Ok, things aren’t going well for the North Carolina Tar Heels, despite the strong shooting anamoly against Boston College Saturday. On Monday, Carolina went right back to its poor shooting ways at Virginia – both from the field and the free throwing line. They shot 41 percent from each.

It seems to be open season on Carolina, whether it be jokes directed at them because of the academic scandal – one sign read “Are you smarter than a 5th grader” – or commentators putting the players down.

Jeff Van Gundy, who should stick to calling NBA games (boy was that announcing booth crowded with three guys talking), says the Tar Heels have no exuberance. True I suppose, but you’d look like an idiot being exuberant when you aren’t playing well. You have to play with intensity, yes, but the Tar Heels aren’t very good right now and have little to be exuberant about.

Color commentator Jay Bilas asked, “Was there a moment in the game where you thought the Tar Heels could win?” Well, yeah, the game was nip-and-tuck for the first 15 minutes. In fact, the Tar Heels had the lead several times in the first half and McAdoo was playing with “exuberance.”

After the game, former Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg piled on saying that Kansas and Kentucky were now getting the players that Carolina used to get. If Carolina has to have one-year rent-a-players destined for the NBA in order to compete, that’s sad.

Carolina has been hit hard by players going early and by players being sanctioned by the NCAA. The Tar Heels are young and have guys playing out of position. They have the talent and if they can get their shooting eye, the Tar Heels can be competitive down the stretch.

But it has to start against Clemson Sunday. If the Tar Heels lose at home to the Tigers, something never done before, UNC fans better just get used to hearing opposing fans yelling “N-I-T, N-I-T.”

For more on the loss to Virginia, please click here.