Williams relishes role of favorite but downplays chance of perfection

CHAPEL HILL -- It took only four questions Friday before coach Roy Williams was asked what many fans are pondering this basketball preseason: Can North Carolina's basketball team win every game? "Probably not," he replied. "I don't think anyone can in today's game."

But it could be close.

Even with starting small forward Marcus Ginyard on crutches after foot surgery as the Tar Heels began practice Friday evening, the Tar Heels -- expected to be ranked No. 1 when The Associated Press preseason poll comes out on Halloween -- return the most experienced depth in the country.

Eight of their top 10 scorers, including consensus national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough, return. All played in the Final Four last year.

In addition, four freshmen, including three McDonald's All-Americans, have been added to the mix.

Williams knows there will still be plenty of other contenders for the title, including Connecticut, Georgetown, Louisville and Duke. But while many foes have comparable starting fives, he said, Carolina should have an advantage over other teams on the bench.

"If we get a game where the seventh man, eighth man, ninth man is a huge factor, I don't know of any teams that can be as talented and as experienced [as us] ... when we get down to 7, 8, 9, 10," Williams said. "So if we can find a way to get that depth to be a huge factor, then I think it's a big plus for us."

The abundance of players remains somewhat surprising, considering no one knew exactly who would return to the roster last spring. Backup point guard Quentin Thomas graduated; backup forward Alex Stepheson opted to transfer. But although Hansbrough decided to return for his senior season, three other starters -- point guard Ty Lawson, shooting guard Wayne Ellington and sixth man Danny Green -- announced they would test the NBA waters.

The trio eventually decided to return, but it made for a stressful month for Williams, who hadn't spoken to the media since April.

"It was a very difficult time period, because you don't know who's going to be on your team -- 23 percent of my team, I didn't know if they were going to be there or not," he said. "So the number of calls to the NBA people and the families and the conversations, it just wasn't a very good month."

Having all three return was undeniably worth it, but it makes for a familiar pressure cooker in Chapel Hill.

Ginyard, who is expected to replace his cast with a walking boot Monday and return in December, said he knows fans will likely be disappointed if they don't blow out opponents by double figures. Hansbrough understands that people will be fixated on when, and whether, he breaks the school and ACC scoring records. He needs 123 points to pass Phil Ford at UNC, and 602 to pass Duke's J.J. Redick in the league.

Lawson figured everyone will be gunning for them.

"We're the team to beat," Lawson said, "and I love it."

Williams, too, said he sees the positive of his team having a target on its back. "I think it makes us play to a higher standard every day; it makes us concentrate to a higher standard; you can't take any days off," he said. "I've said many times, if everybody's saying you're going to be pretty good, you've probably got a chance to be pretty good."

But a perfect season? That hasn't happened since the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers finished 32-0. And he doubts it will ever happen again, especially with his current team.

"I have no dream -- none -- of going undefeated," Williams said. "It's not even a blip on the radar. I could care less. I'll take a great year and a great run and playing every single game and enjoying my life."