Heels Show Off for Former Champions

I don't think anyone is surprised by UNC's 104-67 blowout of Wake Forest. This was one of those games that you knew the outcome before it began, even if North Carolina was coming off the emotional win over Duke. A letdown was not on the day's agenda. Other things were.

The 2007 Tar Heels got to show off before the greats of the past. Michael Jordan, James Worthy, and Sam Perkins were there from the 1982 NCAA championship team. Lennie Rosenbluth and members of the 1957 undefeated national champions were there. Both teams were honored at halftime.

The presence of those former champions certainly didn't intimidate Carolina. In fact, it inspired them.

"That gives us thrills, chills, what have you, just to see those guys come back and see how much they've achieved and accomplished, " said UNC senior Reyshawn Terry, who had 23 points. "It makes us want to press on, play hard and live up to our goals that we have in front of us."

North Carolina is just so explosive. With about nine minutes to go in the first half, the Tar Heels actually trailed 21-20, but then the Tar Heels turned up the jets, outscoring the Deacons Deacons 31-12 the rest of the half. The Heels shot a blistering 61 percent during the first half. If it wasn't for honoring the championship teams at halftime, you could have started the trip home.

North Carolina, with Tyler Hansbrough scoring 16 points and Brandan Wright with 15, just pounded Wake Forest inside.

"Brandan, Tyler, Reyshawn inside, we talked about how in the Duke game, we settled for the outside shot too quickly, and we did not want to do that against Wake Forest," UNC coach Roy Williams said. "That's how you shoot 61 percent."

The Deacons never had a chance. The 37-point romp equals Carolina's biggest win over Wake Forest in this long series.

"It's disconcerting," beleaguered Deacons coach Skip Prosser said. "We've had good success against Carolina in the past. Certainly not this year."

No, not this year. Wake is just not a very good team. They have a long way to go to get back to where they were just two short years ago.

Meanwhile, North Carolina at 22-3 in all games and 8-2 in the conference has the horses. Lots of them, and they were ready to play.

"Our energy, we have to have it, for every game in the ACC, or you're going to take a loss," Hansbrough said.

North Carolina now faces a big week. They host Virginia Tech on Tuesday, and you know good and well how badly the Tar Heels want this one after losing at Tech in early January. It was a game where Williams said they just didn't compete. I'm sure they will on Tuesday.

Then they go to Boston College on Saturday, which could be a matchup for the ACC lead.

Previous champions were back to watch the current Tar Heels and the younger guys wanted to impress.

"We look up to them....we want to do something like they did," Hansbrough said. "There's a little pressure. Anytime you play for North Carolina, you're expected to do good things."

I think the old timers thought the 2007 team did just fine.