By Frank Heath
Sports Columnist

Bravo, Heels!

Following Tywon Lawson’s severe ankle injury early in February, there were a lot more questions about this UNC basketball team than answers. Sure, the Tar Heels still possessed the talent — as they very often do — to compete against top opposition on any given night.

But when North Carolina looked in the mirror after losing to Duke in Chapel Hill on Feb. 6, all the Tar Heels could say to themselves was, “We gotta do better than this.” If what Carolina sought from that moment was the best opportunity to attain our goals, to meet its expectations and to fulfill its - and our — hopes, the Tar Heels would need to figure out ways to improve their defense, sharpen their half-court offense and solidify their overall focus.

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By Frank Heath
Sports Columnist

Where does one start, with so much happening in this quickly dwindling UNC and ACC basketball season? Any other year, the spectacle of Carolina’s relentless forward Tyler Hansbrough waving as he passes so many legendary names in the basketball record books would be the story of the season. A week ago Hansbrough was leaving Bobby Jones, Mike O’Koren and Walter Davis in his rear view; now he’s 20 points behind Antawn Jamison’s career scoring number. And the way Tyler’s been scoring lately, he could pass Antawn in the first half this Saturday against Boston College! But Hansbrough will be the first to remind anyone that it’s all about winning, above any of that, so we must move on.

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Daniel Alexander Okun died Monday, December 10, in Chapel Hill, NC, of complications associated with leukemia. He was Kenan Professor of Environmental Sciences and Engineering and had served the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for over 50 years. Professor Okun was widely recognized for the engineering insight and passion he brought to protection of the world’s water resources, especially those dedicated to human consumption. More »