This is UNC's first appearance in the NIT since 1974. The Heels have appeared in 36 post-season tournaments in the past 37 years.

With the win over Providence Monday, Craig Esherick's 88 wins places him third on Georgetown's all-time coaching wins list, behind Hall of Famers John Thompson and Elmer Ripley.

Two proud programs square off Wednesday in the NIT's third round, each with something to prove.

For North Carolina, Matt Doherty has struggled to stay competitive with a very young team (only nine scholarship players and two upperclassmen) in a more than competitive ACC. Its late win over Duke has provided it momentum into March, where the Tar Heels defeated DePaul by nine and Wyoming by 16 in the NIT. With three promising freshmen (two of which will likely see action against Georgetown), UNC eyes a semifinal trip to Madison Square Garden not as a consolation prize but as a another step towards returning the program to the national prominence it had enjoyed for so long.

The Heels' strength lies in their backcourt. Raymond Felton provides the guard play Georgetown has lacked all season, and will team with Melvin Scott and swingman Rashod McCants to give the Hoyas all sorts of trouble on both ends of the floor. While technically a forward, the 6-4 McCants is the kind of player who can peak in the big games.

With the injury to Scott May, the Heels remain inconsistent up front. Jawad Williams provides some stability at power forward, but the center position has been tough to fill. UNC has been struggling with rebounding all season and if the Hoyas are to establish tempo, it must control the boards and limit UNC from pushing the ball up the court in transition.

Here's a brief look at some possible matchups:

Melvin Scott versus Tony Bethel . Scott, who is coming off a career high 20 points against Wyoming, could pose problems for Bethel, whose ability to control the offense and get back on defense will be tested in this game. Georgetown has lacked the guard speed against up-tempo teams this year and Bethel's ability to cover both ends of the court is a key. Drew Hall may not be able to keep up with Scott from a reserve role.
Raymond Felton versus Gerald Riley . Felton's speed in driving to the hoop may prove troublesome to Riley, who must avoid cheap fouls. It is possible that Riley could play more outside as players like Darrel Owens or Brandon Bowman attempt to keep Felton in check. Felton is the Heels' best three point shooter at just over 38 percent.
Rashad McCants versus Brandon Bowman. Bowman could use a big game, but it unlikely to come from the more versatile McCants. Gerald Riley could see more action against McCants if Bowman struggles defensively.Bowman's offense has improved of late and good shot selection will be important in Georgetown's often-ragged half court offense.
Jawad Williams versus Victor Samnick . Williams provides some stability at the PF position and Samnick must be able to contain him defensively while keeping pressure off Mike Sweetney on the other end of the floor. Williams is not afraid of taking the three pointer, so Samnick needs to be aware of his perimeter game.
David Noel (et al.) versus Mike Sweetney. It's possible Matt Doherty will throw as many as four different players into battle with Sweetney, led by the 6-6 Noel. Sweetney has the potential to clean house inside but must stay foul-free and lead UNC into some easy fouls. Second chance points may be critical at game's end, so Sweetney's presence provides Georgetown its best chance to control the game.
Bench. Both teams live and die with its starting lineup. UNC should be without Scott May and Jackie Manuel due to injuries and cannot afford foul trouble of any kind. The Hoyas bench has been unproductive all season with the possible exception of Ashanti Cook...at least the Cook that played against Tennessee. His 16 minute, zero point effort against Providence was not what Hoya fans wanted to see, but Cook will get his minutes against the Carolina backcourt.

A key to the game? Three point attempts. The team that takes the fewer attempts might be better off--UNC shoots over 40% more attempts in games they have lost as opposed to games they have won, and Georgetown doesn't consistently hit threes under any circumstances. The Hoyas need to win with the two, not the three.

It's no secret that both teams have been swimming at low tide as of late. Craig Esherick knows what it is like to follow a legend, and Matt Doherty understands it all too well. Neither program has met expectations in 2002-03, but Wednesday's game offers fans of each school a peek at the potential that their school can provide for 2004. UNC has the edge with its home court, its guard play, and talent, while Georgetown counters with size, pressure defense, and Mike Sweetney. The Hoyas know how to play the underdog, and the pressure should be off the Hoyas on the road.

Expect a great game between two great schools. It should be fun.