MEN'S BASKETBALL

Today, 5:30 p.m., at the Smith Center

Anxiety and excitement levels in Chapel Hill are bound to increase as today marks the start of Carolina's Atlantic Coast Conference campaign. The Tar Heels are reigning regular-season and tournament champions of the league, and last year's tournament win was Roy Williams' first as UNC head coach.

After returning nearly the full squad from last year's Final Four team, there was perhaps even higher anticipation than usual for this year's college basketball season to start. So far, the Tar Heels -- who have received every possible first-place vote in both major polls this year -- have laughed off every would-be challenger, including two top-25 teams. Carolina (13-0) has won every game by double-digits, prompting the inevitable discussion of going undefeated. But the whole nation is aware of how daunting the task of winning all 16 ACC games is for any team, no matter how high the talent level.

UNC will get its first taste of conference hoops tonight with one of the league's youngest members, Boston College. The Eagles beat Carolina in Chapel Hill in 2006, and current point guard Tyrese Rice showed he has the ability to light up an arena when he dropped 46 points in UNC's 90-80 win in Boston last year. Rice had 38 in the first 22 minutes of that game, giving BC an 18-point lead before the Heels stormed back.

Carolina will need to solve the scoring threat of Rice again, as the diminutive sharpshooter is averaging nearly 17 points and 6.4 assists per game this season. Boston College hasn't been on many radars this year, but the Eagles have compiled an impressive 12-2 record and only lost at No. 9 Purdue by seven. They have beaten Iowa, Massachusetts and Providence and have won nine straight, scoring 80 or more points in seven of those.

UNC beat Nevada 84-61 on New Year's Eve in Reno, getting a small taste of an ACC road game atmosphere by playing before a sellout crowd of just more than 10,000. You can bet the farm "Ole Roy" won't let the Tar Heels look past Boston College or their final nonconference opponent, Charleston, who took Davidson to the wire and comes to Chapel Hill on Wednesday.

But fans will undoubtedly have on their minds the mouthwatering matchup that's set for the following Sunday -- Carolina at Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons played Saturday at BYU with a 12-0 record and are poised to move into the top five when the new polls come out Monday. They have eight days off before hosting UNC.

JANUARY 5

UNC -- Swimming & Diving vs. Penn State (at Naples, Fla.) TBA.

JANUARY 6

PREPS -- Boys Basketball: Cedar Ridge at Carrboro, 7:30 p.m. Chapel Hill vs. Southern Durham, 7 p.m. (J.V. 5:30 p.m.) East Chapel Hill at Hillside, 7:30 p.m. (J.V. 6:30 p.m. at ECH) Girls Basketball: Cedar Ridge at Carrboro, 6 p.m. Chapel Hill at Southern Durham, 7 p.m. (J.V. 5:30 p.m.) East Chapel Hill at Hillside, 6 p.m. (J.V. 5 p.m. at ECH)

RUNNING -- Bull City Group Runs: informal group runs on most Tuesday mornings (6:30 a.m., a 3- to 6-mile run) and Thursday evenings (6 p.m., 5 to 8 miles) unless they fall on a holiday or the weather is just horrible. Most of these runs will be on the American Tobacco and Woodcroft Trails, accommodating a number of disparate paces. For more information call (919) 265-3904 or see http://www.bullcityrunning.com/

JANUARY 7

PREPS -- Wrestling: Chapel Hill vs. Hillside, 6 p.m. East Chapel Hill vs. Jordan, 6 p.m.

RUNNING -- Bull City Group Runs: informal group runs on most Thursday evenings (6 p.m., 5 to 8 miles) unless they fall on a holiday or the weather is just horrible. For more information call (919) 265-3904 or see http://www.bullcityrunning.com/

UNC -- Men's Basketball hosts College of Charleston, 9 p.m.

JANUARY 8

PREPS -- JV Basketball: East Chapel Hill at Jordan, girls 5 p.m., boys 6:30 p.m. Swimming: Carrboro vs. Orange vs. DSA (Edison Johnson Pool, Durham). Chapel Hill at Jordan, 4 p.m. East Chapel Hill at Cary Academy, 4 p.m.

