If you needed any more proof that North Carolina is clear and away the best team in America, you got it last night. If you didn't, you simply marveled at the NBA-like performance of this battalion of All-Americans.
Michigan State is an elite team. The Spartans, who have lost to Maryland (Maryland? Yes, Maryland), are still my favorite to the win the Big 10 -- sorry, Purdue. And I really do see Michigan State making the Elite 8 and possibly the Final Four.
So last night, while it wasn't surprising to observe the Tar Heels' incredible offensive efficiency -- they run the break like the Celtics from the '80s -- it was surprising to see the Spartans sputter so much in the limelight.
Instead of breaking down the game, let's move to a new discussion: Which teams can *compete* with North Carolina, and possibly top them when UNC has an off night (which, brace yourself, could happen someday)?
We'll settle them into three categories: Line 'em up, Only on a bad day and Upset City.
Line 'em up -- These teams could go head-to-head, and if UNC gets stuck playing the opponent's game, the opponent just might win.
1. UConn -- The obvious choice. The Huskies have the depth and the talent to run with UNC. Can UConn score with UNC? Probably. The Huskies have four very good guards who can fill it up, and Hasheem Thabeet and Jeff Adrien will emerge as two of the best post scorers in the Big East. I'd love to see UNC deal with Thabeet.
2. Pitt -- If the Panthers could dictate the pace of the game and keep star center DeJuan Blair out of foul trouble, Pitt would certainly give UNC some problems. The reason both UConn and Pitt are listed here is defense. Both teams can slow down any opponent, even UNC. The degree to which the Tar Heels are slowed, however, is a key factor. Pitt has similar depth to UConn and UNC, and the athletes to cause UNC problems, but for the Panthers to win, the game couldn't go much higher than the 70s.
3. Gonzaga -- Only in a track meet could the Zags upend the Heels, but it's not out of the question. Mark Few's bunch can score quickly and easily, and much of Gonzaga's points come in transition. This game would go off the rails immediately and, much like the UNC-Notre Dame game in Maui, end up in the 90s and 100s. At that point, all it takes is some missed free throws and a last-second chance to win.
4. Duke -- Similar to Gonzaga, but with a mix of UConn/Pitt. With a taste of rivalry to it, the Duke-UNC matchup is almost a toss-up, with UNC obviously having a slight lean as the favorite. Duke can score with anyone, in transition or the halfcourt, but it can also defend rather well. The only place where the Blue Devils would have a serious disadvantage is in the frontcourt, where UNC's depth and rebounding abilities will overwhelm the Dukies whenever these teams meet.
Only on a really bad day -- This is pretty obvious: If UNC is having a bad day, which by most teams' standards this year is probably still good enough to win, then these teams have a shot. But then again, the only way UNC loses is on a bad day in the first place, so this has to be a really bad day.
1. Oklahoma -- The Sooners have two comparable stars in Blake Griffin and Willie Warren to match UNC's two biggest guns, Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson. But Oklahoma would need a gargantuan performance from both -- something Griffin knows how to do, averaging pretty much a heroic effort every night (26 and 19) -- plus third, fourth, fifth and probably sixth wheels to back those two up. Blake Griffin's brother, Taylor, would probably have trouble against Marcus Ginyard, but Taylor and Oklahoma's four guards behind Warren would all have to play well.
2. Louisville -- I know the Cardinals lost to Western Kentucky. By now, everyone knows. But November's laughing stock will be one of March's most dangerous teams. Rick Pitino's lineup is stacked and his bench is deep. There is no drop-off in talent when Pitino dips into his reserves, and many of the players on his roster remember UNC's toppling of their team in the Elite 8 last year. Motivational tools only go so far, but talent and athleticism will help a lot if these teams match up in March.
3. UCLA -- See Pitt above. But also consider the experienced and deep roster. I'm sure you've noticed a trend: teams that want to beat UNC must be deep. UCLA plays great defense, both halfcourt and transition, and would have to really clamp down in the post to keep UNC off the glass. This would be an ugly game, one that UNC would probably win by scoring in the low 70s, but UCLA could cause some problems.
4. Wake Forest -- The Demon Deacons are young, deep and extremely loaded. They can score plenty, and they love to run. The problem with Wake Forest is all the turnovers. If Wake cuts down on turnovers in a game against UNC, maybe the Deacs can cause some problems. Wake gets UNC at home on Jan. 11, but don't use that as a barometer: UNC will probably win, and maybe even blow out Wake. But Wake will be far more mature come March, and that could be a huge difference.
5. Michigan State/Purdue -- I know the Spartans lost by 35 last night and the Boilermakers were crushed by Duke on Tuesday, but both of these teams will be leaps and bounds better by March. Both teams have a lot of talent, depth and coaching (especially Tom Izzo at MSU), and that could help them learn from their early-season troubles against top clubs.
Upset City -- Welcome to Upset City, population: 4. These wins would be huge upsets. Three of the teams are ranked, two of which are from major conferences. But these teams couldn't just win on a really bad day. Any of these teams winning is really more in the line of a "snowball's chance in hell."
1. Miami/Virginia Tech -- Miami's Jack McClinton is the best shooting guard in the ACC -- sorry, Wayne Ellington. McClinton would have to go off for something like 30 or 40, but playing UNC for a second time (the second game being at home for Miami in mid-February) might be the charm. Home crowds help, and that's why I also think Virginia Tech can score a major upset. On March 4, UNC travels to Blacksburg to play the Hokies, and that game is the last game for UNC before its second round of battling with Duke four days later. Virginia Tech always seems to be close to pulling off an upset or actually pulling one off every year, so it's not crazy to think of the Hokies doing it against the biggest of all giants.
2. Davidson -- Would you seriously put it past Stephen Curry to score 50 and help his teammates shock the Tar Heels? UNC beat Davidson, 72-68, in Chapel Hill last year. It was the first game of the season for UNC, the second for the Wildcats, but it was a dandy. With both teams heated up -- they would have to meet in March -- this could be an instant classic. Nobody ever counts Davidson out anymore, even against a team like UNC, which might be the best team college basketball has seen possibly ever.
3. Syracuse -- The Orange really impressed me in their defeat of Kansas last week. So much so that I think they might be the fourth-best team in the Big East behind UConn, Pitt and Louisville. I could see Jonny Flynn dropping 30 and the Orange causing some fits for UNC, but it would really have to be a special afternoon for Jim Boeheim's club.
In the end, UConn and Duke are the only two teams I'd say could win four of 10 matchups between them and UNC. Pitt and Gonzaga are close behind, but after that, we're talking about once-in-a-lifetime upsets. UNC is that good.
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