UNC Still Have a Decent Shot

NCAA fans seem to have forgotten the fact that the North Carolina Tar Heels STILL are the defending NCAA champs and they will keep on coming until someone dethrones them from their throne.

With all the buzz surrounding the Duke Blue Devils and J.J. Redick, as well as teams like the UConn Huskies, the Villanova Wildcats and of course, Adam Morrison and Gonzaga, who can blame the fans from forgetting those guys in Charlotte? Especially now that UNC is undergoing somewhat a rebuilding stage?

Yes, the faces wearing the Tar Heel blue may have changed but one can't deny the fact that their style of play haven't.

Even if it's a rookie this time leading the way for them.

The Heels play at the 20th fastest pace in the nation and run the seventh-most efficient offense in the league. For one to beat these Tar Heels, you better score in bunches.

UNC is shooting the basketball from the arc decently, with 38.0 percent as a team. Hell, if they miss, they will probably grab the offensive rebound anyway as they have continually pounded opponents on the offensive glass all year long.

The Tar Heels certainly are underdogs. However, these guys seem to play better when nobody expects them to.

Freshman superstar Tyler Hansbrough is leading the Tar Heels to a new era after the likes of Rashad McCants, Sean May and Raymond Felton went to the professional ranks of the NBA. Tyler is certainly capable of becoming the next best thing in Charlotte, N.C., and you can say that already with this guy being just a freshman.

Another thing going for the Tar Heels coming in to the big dance is the fact that some of the teams within their Washington D.C bracket are having somewhat of a decline lately.

Teams like Tennessee will certainly be easy prey for the defending champions. With a favorable bracket in D.C., the Tar Heels have a legitimate shot for an Elite Eight appearance.

The North Carolina Tar Heels may have undergone a huge face lift this year but they still are the defending NCAA College Basketball champions. Can these Heels reclaim the NCAA title? Bodog has the odds, bet on it now.