Last season, a relatively inexperienced North Carolina team that had lost four starters learned quickly and posted an impressive 24-10 record. But an otherwise successful 1998-1999 campaign was marred by a first-round upset by Weber State in the NCAA Tournament.
After a year of seasoning, however, the Tar Heels return four starters, and have coalesced into a group of veteran players who are hungry for more.
"There's definitely a sense of urgency here, especially after last year going out in the first round," Carolina point guard Ed Cota said. "You're just too anxious for this season to hurry up and get here. Now it's here."
The ridiculously lucrative NBA snared nary an underclassman with its sly, come-hither stare. The only key player the Heels lost was first-team all-ACC forward Ademola Okulaja, while Vasco Evtimov did leave Chapel Hill to play pro - in Greece.
Cota has been anointed the team leader in the wake of Okulaja's departure. With the bitter taste of defeat still lingering after the summer and fall months, Cota hopes to guide UNC to the national title that he has dreamed about ever since he donned his first pair of Carolina-blue shorts.
"I'm a senior and this is my last time around, so I'm going to try and make this year the best," he said. "That's the only thing I'm missing right now is to win it all."
Indeed, Carolina's success will depend greatly on Cota's play. The conduit and director of the Tar Heel offense, Cota has led the ACC in assists in each of his first three seasons, a feat that never has been accomplished in Conference history.
But exactly how much impact Cota will have this season will be determined by the outcome of his recent off-the-court troubles. After Cota and backup point guard Terrence Newby were involved in a fight early Monday morning, the pair was arrested on misdemeanor assault charges and suspended by the team. They will not be reinstated until the incident is resolved.
But regardless of who ends up at the point guard spot, his favorite target this year likely will be seven-footer Brendan Haywood. Chastised in the past for his inconsistent play, the junior center benefited immensely from playing alongside the nation's college elite on the gold medal-winning U.S. World University Games team last summer, however, a torn thumb ligament has hindered his preseason preparations.
"Playing in the World University Games certainly helped [Haywood's] confidence," Tar Heel Coach Bill Guthridge said. "He's so much better now than he was a year ago."
North Carolina certainly is not bereft of big bodies up front. To complement Haywood, 6-foot-11 sophomore Kris Lang and 6-foot-10 Brian Berstiker will see extensive playing time. Some are predicting that this season will be even better for Lang than his surprising rookie campaign.
"For Kris [Lang], the sky's the limit for that guy," Haywood said. "His jump hook is so great, it's one of those things you can't really guard."
Sophomore Jason Capel's return provides further frontcourt muscle. Hampered by mononucleosis and back problems last year, Capel opted to have back surgery in the off-season and has returned injury-free.
"I've noticed a big difference [in Capel after his surgery]," Cota said. "He's defending better and dropping to the basket much better. He's definitely improved."
One question mark for the Tar Heels is their depth. Guthridge and his team are looking to junior guards Max Owen and Michael Brooker and sophomore forward Orlando Melendez to improve and provide the talented starting five with solid backup.
Sophomore point guard Ronald Curry was expected to see extensive time behind Cota, but a ruptured right Achilles tendon he suffered in a football game against Georgia Tech ended the two-sport star's football and basketball seasons. Instead, Newby tentatively is expected to back up Cota.
North Carolina boasts an impressive recruiting class that will be called on to plug any holes in the lineup. Guard and Greenbelt, Md., native Joseph Forte and forward Will Johnson, who is from Hickory, N.C., already have impressed the coaches.
"I think Joseph Forte is going to be a very good player in the league," Guthridge said. "I don't know how soon ... but he certainly shows signs of being a very good player."
Strategically, the Tar Heels are looking to re-implement the vaunted pressure defense that has been absent from the Dean Dome the past two years, however, the new defensive system is still a work in progress.
"It's looking pretty wild out there, a little sloppy sometimes," Cota said. "But we've got to get adjusted. Once we get adjusted, everything else will fall into place."
Lofty expectations have been placed on this year's team - preseason polls consistently have ranked the Tar Heels in the Top 10, but UNC must remain focused in order to live up to its billing.
"We have to go out there and execute and not worry about the fact that people are saying we're the favorites," Haywood said.
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