UNC -- Women's Basketball at Clemson, 7 p.m.

JANUARY 9

PREPS -- Boys Basketball: Cardinal Gibbons at Carrboro, 7:30 p.m. Chapel Hill vs. Hillside, 7 p.m. (JV 5:30 p.m.) East Chapel Hill vs. Jordan, 7:30 p.m. Girls Basketball: Cardinal Gibbons at Carrboro, 6 p.m. Chapel Hill at Hillside, 7 p.m. (JV 5:30 p.m.) East Chapel Hill vs. Jordan, 6 p.m. Wrestling: Chapel Hill at Millbrook, 5 p.m.

JANUARY 10

LITTLE RIVER TRAIL RUN -- In just its fourth annual running, this trail run at the Little River Regional Park has become an instant classic. Entry is as exclusive as a ticket to The Masters golf championships, and registration for this year's run is already at capacity. (Sorry.) But spectators and all outdoors enthusiasts are encourage to come out and support this festive event, run on forested single-track trails. Proceeds go to upgrade and maintain the park, a favorite of trail runners and hikers in the Triangle. The 10-mile race begins at 9 a.m., followed by a 7K start at 9:40 a.m. For more information, see www.trailheads.org/lrtr09/.

GROUP RUN -- If you're not at the Little River Run, you can try the Bull City group run designed for those wanting a slower pace. For more information, call (919) 265-3904 or see http://www.bullcityrunning.com/

PREPS -- Swimming & Diving: the Orange County Championships, featuring aquatic ahletes from all four high schools in the county, at Kpury natatorium, starting at 1 p.m.

UNC -- Women's Fencing at UPenn Invitational, (at Philadelphia) 8 a.m.

Indoor Track hosts Art & Linda Maillet / Tar Heel Invitational, at the Eddie Smith Field House, 11 a.m. Swimming & Diving at Clemson, 11 a.m. Wrestling at American, 7 p.m.

JANUARY 11

UNC -- Men's Fencing at UPenn Invitational, (at Philadelphia, Pa.) 8 a.m. Women's Basketball hosts N.C. State, 1 p.m. Wrestling at Maryland, 1 p.m. Men's Basketball at Wake Forest, 8 p.m.

JANUARY 12

PREPS -- Diving: quad meet , with Carrboro vs. Cedar Ridge and Chapel Hill vs. East Chapel Hill, at Koury Natatorium, 6:30 p.m. Boys Basketball: CHHS at Durham Riverside, 7 p.m. Girls Basketball: CHHS hosts Durham Riverside, 7 p.m. JV Basketball: CHHS girls host Jordan, 5:30 p.m. CHHS boys at Durham Jordan. Wrestling: East Chapel Hill at Chatham Central, 7 p.m.

JANUARY 13

PREPS -- JV Basketball: Carrboro girls (5 p.m.) and boys (6:30 p.m.) Girls Basketball: Carrboro at N.C. School of Science & Math, Durham, 6 p.m. Boys Basketball: Carrboro at N.C. School of Science & Math, Durham, 7:30 p.m.

JANUARY 14

PREPS -- Diving: quad meet -- Carrboro vs. Orange High School and CHHS vs. East Chapel Hill, at Koury Natatorium, 6:30 p.m. Wrestling: East Chapel Hill at Chapel Hill High School, 6 p.m.

JANUARY 15

PREPS -- Swimming: CHHS vs. East Chapel Hill, 4 p.m. at the Chapel Hill Community Center. Carrboro vs. Burlington Cummings & Raleigh Charter, at the Triangle Sportsplex in Hillsborough, 6 p.m.

UNC -- Men's Basketball at Virginia, 9 p.m.

