We finally made it: the North Carolina Tar Heels are just moments away from their regular season opener against Western Carolina. The Heels made it out of preseason play with wins over USC and Charlotte, and now we get to see what this team looks like when the win/loss column actually matters.
One question with this game was whether or not Matt Able would be available for the Tar Heels. He was spotted warming up with the team earlier, so it may be a good sign that he will be available in some capacity.
As we discussed in the three to watch, Able being available for this game is important because this is a group still trying to discover cohesion. With only a few returning players from last year's roster, Michael Malone needs as much as his roster healthy and available in this beginning stretch as possible, or else they may fall behind other teams in the country.
This will be a game that will more than anything serve as a tune-up for what's to come in about a week or so, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be taken seriously. We won't continue to beat the dead horse regarding what happened the last time the Heels were in the Dean Dome, but let's just say Malone's team is fully aware that this needs to be a game where they make a loud opening statement. Limiting turnovers, crashing the boards, and shooting better overall will help them do that.
If you weren't able to make it to the Dean Smith Center for the opener, feel free to hang out with us in the comments section. Also, don't forget to use the SB Nation app on your smartphone for a convenient way to discuss the game. As always, we'll be back afterwards with post-game analysis and takes. Until then, Go Heels!
