North Carolina’s 1989-90 campaign was a disappointment...until it wasn’t. The Tar Heels had made nine consecutive trips to the Sweet Sixteen coming into the season. They were ranked #7 in the Preseason AP Poll and, in Scott Williams, Rick Fox, King Rice, Kevin Madden, and Pete Chilcutt, had an experienced core of players that was joined by promising newcomers George Lynch and Henrik Rodl. Dean Smith’s team were expected to contend come tournament time.
But the Tar Heels struggled out of the gate, losing four of their first eight games, and by Christmas they were out of the rankings.