I normally don’t really start paying attention to college basketball until the conclusion of college football season, but this year, a couple things are happening that are forcing me to re-evaluate that position.

Thing No. 1: North Carolina.

Thing No. 2. No. 1.

Let me clarify: Tonight, Uncle Crappy and The Wife face off when Ohio State visits Chapel Hill to play the Tar Heels as part of the Big Ten-ACC challenge.

And my Buckeyes, according to the coaches’ poll this week, are the No. 1 team in the country. They’ve reached that point without the benefit of contributions from Greg Oden, the freshman from Indianapolis who is not quite ready to play after off-season surgery on his hand.

This is a big matchup in the Crappy home, because The Wife spent many of her formative years in North Carolina, including a few in Chapel Hill. She’s a big Heels fan, and during basketball season, that trumps her admirable loyalty to her adopted Buckeyes.

Can’t fault her for that.

While tonight’s game is a pretty big deal, I will be participating in a bad Ohio State mojo thing that I would never accept if this were a football game: The Wife is making Carolina barbeque for dinner, and Sweet Jesus, is it good. That slab of pork has been stewing in the slow cooker since last night, and by the time the game begins, it’s going to be perfect.

The superstitious part of me says Ohio State’s going to have trouble with UNC because of the fact that I’m going to eating Carolina barbeque for dinner; the more rational part of me says Ohio State will have trouble stopping UNC’s inside game because of Oden’s absence.

Ahh, it’s November and it doesn’t matter that much yet. Honey, can I have another sandwich please?

** 9 p.m. Update: Oh my freaking god the barbeque was good. Enjoy the game, y’all…