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Quick stuff (BC game)...

I confess to feeling sorry for BC.

You're one of the worst teams in a sub-par ACC. You come into the home court of one of the most storied teams in the conference and nation. And you had it won . . . if only you could do an acceptable job of inbounding the ball.

Naturally, as a UNC fan, I was ecstatic at our success against those inbound plays. But I can also imagine what it must have felt like to be a BC player or fan.

Hubert Davis

I want a different group of players here next season. It's going to happen organically once RJ is out of eligibility and Ian declares for the NBA draft. But I don't want this to be a "run it back" situation. I understand running it back after making the National Championship game because, you know.... They made the National Championship game!

A similar question was brought up on this board in 2023 whether you would want Caleb Love and RJ Davis coming back together after the disastrous season they just had. I was really surprised with how many people wanted Caleb Love back. So I guess it shouldn't surprise me that people want guys back from this team that will be eligible to return. I don't see it that way.

This team needs to upgrade at multiple positions. Especially if they're not going to upgrade on the sidelines in the offseason.

correct. we need new blood starting at the top with Hubert, and then we need to revamp our roster. the current roster we have has shown that, at best, they are a still double digit loss group, and not a group that can get it done consistently on both sides of the floor, regardless of competition we are facing.
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Hubert Davis

I want a different group of players here next season. It's going to happen organically once RJ is out of eligibility and Ian declares for the NBA draft. But I don't want this to be a "run it back" situation. I understand running it back after making the National Championship game because, you know.... They made the National Championship game!

A similar question was brought up on this board in 2023 whether you would want Caleb Love and RJ Davis coming back together after the disastrous season they just had. I was really surprised with how many people wanted Caleb Love back. So I guess it shouldn't surprise me that people want guys back from this team that will be eligible to return. I don't see it that way.

This team needs to upgrade at multiple positions. Especially if they're not going to upgrade on the sidelines in the offseason.

Caleb Wilson to announce Thursday, January 23rd

THis is supposed to be a positive thread about an outstanding 5 * recruit!!!!

JWash was a center his whole life. To play him and Lubin together means someone has to sit. So that means we take Seth, Drake, or Ian and remove/lessen our most consistent energy guys from the lineup??? You would tell Ian and Drake that even though you worked your tails off, and have demonstrated you are good for the team, we will still sit you???. NOPE. That would cause more trouble than it fixes! It would astonish me if JWash enters the portal and I cannot stand when we suggest or even imply such things. Doesn't sound like Family to me. How could anyone watch the development of RJ, EC, Seth, JWash, and the rapid growth of JB and even suggest that this staff doesn't develop players? AND EC did not deserve the keys to our ride until he matured into the player who could handle it! He is still learning to manage his emotions and I propose he is farther down the road due to our staff's handling of his responsibilities! BTW: RJ isn't taking any wild step back heat checks and he has increased his assists exponentially! Recruiting doesn't happen in a vacuum, so we can't just use hindsight to say what should have been done. It is impossible to focus on 6 peeps without some of them feeling like second choices so what should Hubs have done? He spent time and resources pursuing 3 Bigs that looked very promising and keeping in contact with others and we whiffed. So freakin' what! Do you really feel like we should have abandoned all UNC stands for and just tried to outbid peeps for mercenaries? I do not now nor will I ever feel this way! This team does have a small margin and needs to play with maximum effort to win. Beating the dead horse over and over again will not change anything, but we might be able to help by going to the game and actually cheering FOR them instead of rallying the troops against our beloved team! There is always an empty seat next to my wife and me so I'll ask the guy for you if any of you want to actually help!
I don't disagree with much of what you wrote. Personally, I don't think Washington is good enough to warrant this kind of constant debate on this board, lol. I think he's just a role player who's going to have good moments here and bad moments there. But that's not my point here.

Where do you think this program is right now? If you had to give it an approval rating from 0-100%, where are you right now with this program? Do you have any questions whatsoever on the way Hubert is running the program? The direction of the program?

I don't mean to ask any insulting questions but your tone is probably the most positive tone here that I have a hard time deciphering if it's just a positive attitude in general or how you objectively feel how things are with UNC basketball at the moment.
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Hubert Davis

So if Wilson’s shorts trending upwards I’m sure it will decline massively when he gets here seems to be the norm. With bringing back the guys you mentioned doesn’t really move the needle for me. So without some major home runs from the portal I don’t see much changing next year. As for the class of 2025 doesn’t seem we have much left to hope for there either. Maybe I’m wrong and ballot would take is a couple of studs for the middle to let others play their “natural” positions.
When I talk about his shooting is trending up, realize, I am talk about shooting from distance, treys, his mid range is really strong now. Shooting from a distance was a negative for BOTH Drake and Jack going in to their senior high school seasons, especially Drake's. But we see them now and few seem to complain about them as shooters? They have progressed pretty darn well and that began going into their senior high school seasons. Wilson's form is not bad, just a part of his game he didn't have to work on until now.

