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The Carolina-Virginia game just ended and as a Carolina fan I feel compelled to write about what I think of this team. To answer the question in the title, I simply think this team will be fortunate to just make the NCAA Tournament in March. Two weeks ago I felt that the Sweet 16 would be a success for this season’s team, but after watching the last few games I think the Sweet 16 is nothing but wishful thinking. I realize that this may seem like I’m jumping to unnecessary, early conclusions, but this Carolina basketball team is just different.

I’ve been watching UNC basketball for a long time and usually while other people panic after the inevitable early season losses, I’m one of the fans who realize that Roy Williams-coached teams grow as the season progresses and that by March they will be one of the toughest teams in college basketball. But like I’ve already stated, this team is just different and not in a good way. This team has problems that I don’t see them fixing to where they will be ready to make a tournament run. Let’s talk about those problems.

The glaring problem is the lack of scoring. They scored 47 points today against Virginia and 49 the previous game against Ohio State. Their 47 point total today was the sixth-lowest in program history throughout the shot clock era. They have yet to score more than 78 points in a game this season. Carolina teams under Roy Williams are always fast-paced, high scoring teams and this one is nowhere close to that label.

The two best players on the team are the two freshmen, Cole Anthony and Armando Bacot. Usually that’s not a good sign when the best players are freshmen, especially on UNC teams. But, let’s talk about the players. There is no doubt that Cole Anthony is a super talented player. He has a ton of potential, but he also has a ton of learning to do. As a point guard (thus the leader of the team), he doesn’t get his team involved like he should. Instead he tries to do way too much while on the floor, probably because of the heavy expectations that have been placed on him. He’s trying to hard to live up to his #1 draft pick potential, therefore taking too many shots (many of them forced) and not being the floor general that he could, and should, be. I’m hoping that he will learn to play more of a college basketball style, rather than an NBA style, as the season progresses.

Armando Bacot is someone I have been impressed with. He’s smart and scores points when he’s in the game. He also does other things well such as rebound and block shots. When he’s not in the game, like he wasn’t for most of the Ohio State game from injury, the team is in real trouble. The team desperately needs him to stay healthy this season for them to win.

Garrison Brooks is someone I’ve never been impressed with. He’ll give you some good games occasionally, but most of the time he is non-existent. My main problem with him is he’s way too soft. He get’s dominated on the glass and his offensive skillset doesn’t involve him being able to overpower any defender, even though he is big/strong enough. Brandon Robinson isn’t a bad player to have on the floor, but honestly he is a 6th-7th man. He’s not someone who has the capability to take over a game on either end of the floor. He will give solid minutes, which is what he did on last year’s team as a 6th-7th man. But this year’s team is requiring him to be a star, which he simply is not.

Now it’s time to discuss the trio of Platek/Pierce/Keeling. They are horrible and there’s no other way to put it. I thought this team would be pretty good before the season started in large part to the two transfer players who would come in, score, and provide experience at the college level. But Pierce and Keeling both have been major disappointments. Keeling either hasn’t found his shot or doesn’t have one, but every time he shoots you know it’s not going in. And he shoots it way too much to miss that much. Aside from shooting, he doesn’t provide anything else. Pierce was supposed to be a big scorer as well, but he has been terrible. At least he does a few other things to help the team such as rebound, but he has been a big disappointment as well. Perhaps the two transfers just can’t handle the higher level of basketball that playing for Carolina involves. And Platek just takes up space. That’s the best way to put it. He hardly shoots the ball and when he does he misses. He’s very good at standing outside of the three point line and passing the ball to the wings though…

Leaky Black is another player that has been a disappointment. He is very athletic and 6’8’’, but seems content just passing the ball around. He certainly can’t shoot, but with his length he should be able to attack the basket and fill up the stat sheet. You can tell he tries to be Theo Pinson, even wearing his #1. While Pinson couldn’t shoot for anything, he was the ultimate stat sheet stuffer and got his team involved by being a floor general. He also provided so much energy and hustle on the court, something I don’t see from Black.

This Carolina team just doesn’t have it. They aren’t tough. They aren’t smart. They don’t play together. And they can’t score. These are problems that they will get better at as the season goes on, but also problems they won’t eliminate before March. I don’t see the ‘will to win’ in this team. Besides Anthony, Bacot, and occasionally Robinson, who will provide consistent scoring for this team? I hope I’m wrong, but it’s going to be a long season for Tar Heel fans. I’m just hoping that they do what the team ten years ago couldn’t do…make the NCAA Tournament.

Garett

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