I now see that a #1 team can lose. I am so grateful to be graced by such brilliant thoughts. Thank you Mr. Tudor, thank you.
can the tarheels take it all?
Sun, 11/02/2008 - 16:46 — ed in chapel hill (not verified)Give Tudor a break, guys. Basically he is saying that with such overblown expectations, any loss is perceived as complete failure. I am a realistic fan that feels any game can go south. For me, the bottom line is if Coach Williams and the team play the best they can with the personnel they have, that is all that can be expected of them. Tarheel tradition may give a psychological advantage with refs, it might have an effect on opposing teams that visit the Dean Dome, it might give the Heels a lift during a game, but it still takes talented student athletes and a coach that knows his X's and O's. Talented students are sprinkled throughout the ACC and nation. Truly innovative coaches that recruit well and can make an education more important than jumping to the NBA, are indeed rare. This year the Tarheels have great talent and an excellent coach, lets wish them the best of luck and few injuries. I wish all ACC teams the same, especially when they play out of conference. Maybe this year the final four can all be ACC teams.
Tudor article
Sat, 11/01/2008 - 17:47 — maralyn in maryland (not verified)I am a Carolina alum, and have been a fan of the Heels for half a century. It never ceases to amaze me -- all the sour grapes and envy re: the Heels' "tradition", the history of winning.
I love Tudor, but he's just sparring and bantering and having fun. I say, let the games begin and let's just enjoy the ride. All that said, some folks are just gonna be jealous of Carolina's 2008-2009 deep and rich team. It's a free country, let them rant. But factually, the Heels are looking better than any other ACC team at starting gate.
Have any of you idiots ever
Sat, 11/01/2008 - 11:05 — Anonymous (not verified)Have any of you idiots ever played basketball? How about you Tudor? Sure, Carolina is heavily favored to win the national championship and, along the way, everything else. But, to do that, a team has to be good AND lucky. So far? Not too lucky with the injuries cropping up. Let's just say that Carolina SHOULD win the championship with the talent and coaching they have. But, so much factors into winning and losing...an off night, an errant shot, one missed free throw, a hot-shooting team, injuries, etc. So, on any given night....you know the rest. Don't crown UNC the champ, or any other team, UNTIL the final horn blows on the last game of the season. I've been around too many years to know that nothing is certain. It's a long season...just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride whever it takes you. The Heels will NOT go undefeated so let go of that right off the bat. Duke has no post again this year so they'd better hit their outside shots and State will surprise some people but will not have a winning record this year.
And NASCAR thinks they have dibs on the Crazy Season or whatever
Sat, 11/01/2008 - 08:47 — EddieFish (not verified)Man, it doesn’t take long to get the tempers riled up in good old ACC Country now does it! Chill folks, these guys are just struggling for anything like a different angle to write about UNC on other than “Dominate”and I think CT's tongue was at least partially planted in his cheek here! That is part of the fun in College BB is that ONE off night is all it takes but regardless of how it ends this is one of the best college teams in a very long time and hopefully that one bad night won't come in March. Me, I am just going to relax and enjoy the ride and a good laugh every now and then at those that are desperately looking for any banana peel they can find for the Tar Heels to step on!
Good Lord, and during football season
Sat, 11/01/2008 - 08:22 — Anonymous (not verified)He's predicting something for the end of basketball season before the 1st game??? Geez, whatz up? Carolina is 6-2 and has a real chance to win out, go 10-2 and beat Fls State for the ACC Championship. At least the dramatic turn around in the Carolina Football program would a more worthy topic than this mess. Probably went brain-dead just before article deadline.
Pretty dumb all the way around.
Fri, 10/31/2008 - 18:33 — JPDOhioCaulton Tudor has mostly been sensible in his comments during football season. Hopefully we won't pay for it during basketball season with drivel like this. Upsets happen and UNC could be upset this year too. But it is clear that if they stay healthy and Ty Lawson gives consistent effort, they are the team to beat.
The first anonymous poster should take his own advice and dial it back a little. Nothing in Tudor's comments dealt with the Pack, but he chose to take a cheap shot anyway. If you want to do it fine, but get off the soapbox before you do. And don't take the Pack lightly this year. You may regret it.
Time for Senile Tudor to Take Severance
Fri, 10/31/2008 - 16:40 — Raleigh need a real reporter (not verified)The ramblings of Old Man Tudor have become so incoherent and laughable that he is losing what little respect readers might have once had for him. It's time for Old Man Tudor to retire back to his rocking chair where he can shake his fist and curse non-Wolfpack teams from the safety of his front porch.
Wow...First off i am sure if
Fri, 10/31/2008 - 16:08 — UNC FAN (not verified)Wow...First off i am sure if any of the UCONN or Louisville fans out there ever read this they are going to be irate at his comments. Second of all Carolina is loaded we all know that. But as every person on the Carolina team has stated, preseason ranks mean as much as "Tudors Take" to anyone outside of State fans. It is the rank at the end of the season... i am just excited for the season to start so we don't have wasted space in articles like this one
UNC/Duke Final
Fri, 10/31/2008 - 14:44 — Anonymous (not verified)That is the worst prediction in the history of sports. You would waste far less words if you just said you did not like Carolina. Wow.
Ty Lawsons
Fri, 10/31/2008 - 13:32 — Anonymous (not verified)Ty Lawsons "injury-in-waiting"? Sounds a little too wishful to be objective don't you think? Let's all agree that Wake, Duke, AND Carolina have solid squads this year and that State is bottom of the barrel in yet another sport. It's gotten to the point that you can even hear the rumble from State fans when the 1983 video flashes on the screens at the RBC Center during halftime. Live in the present, not the past. Here's an idea....how about stop hating on teams that have success by doing things the right way. How about congratulations to UNC, Wake, and Duke. Teams don't publish articles, they play the game.
Ty Lawsons
Fri, 10/31/2008 - 17:06 — Anonymous (not verified)Moron... you don't get his point.