Predict the Next 4 Games

The only record that would shock me is if they go 4-0 and that's even if they beat Duke. I don't see this team beating Duke, then not suffering a major letdown the following game against Pitt despite having a week off.

I don't think any result in any game would surprise me with this team. Their unpredictability and inconsistency has been the most consistent part about this team this season.

Hubert Davis

I still think you’d have to grab a knock down perimeter shooter. That lineup has inconsistent shooters in the backcourt and yet again a small backcourt. I think a good center and good shooting guard/wing would be critical.
I agree to an extent about our needing a knock down shooter but there are 2 things I would have to know first, first can and will Drake become a more consistent scorer for us, I not just think he can but it would be my expectation for him as a soph. From the looks of things, I do expect him back BTW, he should be able to play his natural position at the 3 (I feel like the kid is a natural 3/2).

The other thing is Dixon and Denis are serious players and they can shoot the ball, they could be the shooters you are looking for and they can help when Cadeau sits. Don't forget that Seth's jump shooting has not just improved but is allowing him that step to dive with, he can and has been this season creating his own shots. Until get a feel for Dixon and Denis ability to jump shoot I am not certain that we need a portal in shooter, I maybe save the $$$ and bring in a bruise brothers like center and get my in the paint physicality cranked back up.
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Hubert Davis

For me, Wilson is a game changer when I look at next season, he is length with constant movement with some crazy skills for a guy his size. His only area of weakness right now is his outside shooting but even that is trending upward.

May take some work but I think Hubert can bring back EC, Seth, JWash, Lubin, Tyson, and Drake. Add to that, looks like we have a great shot at getting High back, a soph bounce for James Brown should be considered and we have a couple other freshmen coming in that are shooting combos (2 guards IMO) that can help us as Cadeau back ups if needed, along with Seth. I would go out and find a 7ft 250lbs physical center from the portal that plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulders (lets say a center Rick Barnes would love to have) LOL.

The 2guys that after all the smoke clears may be the hardest to not lose to the portal in my view may be Luibin and Tyson. Tyson just seems over his head, may be best for him to go back to a smaller Belmont like program. Lubin, like him, plays as hard as he can but he doesn't really fit the 5 spot for us and as a 4 he would be behind at least JWash and Wilson, yeah, I know, Hubert can't see JWash as anything but a 5 and I think that is a mistake. But you also have High, who could become a really nice surprise if he adds some muscle to that frame that so badly needed it. And I do expect a good bump for James Brown, I see a player in him that I am not sure he even realizes is there. Of course he needs to add a LOT of weight, kid needs to find 230-240lbs like tomorrow but those long lanky guys just really struggle to add weight so we will have to see, he does need to add a couple scoring moves, not sure I see one right now.

There are the makings of a really good team in there, a team not has handicapped by length as we are now. They may not be seen as a big time jump shooting team but we are seen as one now and we are not jump shooting worth a darn. Dixon, in a recent game went 8-10 from trey, think maybe he can jump shoot some? The guy I think could take a HUGE step up as a scorer is Drake Powell.
So if Wilson’s shorts trending upwards I’m sure it will decline massively when he gets here seems to be the norm. With bringing back the guys you mentioned doesn’t really move the needle for me. So without some major home runs from the portal I don’t see much changing next year. As for the class of 2025 doesn’t seem we have much left to hope for there either. Maybe I’m wrong but I believe it will take is a couple of studs for the middle to let others play their “natural” positions.

Caleb Wilson to announce Thursday, January 23rd

TP, why ya acting like saying a kid may not start declares that he gets no playing time? Seen ANYONE even hint at suggesting that Jack/Drake/Seth should not play OR play less than starter level minutes?

RJ played to me the best game he has played for us this season against BC but strikes me as strange that his game is judged exclusively about how his offense is rolling, folks want to look at his box score in a game and see 20+ and assume he played a great game, no matter that it took him 20 shots to get that 20pts. Forgotten is the fact that to call RJ a par defender takes being in a overly generous mood, truth is he is a defensive negative and for the season is a very low efficiency scorer. RJ is the guy that would be coming off the bench for me, he would for sure get starter level minutes but I would start Jack at the 2 with Cadeau at the point and Drake at the 3 (his natural position) and JWash at the 4, his natural position, along with either JWit or Lubin. Then we are not as tiny, actually have a size advantage at the 3 and 4, physicality to battle big centers, and what should be solid scoring coming off the bench with RJ and Seth.

