Quote:NORTH CAROLINA

GETTING INSIDE

Roy Williams' paper-thin bench was exposed in the NCAA Tournament loss to big, strong and deep Texas last season. The veteran coach thought he had the problem fixed for this season ... but then events beyond his control conspired to cut the Carolina recruiting class in half.

First, Matt Doherty-signee Jameson Curry of Mebane, N.C., was caught up in a drug sting and convicted of several felony counts, forcing Williams to make the tough decision to withdraw his scholarship. Curry, a high-scoring 6-2 guard, ultimately landed at Oklahoma State.

Next, 6-6 swingman J.R. Smith of Clarksburg, N.J., declared early for the NBA draft; the New Orleans Hornets took the McDonald's All-American with the 18th overall pick.

Williams still has two highly touted prospects coming and he has sold his entire returning team on a stringent off-season conditioning push to make them stronger and more durable.

Increased stamina could help the Heels down the stretch of tight games. They lost eight games by six points or less, and had three overtime setbacks in 2003-04.

NOTES, QUOTES

PROGRAM OVERVIEW: There's a comfortable feeling that things are again right in the Carolina Blue World. With Roy Williams set to begin his second season at the helm, die-hard Tar Heel fans are convinced the Heels are ready to overtake Duke as the league's preeminent basketball commodity.

Williams could enhance that image this summer, teaming with another Dean Smith-disciple, the much-hailed Larry Brown, to bring home Olympic gold.

The Tar Heels will be a fashionable pick to possibly even win the ACC this year, and that occurrence could make Williams' stock soar even as his "honeymoon" back at Chapel Hill should be ending. So much hinges this year, though, on the health of Sean May and the continued maturation of Rashad McCants.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "You don't have to be a nuclear physicist to figure out that we have to guard people better, so everybody's got to work on guarding the basketball better. We want Raymond (Felton)'s shot to go in more. ... We want Sean (May) to have more stamina to be able to play longer and to make more of his shots. We'd like Jackie (Manuel) to be able to do all of the things he did last year and hopefully be more confident with his shot. ... We need Jawad (Williams) to be more of an inside presence and be able to score inside and be a better rebounder. We need Melvin (Scott) to be a better ball-handler." -- North Carolina coach Roy Williams.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

KEY RECRUITS AND TRANSFERS: Guard Quentin Thomas -- Listed anywhere between 6-2 and 6-4, Thomas is obviously long and lean and has the slashing game to go with that body. One of the top point guards on the West Coast, the Oakland native will be groomed behind Raymond Felton and have the opportunity to run the team next year.

Forward Marvin Williams -- A sure-fire star drawing comparisons to a Roy Williams recruit at Kansas, Drew Gooden. The 6-8 native of Bremerton, Wash., can play either forward spot and has a soft shooting touch from all over.

INJURY IMPACT: Junior center Sean May has taken a much more serious approach to his conditioning this off-season, hoping to shake some of the nagging injuries (back, ankle) that hampered him last season. He's running and lifting weights more than ever. The burly, 6-9, 260-pound May has all the skills to be one of the top big men in the country but he has yet to turn in a full healthy season in college.