Murray State University Athletics
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Racers Set To Play Four-Time NCAA Champion North Carolina
3/16/2006 6:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Almost 18 years ago to the day, the
The two teams will tip-off 30 minutes following the conclusion of the Michigan State/George Mason game which begins at 6:10 p.m. CT. The Racers and Tar Heels are expected to tip-off at 8:47 p.m. CT in the University of Dayton Arena.
Murray State enters the game with a 24-6 record and claimed the school's 20th Ohio Valley Conference championship with a 17-3 mark in league play. The Racers haven't played since winning their 13th OVC Tournament title on Mar. 4.
North Carolina, ranked No. 10 by the AP and No. 12 by the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll, went 22-7 during what many believed would be a rebuilding year for the Tar Heels. UNC finished second in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 12-4 mark.
The Tar Heels lost 91 percent of its scoring and 87 percent of its rebounding from the 2005 squad that claimed last year's national championship. While UNC didn't seem to have much problem adjusting to the loss during the regular season, it could be a different story in the post season.
“Last year's team was so much more familiar with everything,” said North Carolina Head Coach Roy Williams. “Everything is new to them [the 2006 squad]. The kids are going to be wide-eyed, bushy-tailed for a little while. The basic thing is to try and prepare yourself the way you have prepared yourself all year.”
Murray State Head Coach Mick Cronin doesn't believe
