This will be an interesting season for the 2009-2010 North Carolina Tar Heels basketball team. They are defending champions but lost Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Danny Green, Wayne Ellington and Bobby Frasor. There are a lot of young guys coming in to big roles as well as role players now stepping into the spotlight.
The schedule has just been released and I'd like to take a look at what's on tap.
Coaches vs Cancer: This has gotten a bit more pub now that FIU is crying that they have to play UNC. Remember that Isiah Thomas won his 1981 NCAA Championship against the Heels. After that, UNC will play NC Central before going on the New York to face Ohio State and the winner of Cal/Syracuse.
Non-Conference home cookin': Before I get to the big games (and there are some), let's look at the lesser non-conference slate. Last year, the Heels spent a lot of time on the road. This year, they'll host Valpo, Gardner-Webb, Nevada, Presbyterian, Marshall, Rutgers and Albany. Interestingly, they will travel to College of Charleston for a game after the new year. Another year and another round of Valpo, Nevada and Rutgers.
Michigan State: The first big test for the Heels will be on December 1st against Michigan State. This is a rematch of the National Championship game as well as last year's ACC/Big Ten matchup. Remember that in both games, there were tens of thousands of fans at Ford Field ... and that UNC pounded the Spartans both times. Now Michigan State is the team with the title hopes and it will be interesting to see how they respond at the Dean Dome.
Kentucky: Four nights later, the Heels travel to Lexington to face the rebuilt Wildcats. The two winningest programs with 12 titles between them. UNC has won the last five meetings between the two which is symbolic since it marks both the Heels rise to power again (two titles, three Final Fours) and Kentucky's struggles (missed the NCAAs last year). Kentucky should be near the top of the polls as they will field a talented, albeit young squad. Of course all eyes will be on UK's John Wall who was spurned by the Tar Heels during the recruiting process.
Texas: One week after the Kentucky game, the Heels travel to Dallas to face Texas. This will be the first basketball game held at the new Cowboys Stadium. So the Heels got to face the huge Ford Field crowd twice last year (including the largest crowd in title game history) and now will play in front of 100,000 fans. Wow. And you wonder why the Heels keep racking up in recruiting.
ACC Schedule: After the first 15 games, the rest of the season will be exclusively against conference foes. It all opens on January 10th against Virginia Tech. The hot spots? Early February features a stretch at Virginia Tech, at Maryland and at home against Duke. A week later they travel to Georgia Tech (they will be much improved) and Boston College.
Duke/Carolina: The two dates to keep in mind? Wednesday February 10th at Chapel Hill -- Saturday March 6th at Durham. ESPN will have both games and you know will make it seem like a death match.
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