The Forgotten Man

Senior Joel James has been starting at Center in the absence of the injured Kennedy Meeks but he only averages about 15 to 20 minutes and three points a game. Georgia Tech must have forgot he was even on the court as he scored six of North Carolina's first ten points in the 86-78 win. Two of the baskets were easy layups as he was left wide open under the basket and the other was a right handed half hook he hit from the middle of the lane. James tied his career high with 11 points on five of six shooting from the field and one for three from the free throw line. I would be willing to bet that Georgia Tech never expected that.

Balling In Brooklyn

The North Carolina Tarheels had their first big test without Kennedy Meeks when they took on UCLA in Brooklyn. Joel James got the start again in his place and rebounding and blocking shots are the biggest parts of his game. He normally doesn't contribute to much offensively.

The Tarheels were down by as much as 11 points in the first half, Brice Johnson had been pulled from the game by Coach Roy Williams, and UCLA was hitting their shots and North Carolina wasn't. Marcus Paige was even ice cold and he stayed that way pretty much the entire game except for a late three that was the dagger in the heart of UCLA.

North Carolina went to a small lineup when they put Theo Pinson in, turned up the defensive pressure, and managed to tie it at 38 at halftime. The Tarheels, lead by Brice Johnson's career high 27 points, pulled away late in the second half to win 89-76. Johnson missed his first shot of the game and went to hit his next eleven shots. Isaiah Hicks went six for eight. Joel James went one for three, slamming one home steaming down the middle on a secondary break, was fouled, and hit the free throw. Luke Maye had three points and three rebounds in 12 minutes of playing time. Joel Berry II had a career high 17 points and, to this point, is the Tarheels most improved player.

The Tarheels were favored to win and went out and won while four out of the top ten were losing, including Duke's second loss of the season. All I heard was Dickie V talking about Duke's injuries. Has he even looked at the Tarheels bench this season?

Not Going Meekly

With the news that Kennedy Meeks would miss at least two weeks with a bone bruise that he has been suffering from for quite a while now, the guessing game has begun as to what combination the Tarheels will use to take up Meeks' minutes on the court. Go small with a three guard offense or use Justin Jackson at the four position and slide Brice Johnson to the five or use a combination of Joel James and Isaiah Hicks to man five. James got the start against Tulane and had four points and seven rebounds and Hicks came in and scored a quick eight points in the first half and finished with eleven.

Where does Theo Pinson fit into the mix? After starting in Marcus Paige's place the first six games of the season, he has gotten lost in the shuffle in the past three games. He scored ten points against Tulane including two three pointers but I believe the strength of his game is attacking the basket.

Freshman Lucas Maye got some important minutes off the bench against Tulane and he had one point, five rebounds, two assists, and one blocked shot. Maye looked pretty good rebounding and passing the ball but he needs to work on finishing on the offensive end.

The Tarheel Depth

The 2014-15 North Carolina basketball team probably has more depth on it than any Tarheel team in recent memory, maybe ever. They have nine players averaging double figures in minutes per game with a tenth, Joel James, averaging about 9 minutes a game. Usually by the start of ACC Conference play, the Tarheels rotation has weeded itself out to where only about eight players are getting minutes. Eleven players on the roster have played in all 14 games with a twelveth, Jackson Simmons, having played in 12 of the contests.

Over the past couple of seasons, Head Coach Roy Williams, has had to try non-traditional lineup combinations ("small ball", for example, from a few seasons ago). He has tried that same type of combination this season with Theo Pinson, Nate Britt, and Marcus Paige all being on the floor at the same time. North Carolina has a guard heavy roster. If they could all hit three-pointers that would be great but they are more ball handlers and putting on defensive pressure than they are shooters. Britt is probably the best on the ball defender on the team.

The Centers on North Carolina's team- Kennedy Meeks, Joel James, and Desmond Hubert- all get playing time. Meeks is the only true offensive threat of the three but James' game is developing nicely. He can occasionally hit a mid-range jumper and throw in an old school Sky Hook to keep the other team off balance. Hubert is good for a few rebounds and an ESPN highlight worthy block shot per game.

