Deans last win was against Denny and Louisville in 1997 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse and I’m proud to say I was there.

Denny was a true legend:

675 career wins
2 National Championships
6 Final Four appearances
2006 Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee

There are several perfectly good reasons why we might want to add a backup center to our roster. Armando was injured a number of times last season (not to mention in the championship game the year before). We don't know if Washington will "be there" this coming season. And Zaden High is an unknown factor.

Withers and Ingram could probably do spot duty in the post if they had to, especially against smaller teams, but they are more 4/3 or 3/4 than 4/5.

The problem, of course, is that it will be hard to get someone who is proven to be good enough who - barring injury or foul trouble - would be willing to play limited minutes.

On the other hand, there are several youngsters - frosh and sophs - in the portal. Not proven, but some may have good potential. And because they have several years of eligibility left, they might be perfectly happy coming to UNC, even if they aren't used that much in their first year.

So should we go after a guy like that?

This question came to mind when I noticed that St John's freshman center entered the portal. I know nothing about him. Might be a hard pass for all I know. But he fits the bill of someone who might be delighted to attend UNC and could give some minutes now, and play his way into more in the future.

This backup center question reminds me of the year when we already had Manley and Huffman and the debate was whether we should also get Garrison Brooks. Many here said we should pass. As it turned out, he was the only success in that trio of centers.

Of course that year, 2018, we didn't have a returning center. Much less an All-ACC center.

Personally, I'd stick with what we have. But what do you guys think? Should we try to land a backup center? And, if so, should we go for a proven player or a youngster?

From UNC:

CHAPEL HILL – University of North Carolina senior linebacker Cedric Gray has been named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List. The watch list for the award, which goes to the defensive player who has had the biggest impact on his team both on and off the field, is comprised of 16 linebackers, 13 defensive backs and 13 defensive linemen.

Gray, a second-team All-American and first-team All-ACC performer, stuffed the stat sheet in 2022, producing 145 tackles, a sack, 12 TFL, two INTs, six PBU, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. His 145 total tackles, 10.4 tackles per game and 82 solo tackles led the Power 5.

During the ’22 season, Gray tallied six games with 13 or more tackles, including a career-high 16 tackles at Virginia. That 16-tackle game tied for the most in a single game by an ACC defender. Gray’s 12 TFL, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries were all tops on the team.

A two-year starter at linebacker, Gray has tallied 245 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 19 TFL, four INTs, 13 PBU, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries over the last two years.

It's mid-July. Cadeau and Jackson both reclassify and want to come here immediately. It's take them now or lose them to S.Carolina.

So we take them, of course.

At which point D'Marco and Seth think "oh dang, I should have put my name in the portal."

Obviously they can still leave UNC. But can they play at another school without sitting out a year, since they missed the deadline for this year's portal? I assume there are rules on this but I don't know what they are.

Widely known for his deft insight and perspective into the NBA on TNT’s pre- and postgame Inside the NBA broadcasts, Kenny Smith is a true Renaissance man. In addition to winning two NBA championships with the Houston Rockets, "The Jet" has enjoyed a successful run on television, dabbled in acting, and now can add author to his resume. (Houstonia Magazine)

The narrative for a long time has been that it takes a while for a point guard in the Carolina system to get up to speed. I'm wondering with Elliot Cadeau, Ian Jackson and possibly Boogie Fland a year removed (minus reclass), if we find a point guard in the portal to run the show for one year. Conventional knowledge says that does not work because of how complex Carolina system is. The offense I've seen in the last two years makes me wonder if we even have a system anymore and if a pass first facilitator from the portal would not make a world of difference with next year's team.

Thoughts?

I don't know whether this dropped yet on here. If already posted, I apologize.

This is going to be at UNC's Hooker Fields, the cost to register is $150 on May 2Oth.


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Kinston and North Carolina basketball great Jerry Stackhouse shared what it means to be inducted into the NC Sports Hall of Fame. “I always was confident even as a young boy, not that that was my goal at that time, but just knew I wanted to be the best of my peers as long as I played the game. Fortunately, God blessed me to be in that category,” he said. (WITN)

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