by Bob Sutton, Times-News, Burlington, N.C. , Times-News

"I can't imagine it," North Carolina junior guard Wayne Ellington said. "I don't think any of my teammates or coaches can either." Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio, while he would certainly like the result if that were to happen, doesn't want to consider the notion.

"I've got a hard enough time worrying about our team," Gaudio said.

The rankings are exactly the same as they were Jan. 15, 2005, when the teams met in Winston-Salem. No. 4 Wake Forest defeated No. 3 North Carolina 95-82 on that day.

The Tar Heels are 8-6 under coach Roy Williams in games pitting two Top 10 teams.

The hype this time around isn't a concern for Gaudio.

"Because they've showed me a lot so far," he said of his team, which hasn't played since winning Jan. 3 at Brigham Young. The Tar Heels have played twice since then.

Without wearing any Wake Forest gear, guard Jeff Teague and teammate Gary Clark visited a Winston-Salem mall last week. Nonetheless, they were approach by a Wake Forest fan.

"You guys must beat the Tar Heels," Teague recalled being told.

North Carolina has a much more experienced team. And it's a roadsavvy bunch of Tar Heels, who've won 29 of their past 30 games away from the Smith Center.

"I think we've weathered the storm on some good road games already," Williams said.

Williams said the atmosphere was as loud as any ACC venue when the teams clashed in 2005. He expects similar conditions tonight -- complete with the motorcycle-riding mascot in the pregame.

"I still haven't figured out what that motorcycle has to do with the whole thing," Williams said.

The Tar Heels are aiming for their third victory in a row in Winston-Salem against Wake Forest, something North Carolina hasn't done since four in a row from 1989-92. An 86-60 rout in January 2007 was North Carolina's largest margin of victory in a road game against the Demon Deacons.

Gaudio said he senses the Tar Heels are attempting to reestablish a powerful post presence, something attainable with reigning National Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough as a focal point.

Even though Wake Forest's opponents are shooting 36.4 percent from the field -- the second-lowest figure in the country -- a high-scoring game is likely between these teams intent on running up and down the floor at a rapid pace.

"Whoever is watching is probably going to be tired," Wake Forest guard Ishmael Smith said.

While knowing an 0-2 ACC record is a possibility, Williams said the Tar Heels have a clear vision of what's in front of them.

"If we don't play great, we don't win," he said.

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