Battle of heavyweights missing a puncher or two

SPOKANE — Imagine the Zags standing at the edge of a cliff.

They’re staring down at pretty much everyone else in college hoops from their lovely perch at No. 2 in the Associated Press rankings.

The scary news is that if the Zags stumble from this spot, it’d be a long fall.

That seems like an absurd idea, what with North Carolina in town for a first-ever appearance at The Kennel tonight.

I mean, who could blame Gonzaga for losing a thriller to Carolina?

Nobody could hold it against the Zags if they lost this heavyweight matchup, right?

Sorry, but yes they would.

North Carolina arrived in town with a 6-4 record, a loss to Wofford last Sunday on its resume, and missing its best player.

Cole Anthony, Carolina’s superstar freshman guard and projected NBA lottery pick, is nursing a knee injury that will keep him out of tonight’s game — and for several weeks after that.

What’s more, there’s some question whether starting wing Leaky Black, who is also Anthony’s backup at point guard, will be healthy enough to play.

Black also missed the Wofford game.

YOU SEE where this is going, right?

With Carolina shorthanded and overly dependent on Anthony’s production in the first place, the basketball world expects Gonzaga to administer a thumping tonight.

After losing to Wofford at home, if the Tar Heels came to The Kennel and halted Gonzaga’s national best 28-game home winning streak, you’d have a lead story for the Thursday morning media.

And the Zags, who always must think of seeding in the NCAA tournament even though it’s months away, certainly would fall a considerable distance from No. 2.

Mark Few and his assistants, needless to say, didn’t just fall off a turnip truck — so they are working overtime to convince everyone that Carolina, even without Anthony, might be better than the Los Angeles Lakers.

Heaven knows the Zags are hearing how good they are from fellow students, fans and boosters.

Few wants none of that.

“Coach has told us that (Carolina) is like a wounded animal,” suggested junior wing Corey Kispert.

“We get Twitter and ESPN, so we know what the media is saying,” Kispert added. “We know the situation (with Anthony), but Carolina has all high-level athletes, McDonald’s All-Americans.

“This is still Carolina, the blue-blood program.”

Few made an interesting point on his radio show when addressing the issue that Anthony now won’t tonight.

“They found out he couldn’t play, then went right out and lost to Wofford,” Few said.

“But there’s a difference between Anthony being out, and not knowing that Anthony was going to be out until right before a game.”

IN OTHER words, Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams didn’t just tumble off that turnip truck, either.

He’s had a little time now to readjust his roster and change a few roles, and as Kispert pointed out, the Tar Heels are still a gang of studs.

If they weren’t, they wouldn’t be playing on scholarships at North Carolina.

Period.

This ain’t going to be Texas Southern, I promise.

Carolina’s not going to be intimidated at The Kennel, either, no matter how insane the noise level.

The Heels already have played Michigan, Ohio State, Virginia, Notre Dame, Alabama and Oregon.

Gonzaga is just another name to athletes at the University of North Carolina.

Most couldn’t find Spokane on a map.

The Heels get ESPN, too, and are hearing that without Anthony, they’re likely going to take a whipping this evening.

And they know, especially after what happened in that national title game that was decided by some awful calls, how much the Zags would love to batter them.

“We want revenge,” said Killian Tillie, a member of that team that got hosed out of a national championship.

The entire Gonzaga fan base wants payback just as badly.

So surely you can see it…

This sets up as a game that could flip Carolina’s season, get the Heels on the right track and prove to the players that they can beat good teams without Anthony.

With Few cracking the whip, though, the Zags swear they’re not going to take that bait.

“We’re preparing for the very best version of Carolina,” Kispert said.

Cross your fingers that he’s right, because…

North Carolina can beat you.

In your garage, if necessary.

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Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns for The Press appear on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Steve also contributes the “Zags Tracker” package on Gonzaga basketball each Tuesday.