Project Players

Dean Smith used to always have on his teams at least one "project player". These players were not that highly heralded coming out of high school but had some potential to turn into a valuable starter or a key reserve off the bench by the end of their four years. Warren Martin, Kevin Salvadori, and Hubert Davis come to mind. Warren Martin couldn't catch a pass without traveling when he was a Freshman but by the time he was a Senior, he was averaging about 10 points and a couple of blocked shots a game. This years team has several project players with tons of potential but probably shouldn't be starting and/or logging 20 to 30 minutes a game. J.P. Tokoto probably has the most upside of these projects. He is probably the most athletic player the Tarheels have had since Vince Carter. He glides up and down the court and he is definitely the highest flyer they have had since Vince Carter. He is working hard on expanding his basketball skill set and may already be the best passer on the team. Joel James is probably the biggest project. He is listed at 6'10" and 280 pounds but he only played 2 years of high school basketball before coming to UNC. He takes up a lot of space in the middle and also needs to work on his basketball skill set. The Point Guard position has always been the toughest to play at UNC and since Roy Williams started his tenure at UNC, the position has been amped up a little bit to run the Supersonic engine that is the Tarheel offense. Nate Britt was brought to UNC as an under study to Marcus Paige but got thrust into the starting role when Paige had to slide over and assume P.J. Hairston's position. Britt needs to develop an offensive game to go with running the show. All of these projects will probably all be good players by the time they finish their four years. The climate of college basketball has changed as the McDonald's All-Americans are only staying one year now. Teams need these project players to perform a lot sooner than usually expected and their learning curve gets very steep as a result.

Men's Basketball Preview Versus Oakland

The Oakland University Golden Grizzlies come to Chapel Hill tonight for only their second ever meeting. Oakland presents matchup problems for the 'Heels the biggest of which is three-point bomber Travis Bader. He averaged over 22 points a game last year and is only 101 three-pointers short of Duke alum J.J. Redick's career record of 457 three-pointers. It could be a problem if the 'Heels have to match him three pointer for three pointer. He also has a size advantage over Marcus Paige and will be able to shoot over the top of him. The 'Heels have had a problem guarding the outside shooters for several seasons. Fellow Oakland Guard Duke Mondy led the NCAA in steals last year at 3.02 per game and with the 'Heels problem with turnovers in their exhibition game and Freshman Nate Britt opening at the Point, UNC will need to take care of the basketball and not give Oakland any more posessions. Oakland also has two transfers, Tommie McCune from West Virginia who led Oakland with 7.5 rebounds per game in two exhbition games, and former Dayton Flyer Ralph Hill. Oakland can almost match Carolina's size and experience in the middle definitely favors the Golden Grizzlies. Depth in the middle should favor UNC and any of the three- Desmond Hubert, Joel James, or Kennedy Meeks- could start for Carolina and they do have 15 fouls to give. James Michael McAdoo needs to have a big game for the 'Heels. Sophomore Brice Johnson and Freshman Isaiah Hicks are the "X Factors" for the Tarheels. They do not have a proven outside threat and need to dominate down low and one the those players needs to step up and become a scoring option. Oakland Coach Greg Kampe favors a fast paced game and the 'Heels should thrive in that type of environment and the 'Heels big men can run. If the Tarheels can limit their turnovers, dominate the inside, and if any of the "X Factors" can step up, the 'Heels should be able to pull away at the end. The 'Heels cannot lament over who is not playing and as the old saying goes, "you have to race what you brought to the track."