JANUARY 16

PREPS -- JV Basketball: Carrboro girls (5 p.m.) & boys (6:30 p.m.) vs. Northwood High School. East Chapel Hill hosts Southern Durham (girls) at 5 p.m. & (boys) at 7 p.m. CHHS girls host Durham Riverside, 5:30 p.m. CHHS boys at Durham Riverside, 5:30 p.m. Girls Basketball: Carrboro at Northwood High School, 6 p.m. CHHS hosts Jordan, 7 p.m. east Chapel Hill at Southern Durham, 6:30 p.m. Boys Basketball: CHHS at Durham Jordan, 7 p.m. Carrboro at Northwood High School, 7:30 p.m. East Chapel Hill at Southern Durham, 7:30 p.m. Wrestling -- CHHS vs. Person and South Granville, 5 p.m.

UNC -- Women's Gymnastics at George Washington Invitational, 6 p.m. Swimming & Diving at Dallas Morning News Men, 7 p.m. Women's Basketball hosts Virginia, 8:30 p.m. Indoor Track at VT Hokie Invitational, All Day. Women's Tennis at UNLV Invitational, All Day.

JANUARY 17

UNC -- JV Men's Basketball hosts Methodist, 6 p.m. Swimming & Diving: women at Swimming World Shootout (at New Brunswick, N.J.), 6:30 p.m., men at Dallas Morning News Men, 7 p.m. Wrestling at Charlotte, vs. Belmont Abbey 7 p.m., vs. Davidson 8 p.m. Men's Basketball hosts Miami, 9 p.m. Men's Tennis at Duke Indoor Invitational, All Day. Track at VT Hokie Invitational, All Day. Women's Tennis qualifiers at UNLV Invitational, All Day., others at UVA Invitational, All Day.

JANUARY 18

Men's Tennis at Duke Indoor Invitational, All Day. Women's Tennis qualifiers at UVA Invitational or at UNLV Invitational, All Day. (at Las Vegas, Nev.)

JANUARY 19

UNC -- Women's Basketball hosts Connecticut, 7 p.m. Women's Tennis qualifiers at UVA Invitational or at UNLV Invitational, All Day. Men's Tennis at Duke Indoor Invitational, All Day.

JANUARY 21

UNC -- JV Men's Basketball hosts Fork Union, 6 p.m. Wrestling at Duke, 7 p.m. Men's Basketball hosts Clemson, 9 p.m.

JANUARY 22

UNC -- Women's Basketball at Georgia Tech, 7 p.m.

JANUARY 23

UNC -- Wrestling hosts Virginia (at Fetzer Gym), 7 p.m.

JANUARY 24

UNC -- Fencing at MACFA Dual Meets (at Johns Hopkins), 8 a.m. Track hosts Eddie & Jo Smith/UNC Classic, (at Eddie Smith Field House,) 10 a.m. Women's Tennis hosts DH (at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center) vs. UNC Greensboro at 11 a.m. & Gardner-Webb, 4 p.m. Swimming & Diving at Virginia, men at noon, women at 3 p.m. Wrestling vs. Navy, (at East Wake High School in Wendell,) 1 p.m.

JANUARY 25

UNC -- Fencing at Philly Invitational, (at Princeton, N.J.,) 8 a.m. Women's Basketball at Maryland, 7 p.m.

JANUARY 27

UNC -- Men's Tennis hosts DH (at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center,) vs. Campbell at 3 p.m. & North Carolina Central at 7:30 p.m.

JANUARY 28

UNC -- Men's Basketball at Florida State, 9 p.m.

JANUARY 29

UNC -- Women's Basketball hosts Wake Forest, 7 p.m.

JANUARY 30

UNC -- Track hosts Texas Roadhouse/Carolina Classic, (at Eddie Smith Field House) 5 p.m. Swimming & Diving hosts Duke, 6 p.m.

JANUARY 31

UNC -- Fencing at Northwestern Dual Meets, 8 a.m. Track hosts Texas Roadhouse/Carolina Classic, (at Eddie Smith Field House) 10 a.m. Men's Lacrosse hosts scrimmage DH, vs. Lynchburg & Limestone College, beginning at noon. Men's Basketball at North Carolina State, 3:30 p.m. Women's Gymnastics at New Hampshire, 7 p.m. Men's Tennis vs. VCU (at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center,) TBA. Women's Tennis vs. Michigan (at Williamsburg, Va.) TBA.