Two years ago, North Carolina’s season ended in heartbreaking fashion in the National Championship game. The Heels spent all last season talking about “Redemption”. Though leaders like Marcus Paige and Brice had departed, the Heels had plenty of firepower coming back.
It was done in every imaginable way. Incredible comeback against Arkansas. A game clinching offensive rebound by Kennedy Meeks after blowing the lead against Oregon. And, finally, Isaiah Hicks got a measure of his own redemption. Hicks failed to close out on the game winning shot two years prior. Now, with the ball in his hands and a one point lead, his driving basket put the Heels up by three with 26 seconds left.
So what’s next for the Heels?
It starts with returning Final Four Most Outstanding Players, Joel Barry II and Theo Pinson. Barry will need to stay healthy, be a better on ball defender along with fixing last season free throw shooting woes. Pinson will, undoubtedly, need to be better offensively. Not only will he need to improve his perimeter shot but also his ability to catch and finish off the move.
The Heels will have depth in the backcourt. Kenny Williams will be coming off injury and Seventh Woods looks like he’s poised to take on more important minutes. Graduate transfer, Cameron Johnson, fought to get to Chapel Hill and should provide UNC with much needed 3 point shooting.
After that, there’s a lot of questions. Kentucky slayer, Luke Maye, helped the Tar Heels in the tournament but most be more of a consistent factor over the entire season. That will mean being able to post up and finish and offensive rebound. The Heels are usually strong in the offensive rebounding department but looking at the roster, you have to ask, where will they get it from this season?
The Heels have a four freshmen big men 6′ 9″ and above. According to Scout.com’s Ross Martin, early returns has Garrison Brooks as the most advanced of the bunch.
Looking at UNC’s early season schedule, there’s not a lot of time to learn against cupcakes so Roy will have to coach them up. Over the years, Williams has developed great chemistry and the big men have improved the longer they stayed. The jumps made by Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks should show the most ardent Williams critics that he’s a coach and not just a recruiter. Expect UNC to struggle early as they find their footing. This year’s team will have to be above average defensively from the start while they let the offense catches up.
So what should fans expect from UNC the year after their redemption? They should expect Roy Williams to show the nation why he continues to be one of the most underrated X’s and O’s coach.
