Ginyard, the lone true defensive stopper on UNC's roster, joins freshman Tyler Zeller on the out-for-the-year list, meaning the Tar Heels are without two players they expected to play huge roles on the team.
This is not good news for their potential title run. At the beginning of the year, UNC was virtually everyone's pick to win it all. Now, things aren't so certain. Sure, they're still one of the best teams in the country even without Ginyard and Zeller, but it's hardly inconsequential when any team loses two of its main players.
Yes, they still have Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington, Ty Lawson, Danny Green, Bobby Frasor and Deon Thompson, and Ed Davis and Larry Drew have shown some nice flashes this year, but when North Carolina struggles, it is usually because they lack defensive intensity. That was something Ginyard always brought. Now, the Heels have to find a way to bring that every night without the hopes that Marcus will come back and fill the void.
The good news is UNC has played virtually the entire season without him, so they're used to it by now. Hopefully they can find a way to put it all together defensively. If so, they're still one of the favorites with the gluttony of healthy talent on that roster. If not, an earlier than expected exit in the big dance would not be shocking.
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