Let’s get ready for some college hoops. You can’t talk about college basketball in 2006 without mentioning the North Carolina Tar Heels. They are expected to be one of the top teams in the country this season. Last season they were 23-8 and 12-4 in the conference. Could they be even better this season? The short answer is yes. However, looking great on paper and executing at game time are two different things.

Last season the Tar Heels average 79.4 points per game, which was 14th in the NCAA. They could raise that scoring a little more this season. If there’s one area to work on, it’s defense. The Tar Heels need to play solid defense if they have hopes of being crowned NCAA Champions.

Already some are mentioning center Tyler Hansbrough’s name as a possible national Player of the Year. Last season he had 18.9 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game. Can he repeat this performance or get even better? This team is loaded with talent. Tywon Lawson could end up vying for Freshman of the Year honors when it’s all said and done.

I’m very optimistic about this year’s Tar Heels team. Last season they got a #3 seed to the NCAA tournament. This year’s team could put last year to shame. There’s a lot of talk about Florida repeating, but you better keep an eye on the North Carolina Tar Heels. I will be shocked if they don’t make it to the Final Four this season. If they don’t, the main reason could be the lack of chemistry.