You tell me, exactly how much effort does JWash need to play with when his 225lbs body is being backed down by a 7ft 270lbs opposing center? Sincerely, I would like to know, think maybe we should move Seth to center and wonder why he would struggle to defend that 270lb dude? This team has the roster it has, not going to be anymore additions to it till next season, no matter how we got here, here we are. Step #1 1 to this team actually winning like a UNC team is expected is to limit the small handicap as much as we can
and you do that by matching up players to their natural positions as best you can and drastically ramp up the game pace tempo, harass the other team defensively the length of the court, speed them up. This team can not afford to play hard at one end and rest on the other. We should be looking to attack the other teams best weapons, make them defend, do what you can to draw their better players in to foul trouble, force them in to line ups they are not used to. You do that by going hard and deep to your bench, which by the way helps reduce the sting of guys not starting.

And ya know what would really help, go back to the UNC free lance offense of constant motion, setting a lot of screens, guys moving with a purpose. We are running so many set plays that at times we look almost robotic and it isn't as if the other teams do not know our plays, they do, at times they seem to know them better than our own players do. You run the break (primary and secondary) and that snuffs out go directly in to attacking with free lance then vary the levels of pressure coming back down. They score you in bound the ball and run it right back down their throats, you can do that with a kid like Cadeau at the point. You defeat a length advantage by running the other teams big men to the point they start reaching and finding foul trouble, not bombing away treys from in-efficient 3pt shooters.

This team digs it's own grave when they become to RJ centric and they go bombs away from trey, that didn't happen vs BC and we would have won that game by 20 had we been able to defend and not get stuck in so much half court offense. This particular team is much better when our guards are able to drive and limit the 3pt takes to set up the drives in half court. WE should not have guys playing 38-40mins a game, they are going to rest on 1 end or the other playing that many minutes and this team simply can not afford that. 3pt shooters do not often draw fouls but drivers sure do.
It seems HD HAS centered everything around RJ. I'd love to see some extended minutes with EC, Ian, Drake at 3, JWash at the 4 and Lubin at the 5, couldnt hurt at this point. That would mean RJ sitting for a while, don't think HD is willing.
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Hubert Davis

I hate that Im being pessimistic but I don't think that five gets it done either, and I definitely wouldn’t label them as great even in recent years. I want to believe hd can get it done. He’s had some good players from the portal. I just believe it’s gonna take better talent than what we will have. Doesn’t matter where they play if true position or not. IMO there’s been too much smoke blown about pg1s and positions and not enough facts about the lack of talent and just not getting it done.
For me, Wilson is a game changer when I look at next season, he is length with constant movement with some crazy skills for a guy his size. His only area of weakness right now is his outside shooting but even that is trending upward.

May take some work but I think Hubert can bring back EC, Seth, JWash, Lubin, Tyson, and Drake. Add to that, looks like we have a great shot at getting High back, a soph bounce for James Brown should be considered and we have a couple other freshmen coming in that are shooting combos (2 guards IMO) that can help us as Cadeau back ups if needed, along with Seth. I would go out and find a 7ft 250lbs physical center from the portal that plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulders (lets say a center Rick Barnes would love to have) LOL.

The 2guys that after all the smoke clears may be the hardest to not lose to the portal in my view may be Luibin and Tyson. Tyson just seems over his head, may be best for him to go back to a smaller Belmont like program. Lubin, like him, plays as hard as he can but he doesn't really fit the 5 spot for us and as a 4 he would be behind at least JWash and Wilson, yeah, I know, Hubert can't see JWash as anything but a 5 and I think that is a mistake. But you also have High, who could become a really nice surprise if he adds some muscle to that frame that so badly needed it. And I do expect a good bump for James Brown, I see a player in him that I am not sure he even realizes is there. Of course he needs to add a LOT of weight, kid needs to find 230-240lbs like tomorrow but those long lanky guys just really struggle to add weight so we will have to see, he does need to add a couple scoring moves, not sure I see one right now.

There are the makings of a really good team in there, a team not has handicapped by length as we are now. They may not be seen as a big time jump shooting team but we are seen as one now and we are not jump shooting worth a darn. Dixon, in a recent game went 8-10 from trey, think maybe he can jump shoot some? The guy I think could take a HUGE step up as a scorer is Drake Powell.
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Caleb Wilson to announce Thursday, January 23rd

THis is supposed to be a positive thread about an outstanding 5 * recruit!!!!

