The 2009 Carolina Basketball season was one to remember for sure. After all, when you win the national championship and by the margin that they did, you have a lot to remember and be proud of as a Tar Heel fan.
This season however, with the departures of the likes of Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Green, Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington, this team has struggled to say the least. Coming into the season, the expectations were still very high considering the strong freshman class coming in coupled with returning players such as Deon Thompson, Marcus Ginyard and Larry Drew II.
Maybe a little too high if you ask me.
It's always hard to estimate how a team is going to do. I knew that Carolina would be good, but I wasn't exactly sure how good. I certainly wasn't expecting a title repeat by any stretch, but I also certainly wasn't expecting this.
Between injuries, youth, turnovers and just overall lack of discipline, the 2010 edition of Tar Heel basketball is just not cutting it. After Wednesday night's 13 point loss to Wake Forest leaving the Heels 1-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, many Tar Heel fans are scratching and shaking their heads in dissapointment while the 'haters' are reveling in the struggles of the Tar Heels. After all, how many chances do they get?
The season, all be it, looks a little more bleak than it did a month or so ago. But all is not entirely lost. It's time for this team to show a little growth, heart, will, pride and effort when they step out on that court. No one is going to feel sorry for them and send them condolence cards and flowers. They simply just have to step up their game and win some games for the name that is on the front on their jersey.
As I mentioned in a Facebook status last night, Carolina fans are not used to their team struggling but the good thing is that it never lasts for more than a year. That is not an excuse for this year's team, merely a sentiment to chew on.
I know, you know, everyone knows, that Carolina will be back, whether they decide to do it this year or next year, the University of North Carolina Tar Heel Basketball program is too proud a program not to return to dominance.
After all, isn't that the way it's supposed to be?
