Notes from UNC-Clemson 

January, 9, 2008
01/09/08
9:14
AM ET
I watched No. 1 North Carolina beat Clemson Sunday night, and here is what I learned:

•  The Tar Heels won a huge game on the road in the ACC against a legitimate top 15 team, which threw its best punch at them.

•  The only thing stopping the Tigers from getting to the NCAA Tournament and playing into the second weekend will be "between the ears." After the 17-0 start last season, injuries and close losses derailed their season. Remember, they were the only team in the last 30 years or so to be "the last to lose in college basketball" and not make it into the NCAA Tournament. How they come back from this excruciating loss will tell the story of the rest of their season because Oliver Purnell has a good team.

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Fran Fraschilla is a college basketball analyst for ESPN. He formerly was the head coach at Manhattan, St. John's and New Mexico.

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