Men's Basketball Home Opener Versus Oakland

The opening of the Men's Basketball season used to be such a rush for me. The 'Heels were usually a Top Ten team (usually top five) and the only thing a Tarheel fan had to worry about was who was going to go pro at the end of the season. Until then, and it was usually after a deep run into the NCAA's, you got to watch a veteran team with a few McDonald's All-American Freshmen sprinkled in to the lineup. This season has a different feel to it. The 'Heels are opening up their season without all of their starting pieces. P.J. Hairston and Leslie McDonald are going to miss at least the home opener against Oakland due to problems with the NCAA. Hairston's saga has gone on for at least four months and should have a definitive resolution to it by now. The NCAA was able to resolve the Johnny Manziel situation at Texas A & M in about two weeks. That suspension was for half a game. He has acted like a jerk ever since then. The NCAA couldn't have the reigning Heisman Trophy winner being suspended for any length of time. Leslie McDonald's problems have been going on for a lot less time but the effects are just the same. Hairston and McDonald's situation greatly alters the 'Heels starting lineup. Marcus Paige moves into the starting Shooting Guard position (he is a natural Point Guard) and Freshman Nate Britt moves into the starting Point Guard position. The only other two "guaranteed" starting positions are J.P. Tokoto and James Michael McAdoo. It looks like the 'Heels will open with a three-headed monster at Center with Desmond Hubert, Joel James, and Kennedy Meeks all getting playing time until one separates themselves. That is also 15 fouls to give from the Center position. Desmond Hubert is the best defensive player of the bunch, Joel James has a lot of upside, and Kennedy Meeks has the most polished offensive game to this poing. All three have the size that the Tarheels lacked last year so hopefully, Coach Roy Williams three guard experiment is over except for maybe small stretches during games.

Exhibition Play

UNC beat UNC-Pembroke the other night in an exhibition game 82-63 and it is hard to read too much into that. I remember a few years ago Kentucky lost an exhbition game to a Division III school and went on to do pretty well that season. The 'Heels went into the game minus three players (Hairston, Tokoto, and McDonald) that are expected to log major minutes for the 'Heels. All three will miss regular season games this year and the NCAA has to decide how many. I won't get started on the blatant unfairness of the NCAA and their regulatory body. Starting Point Guard Marcus Paige took over at Shooting Guard, Freshman Nate Britt took the Point, and McAdoo, James, and Johnson rounded out the starting five. The 'Heels had a serious height advantage over Pembroke but turnovers, all 23 of them, killed them. Turnovers were a big reason why Pembroke pulled to within 7 points in the second half. James Michael McAdoo (19) and Freshman Kennedy Meeks (11) were the only two in double figures, McAdoo and Brice johnson had 10 rebounds a piece, and Britt led the team with 6 assists. The Tarheels were only 3 for 15 from the three point line but did hit 23 of 27 free throws. It was an exhibition game. Coach Williams and the 'Heels have their work cut out for them. They should be much better by the end of the season than they are at the beginning.

Starting To Gel

The smaller lineup, in their second appearance of the season, looks like they might be starting to gel. New starter P.J. Hairston has taken well to his new role, leading the way against Virginia with 29 points hitting 6 of 12 three-pointers. The 'Heels hit 13 of 28 from behind the arc. They also hit 22 of 30 from the free throw line. Putting up 93 points against ACC defensive leader Virginia and their 52.3 PPG was really impressive especially the 53 points in the second half. The odd man out in this new rotation seems to be Joel James but he is the least experienced of all of the Tarheels big men. That moves the Tarheels to 17-8 on the season and still on the far end of the NCAA bubble. They really do not have any quality wins against big time opponents and have not been able to get over that road hump. They have an opportunity to get off that schneid Tuesday night when they travel to Atlanta to play a young Georgia Tech team.

Thoughts On Georgia Tech

North Carolina's 79-63 win over Georgia Tech last night was one of those "blah" wins that I came to expect as a UNC fan. They beat an opponent they should have beat without too many problems and nothing really spectacular happened with the exception of P.J. Hairston's massive dunk in the second half that really punctuated the win. Reggie Bullock had another solid game with 17 points, Hairston had 15, and James Michael McAdoo had 14. Desmond Hubert had a career high 5 blocked shots. He reminds me a lot of ex-Tarheel Warren Martin. When Martin came to UNC in the mid-1980's he was very raw, especially offensively. By the time he graduated, he was a defensive force, a solid rebounder, and he contributed offensively. I see Hubert following the same track if he puts in the work. The 'Heels also got solid contributions off the bench against Georgia Tech. J. P. Tokoto, Jackson Simmons, Brice Johnson, and Joel James all played solid basketball. A huge game against NC State in Raleigh is on Saturday.

