bgorman@heraldsun.com; 419-6668
CHAPEL HILL -- After all the injuries that have struck North Carolina this season, it's no surprise the first thing Coach Roy Williams noticed when looking over the scouting report for today's game at Wake Forest (2 p.m., WRAL) was how many games each Demon Deacon has played.
"I look at Wake's stats, and the first thing that sticks out at me?" Williams said. "They've played 25 game. [Al-Farouq] Aminu's played 25, Ish [Smith] has played 25, C.J. [Harris has] played 25, L.D. [Williams] played 25, [Chas] McFarland's played 25, [Ari] Stewart's played 25, Tony [Woods] played 25 and David [Weaver] played 25."
And while none of the top eight players for the Demon Deacons (18-7, 8-5 ACC) has missed a game, eight Tar Heels have missed a combined 28 games. That number could become 29, as freshman Travis Wear, who has missed the past five games with a sprained left ankle, is questionable for today's game.
"It's been mind boggling, but it's what it is," Williams said.
Williams repeatedly has said the injuries are no excuse for UNC's poor play, but he also admits that having a few more healthy bodies would produce more consistent play on the court.
The Tar Heels (14-14, 3-10 ACC) have struggled both offensively and defensively as they have lost seven of the past eight and enter today's game hoping to stay in the hunt for an NIT bid. The NIT has not taken team with a losing record in the past four years.
With three regular-season games remaining -- today at Wake Forest, against Miami at home on Tuesday and at Duke on March 6 -- the margin of error becomes smaller and smaller for the Tar Heels, but Williams said he still believes his team can finish with a winning record.
"I have confidence in my team," Williams said. "At times, we do some nice things, and at times we screw up everything. We can take chocolate pudding and make it into mud, but it is something that we can play well at times. So what we've got to do is get some more consistency with that."
The Tar Heels have said its been a challenge keeping their heads up over the past few weeks, and sophomore Tyler Zeller said it has been tough trying to stay positive.
"Every day, you've got to come out and play for the love of the game," Zeller said. "But at the same time, you're not winning, so it is difficult at times. But you've just got to find a positive and keep going with it."
Zeller said the positive he has been concentrating on is getting back to 100 percent after missing 10 games with a stress fracture in his right foot. The 7-0 forward missed UNC's previous game against Wake Forest, an 82-69 loss at the Smith Center on Jan. 20, and his presence should help the Tar Heels against Aminu, the ACC's leading rebounder (11 rpg).
But even though Wake is one of the top rebounding teams in the conference, the perimeter is where the Demon Deacons hurt the Tar Heels the most, as they made 9 of 16 3-pointers and guards Harris and Smith scored 20 points apiece.
"I think Ish still sets the table; he runs the show," Williams said. "He's the one that you have to be concerned about slowing down.
"Aminu's having a great year, but he was having a great year when they played us the last time. I think that he's all-conference kind of material. I think he's having that kind of year. They have so many pieces that they can change up front. ... I just think they're really a solid club.
