When a Champion isn't a Champion

The UNC-Mississippi State game in the second round of the NIT was probably the most enjoyable Heels game to watch all season (other contenders - beating Mich St at home; the first half of the Syracuse game; heading into Winston-Salem and venting some frustration).

Whether it's a good thing or bad thing that my team's best game came in the second round of the NIT, I'm not sure.

But now that they have three solid wins against decent competition in the NIT under their belt, these Heels need to lose. Soon. I don't care whether it's against Rhode Island in the semifinals or the Dayton/Illinois winner in the finals. But I don't want the Heels to win the NIT.

Why? Because one of the most valuable things in sports is the team that plays with a chip on its shoulder. And this team, next season, needs to have a gigantic one. Winning a bunch of games at the end of the season softens the pain, eases the sting and isn't nearly as powerful of a motivating tool as an abysmal end of the season (which the Heels had up until the NIT).

These guys aren't, and shouldn't feel like champions. They should be proud of what they've been able to do over the last few games and pleased with some signs of maturation from John Henson and LDII. But being proud toes the fine line between being pleased and satisfied.

I just want the losses, the bad press, the taunting and the disparaging comments about this year's team to fuel them in the offseason and into the next season. I need that to be the rage that powers their improvement. They need to be so sick of what this season was that they're determined to do what it takes to make sure nothing like that happens again.

It's fun that the Heels are still playing, that we can see Henson throw down ridiculous dunks, and that Will Graves might be improving his shot selection and that the young guards are making fewer mistakes. But the game I'm most concerned about is not UNC-Rhode Island on Tuesday in the NIT.

It's UNC against whoever they open the 2010-11 season against. Here's to beating Long Beach State by 45.