Looking For A Leader

North Carolina needs someone to take charge. Reggie Bullock took the leadership role off the court by calling a players only meeting before the Miami game. He saw the need to iron out a few things that needed addressing. Now the 'Heels need someone to take a leadership role on the court. The Tarheels let a tight game at the Deandome slip away from them in the last few minutes in a 68-59 loss to the Miami Hurricanes. James Michael McAdoo led the way with 14 points, Reggie Bullock had 11 points on 4-16 shooting, Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson had 10 points a piece. The 'Heels only shot 40 percent for the game (33 percent in the second half, were outrebounded (by one), and they just need someone to step up. Reggie Bullock made the effort but could not hit the big shot. The 'Heels are still looking for their "go to guy." They really need someone to step up at Center. The three-headed monster is just not being as productive as they need to be. Brice Johnson needs to be the one to step up here. Desmond Hubert and Joel James are still projects at this point in their career. Hubert continues to get the starts but he tends to be an offensive liability and that is not able to overcome his defensive strengths right now. Joel James has a solid skill set but lacks experience. Dexter Strickland had one of the strangest stat lines I have ever seen in a box score for a guard. He had one field goal attempts and that was it. 0 points, 0 assists, 0 rebounds, 0 turnovers- 0 everything except that one field goal attempt. His speed is such a tremendous asset on the defensive end and he needs to use that advantage on the offensive end as well. I have seen him blow right by people like they were sitting still. I would like to see J.P. Tokoto get more time based on his sheer athleticism. He had 4 steals in 12 minutes of playing time against Miami. They need a leader to take charge on the court.

Where Is The Defense?

The 'Heels 97-63 victory over McNeese State still was not the reaction from the loss at Texas that I was hoping for. Granted they had a 31 point lead at halftime, but McNeese State used the second half as a layup drill. When they weren't driving to the basket for easy shots, they were getting open for 10 foot jumpshots and wide open three-pointers. It seems that Freshman Point Guard Marcus Paige had a sit down with Head Coach Roy Williams yesterday after practice and he responded with 6 points, 9 assists, and 0 turnovers. The 'Heels were on fire from the three point line hitting 13-28, led by P.J. Hairston with 20 points and Reggie Bullock with 17. With the ACC season coming up fast, the 'Heels have problems on defense, their outside shooting is inconsistent, and they still haven't settled on a starter at Center. Desmond Hubert is a liability on offense, Brice Johnson has skills but gets pushed around because of his lack of strength, and Joel James has all of the potential in the world but not much in the way of experience (he has only played for about 4 years). This is going to be one of those seasons where the Tarheels are going to be better at the end of the year than they are at the beginning.

A Work In Progress

This years Tarheels basketball team is going to be a work in progress and a learning process for the majority of the team. It is a rare occasion that you can say the Tarheels are in a rebuilding year but this may be one of those years. Rebuilding for the Tarheels and rebuilding for someone else are two different things. I believe they will still win 20 to 25 games and they will be much better at the end of the year than they are now. It will be exciting to see their development as the season progresses. They have lost to Butler in Maui and got crushed by #1 Indiana (maybe they should stay away from the state of Indiana for the rest of the year) and in the loss to Indiana only shot 10 for 36 in the second half. This is also one of those rare seasons in which the 'Heels are stronger from the outside than they are on the inside. Against UAB they were hot from the outside and it led to a 102-84 victory. Leslie McDonald had a coming out party of sorts with a career high 24 points (5 of 7 from the three point line), Reggie Bullock had 17 (3 of 5 from the three point line), and P. J. Hairston had 16, all in the second half. He hit two three pointers but drove hard to the basket and was able to put himself at the free throw line. Interior players James Michael McAdoo (15 points, 12 rebounds), Brice Johnson (11 points, 9 in the first half), and Joel James (2 points) only went to the line 3 times between the three. They should have wore out UAB on the inside. The 'Heels have some athletes this year. McAdoo is one of the most athletic inside players they have had in quite a while and you have to be excited about the potential of wing player J. P. Tokoto. His athleticism was on display before the game with a backwards shot from halfcourt and a alley oop from Leslie McDonald during the game.