JWash was a center his whole life. To play him and Lubin together means someone has to sit. So that means we take Seth, Drake, or Ian and remove/lessen our most consistent energy guys from the lineup??? You would tell Ian and Drake that even though you worked your tails off, and have demonstrated you are good for the team, we will still sit you???. NOPE. That would cause more trouble than it fixes! It would astonish me if JWash enters the portal and I cannot stand when we suggest or even imply such things. Doesn't sound like Family to me. How could anyone watch the development of RJ, EC, Seth, JWash, and the rapid growth of JB and even suggest that this staff doesn't develop players? AND EC did not deserve the keys to our ride until he matured into the player who could handle it! He is still learning to manage his emotions and I propose he is farther down the road due to our staff's handling of his responsibilities! BTW: RJ isn't taking any wild step back heat checks and he has increased his assists exponentially! Recruiting doesn't happen in a vacuum, so we can't just use hindsight to say what should have been done. It is impossible to focus on 6 peeps without some of them feeling like second choices so what should Hubs have done? He spent time and resources pursuing 3 Bigs that looked very promising and keeping in contact with others and we whiffed. So freakin' what! Do you really feel like we should have abandoned all UNC stands for and just tried to outbid peeps for mercenaries? I do not now nor will I ever feel this way! This team does have a small margin and needs to play with maximum effort to win. Beating the dead horse over and over again will not change anything, but we might be able to help by going to the game and actually cheering FOR them instead of rallying the troops against our beloved team! There is always an empty seat next to my wife and me so I'll ask the guy for you if any of you want to actually help!
TP, why ya acting like saying a kid may not start declares that he gets no playing time? Seen ANYONE even hint at suggesting that Jack/Drake/Seth should not play OR play less than starter level minutes?

RJ played to me the best game he has played for us this season against BC but strikes me as strange that his game is judged exclusively about how his offense is rolling, folks want to look at his box score in a game and see 20+ and assume he played a great game, no matter that it took him 20 shots to get that 20pts. Forgotten is the fact that to call RJ a par defender takes being in a overly generous mood, truth is he is a defensive negative and for the season is a very low efficiency scorer. RJ is the guy that would be coming off the bench for me, he would for sure get starter level minutes but I would start Jack at the 2 with Cadeau at the point and Drake at the 3 (his natural position) and JWash at the 4, his natural position, along with either JWit or Lubin. Then we are not as tiny, actually have a size advantage at the 3 and 4, physicality to battle big centers, and what should be solid scoring coming off the bench with RJ and Seth.

You tell me, exactly how much effort does JWash need to play with when his 225lbs body is being backed down by a 7ft 270lbs opposing center? Sincerely, I would like to know, think maybe we should move Seth to center and wonder why he would struggle to defend that 270lb dude? This team has the roster it has, not going to be anymore additions to it till next season, no matter how we got here, here we are. Step #1 1 to this team actually winning like a UNC team is expected is to limit the small handicap as much as we can
and you do that by matching up players to their natural positions as best you can and drastically ramp up the game pace tempo, harass the other team defensively the length of the court, speed them up. This team can not afford to play hard at one end and rest on the other. We should be looking to attack the other teams best weapons, make them defend, do what you can to draw their better players in to foul trouble, force them in to line ups they are not used to. You do that by going hard and deep to your bench, which by the way helps reduce the sting of guys not starting.

And ya know what would really help, go back to the UNC free lance offense of constant motion, setting a lot of screens, guys moving with a purpose. We are running so many set plays that at times we look almost robotic and it isn't as if the other teams do not know our plays, they do, at times they seem to know them better than our own players do. You run the break (primary and secondary) and that snuffs out go directly in to attacking with free lance then vary the levels of pressure coming back down. They score you in bound the ball and run it right back down their throats, you can do that with a kid like Cadeau at the point. You defeat a length advantage by running the other teams big men to the point they start reaching and finding foul trouble, not bombing away treys from in-efficient 3pt shooters.

This team digs it's own grave when they become to RJ centric and they go bombs away from trey, that didn't happen vs BC and we would have won that game by 20 had we been able to defend and not get stuck in so much half court offense. This particular team is much better when our guards are able to drive and limit the 3pt takes to set up the drives in half court. WE should not have guys playing 38-40mins a game, they are going to rest on 1 end or the other playing that many minutes and this team simply can not afford that. 3pt shooters do not often draw fouls but drivers sure do.
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