North Carolina coach Roy Williams doesn’t buy that this season has been a “wild ride” or that there were any moments of panic for the Heels, but there were significant turning points that led to Carolina’s stunning regular-season title.

“I don’t think it’s been that wild of a ride with the exception of Larry Drew and the Georgia Tech game,” he said. “Those were things that were very emotional for our entire game. …

“Those were the two landmarks. And if I were to add another one I’d say the first game at Virginia. Things were about as ugly there as they could be.”

That win in Charlottesville was significant. Carolina used a 20-7 second-half run to win, 62-56, over a Cavaliers team that is stingy when it comes to surrendering points.

That win showed Williams that his team had an impressive level of toughness. But two games later, at Georgia Tech, the Tar Heels fell 78-58 in one of the most puzzling outcomes of Williams’ tenure in Chapel Hill.

Kendall Marshall moved into the starting lineup after that.

“For those first four games I was really pleased with our point guard play,” Williams said. “Kendall was doing some nice things, Larry [Drew] was doing some nice things.”

Then suddenly, Drew’s father called Williams to say the son was leaving school immediately.

“Larry’s deal really shocked us,” Williams said. “We realized we have to pull together even more.”

One real challenge for Carolina now is depth. Since last season, the Heels have had the Wear twins transfer, Will Graves drop off the team, Drew transfer in midseason and then Reggie Bullock go down for the year with an injury.

“It is a question mark for us. So we want to get some effective things done in practice this week,” Williams said. “We may have to use more timeouts than I have ever used.

“But our whole focus is going to be on that first game. If you don’t play well the first game, all that planning doesn’t do you any good.”

By the way, Williams has no plans to use his walk-ons more, even though they inspired the team with a strong start in Saturday’s Duke win. He said the “six walk-ons are wonderful kids” but are not in position to assume the roles of the eight scholarship players.

“We’ve got eight players that are going to play the minutes and that is what it is going to have to be,” he said.

Former North Carolina receiver Greg Little called his suspension “a pivotal point in my life” and said Wednesday that he regretted how his actions contributed to undermining what could have been “a special season” for Carolina in 2010.

Little was one of 12 UNC products at the recent NFL combine in Indianapolis. Carolina had more players there than any other school, but many, like Little, did not play for the Tar Heels last fall.

“On paper we had the best team in the country,” Little told 620 The Buzz on Wednesday morning. “We were going to put together a special season.”

Instead, Carolina endured a bizarre year in which key players like Little, Robert Quinn and Marvin Austin never played as the NCAA investigated the program. Little was ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA student reinstatement committee in October. The NCAA determined he received $4,952 in extra benefits, including diamond earrings and travel accommodations for the Bahamas, Washington, D.C., and two trips to Miami, among other benefits.

“That was a pivotal point in my life,” Little told hosts Mike Maniscalco and Mark Thomas. “It was a defining moment. I did some soul searching and understood you are going to make mistakes, but that it is what you do after that that defines who you are.”

Little, who played at Hillside, said he has spoken to students at his former school and other young people to encourage them to be more careful.

“Don’t let things like that happen to you” Little said. “Don’t let things like that become a part of your life or put yourself in the situation or around the people where those things can happen.”

Little said he realized what he was doing was wrong, but that he just had not realized he could be caught and penalized.

“It’s just me being so naïve and being so ignorant of the fact that you can be so invincible and not get caught,” Little said.

When the game is on the line, get it to Harrison Barnes and clear out.

That strategy worked for the fifth time this year as Barnes got the ball with 10 seconds left and his North Carolina team down 70-69. The Tar Heels spread out as Barnes dribbled up high. He tried to penetrate the lane, couldn’t, so he stopped at the top of the key and popped in a three with three seconds left to give the Heels a 72-70 victory at Florida State.

“It’s very exciting to shoot a last-second shot and have the game in your hands,” Barnes said. “You’re either the hero or the goat. Tonight I made it.”

The win moves Carolina to 13-2 and sets up a game for the ACC regular season title at home against Duke on Saturday. The victory also ensures UNC of at least a second-place finish and a bye in the first round of the ACC tournament.

If looked a little iffy there for a while – what with Tyler Zeller and Dexter Strickland in foul trouble and Reggie Bullock out of the season with a knee injury. There are only five other scholarship players on the roster.

Plus, Carolina turned the ball over 15 times, including a handful in the last few minutes when the Heels blew a 67-60 lead.

But this was a well-played game that ended in spectacular fashion on the Barnes three with three seconds left.

Threes and free throw shooting are becoming big for the Tar Heels, who rank near the bottom of the ACC in both categories.

In addition to the late Barnes three, a pair of threes by Leslie McDonald brought the Heels from behind to take a five-point lead that they held until the last few seconds.

The Tar Heels hit 14 of 18 free throws including a seven of eight performance by John Henson, who has struggled from the line all year. His inability to shoot free throws has landed him on the bench in late-game situations, until the Florida State game. It was big to have his presence in the game late.

For more on the Florida State game, please click here.