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Deacs prepare to face presumptive No. 1 in Chapel Hill Wednesday

Wake Forest coach Danny Manning argues a call against the Deacs Saturday in a loss to Syracuse
Wake Forest coach Danny Manning argues a call against the Deacs Saturday in a loss to Syracuse


WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The North Carolina Tar Heels (16-2, 5-0) are rolling. In a college basketball season marked by parity — a college basketball season where there supposedly are no “great” teams, UNC may be just that rare unicorn.

They’ve got all the ingredients for greatness: depth, balance, athleticism and experience.

The Heels are on a nine-game winning streak and are undefeated (10-0) at the Dean Dome.

They have a remarkable six players averaging in double figures, led by senior forward Brice Johnson’s 16.1 points per game. They also have nine players contributing more than 10 minutes a game.

After Oklahoma’s loss Monday night at Iowa State, the Tar Heels are the presumptive No. 1 next week, as long as they take care of business against the Deacs Wednesday and Virginia Tech in Blacksburg on Sunday.

The Deacs (10-7, 1-4) will give the Heels their best shot Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Chapel Hill.

Deacons Illustrated joined an interview session with Wake Forest coach Danny Manning about the huge challenge in front of the Deacs, especially in light of the disappointing effort at home Saturday against Syracuse.

On the challenge of facing UNC

Manning: “Obviously Carolina is a very talented basketball team and they’re playing at a high level right now. At home, they have that crowd behind them. They do a great job of getting out in transition. Their guards have done a great job and their bigs are playing outstanding. Brice has been on a tear of late. We have to make sure we come in and make sure we limit transition points and that we do a very good job on the backboard. Offensively, we have to drive the ball and get it into the paint.”

North Carolina Tar Heels forward Brice Johnson (11) reacts after being called for a foul in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center
North Carolina Tar Heels forward Brice Johnson (11) reacts after being called for a foul in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)


On having McDonald’s All-Americans stick around at UNC for their third and fourth years

Manning: “It’s a very experienced team, but to be honest with you that’s how college basketball should be. A lot of these guys that move on to the professional level go to the D-League or don’t make it. That should be an eye-opening situation for a lot of kids out there.”

On what that means for this Carolina basketball team

Manning: “There’s just a lot of depth. Coach (Roy) Williams plays a lot of guys. They’re well-coached, they play together and they’re talented.”

On what potentially could be UNC’s weakness

Manning: “They’re beatable. Every team in college basketball is beatable. I think last weekend there were 14 or 15 upsets, so to speak, so there’s a lot of parity in college basketball.”

On what the Deacs have to do to come out on top against UNC

Manning: “Score more points. At the end of the day. You have to play defense and take care of the basketball, but there’s no specific formula. You just have to go out there and compete.”

On how he’s approaching the Deacs in light of Saturday’s performance

Manning: “Today, we’ll get after it. The staff has already looked at it and broke it down. We’ll use some things that we have to get better at. You have to learn from every game.”

On the confidence level of the team

Manning: “I think confidence is what you make it. You go out, play hard, work hard and good things happen.”

On Codi Miller-McIntyre and Bryant Crawford making not working together so well

Manning: “I think you’re reading too much into it. BC is still leading our team in assists. He’s scoring the ball well. He’s doing a really good job for us. I think a lot of times, myself included. . . he’s still a freshman. He’s having a hell of a freshman year.”

On what they need to do better

Manning: “Everything. You have to get better throughout the course of the year. We’re halfway through our season roughly, and every time you step out on the court you can get better. I’ve been on teams that have had no losses at this point, and you’re still trying to get better. I’ve been on teams that have had more losses at this point, and you’re trying to get better. That’s the bottom line, is to continue to improve and get better.”

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