Going To The Beach

It is hard for me to have respect for a college basketball program that calls itself "The Beach". They have it written on the front of their uniforms, and they have have it plastered on the center of their court, adorned by big palm trees. That being said, they have proven themselves a very tough program over the past three or four years, and I was seriously worried about the Tarheels making a stop over here on their way to the Maui Invitational. Thanks to ESPN2 I only got to see the second half. The 'Heels held a 33-32 lead at halftime and just by looking at the stat sheet, it looked like the same old story. Poor three point shooting (3-13) and giving up several easy baskets. They warmed up from the outside in the second half (7-13), including 5 in a row at one point, and James Michael McAdoo heated up on the inside, finishing with 18 points. Coach Roy Williams is still tinkering with his rotations as Brice Johnson got the start in the second half ahead of Desmond Hubert and Joel James. Brice Johnson has the most developed offensive game of the trio but because of his slight build, he seems to get pushed around on the inside defensively. He still manages to get to the basket for offensive rebounds and easy baskets and he runs the floor well. He finished with 10 points in 13 minutes. Joel James ended up with 3 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots. P. J. Hairston had 14 points off the bench on the strength of 3-7 three-point shooting and Marcus Paige was the other double figure scorer with 15 points but his assist to turnover ration is still only about 1 to 1. It was a good victory, an important victory as they played well in their first road game and they needed the road experience.

On To The West Coast

The 'Heels finished off Florida Atlantic yesterday afternoon 80-56 and some roles are already starting to take shape. Joel James will be the starting Center by the time the 'Heels get to Hawaii because his offensive game is already more advanced than current starting Center Desmond Hubert. The Tarheels need to find some outside scoring to go with James Michael McAdoo's inside game. Reggie Bullock was able to provide that against Florida Atlantic with 16 points and 3 of 4 from the three-point line. Dexter Strickland is more of a slasher and Marcus Paige has not demonstrated the ability to hit from the outside in the first two games. P. J. Hairston and Leslie McDonald are the most likely candidates as outside scorers off the bench. Hairston's slump from last season has carried over to the first couple of games this season and McDonald missed the entire season last year with an ACL injury. Brice Johnson has been solid off the bench providing some inside scoring punch and J. P. Tokoto will be important as a swingman and I see his minutes growing as the season progresses. I see the same thing happening with backup Point Guard Luke Davis.

The Tarheel Freshmen

The North Carolina Tarheels unveiled their four freshmen and a transfer last night in their opening game against Gardner Webb. Point Guard Marcus Paige was the only one that got the start but the rest of them got plenty of playing time as Roy Williams tries to get his rotation sorted out. The Freshmen came in with plenty of accolades and are put under a microscope as soon as they step on the UNC campus. None of them really had an impressive debut. Big men Joel James and Brice Johnson showed a little bit of offensive polish, scoring 6 points a piece, but it looks like James is going to be the type of player that picks up about a foul a minute until he learns the Tarheel way of playing defense. Brice Johnson has been physically compared to John Henson but his game has more offensive polish than Henson's did but he is going to be nowhere near the defensive presence Henson was. J. P. Tokoto's athleticism has been compared to Vince Carter's but his skills are still pretty raw. He also scored 6 points in 10 minutes of playing time but had a breakaway dunk and made an athletic move to the basket. The potential is there. The comparisons between Marcus Paige and Kendall Marshall are inevitable but there is a big gap in the floor leadership abilities between the two. Paige's offensive game is more developed at this stage of his career than Marshall's was but he did post a stat line of 6 points, 0 assists, and 4 turnovers. Sophomore transfer point guard Luke Davis only logged 3 minutes of playing time and had 1 assist on the night. I believe his minutes will grow as the season progresses.