AJ: Are the Heels Changing?
Might the Tar Heels be in the process of changing to a bigger, more fortified and better team?
AJ: Are the Heels Changing?
- Thread starter andrew jones
- Start date
Without even reading, the answer is way too little way too late.
I think we have to beat dook to get into the NCAA tournament, I didn’t think that was possible but if we dial up last nights performance against them at home I think there’s a chance. 20% or less chance, but at least a punchers chance. 🤞
Exactly. A couple wins against bottom feeding teams doesn't erase a whole season worth of disappointments. If they win out (highly highly unlikely) I still think they need to even win another 2-3 games in the ACC tourney to have a legit shot
If we go 3-1 in the next 4, then beat dook at home we’re in. 4-1 down the stretch gets us in as long as one of the wins is against dook (highly unlikely I agree). A win or 2 in the ACC tournament would seal the deal but I think we’re in if we beat dook & dont crap the bed in the 4 games prior to that one.
Are the Heels Changing?
Debbie Downer here but we have just beaten Syracuse and MooU with a combined W/L of 21-31.
Not wanting to take away from the effort we showed especially in the first half last night - but not sure this is a sea change that should in any way sway the reins and proceed as if the team isn't in dire need of a massive overhaul on multiple fronts.
Sadly it is new and encouraging for them to beat bad teams easily but as others have said too late, other than fool’s gold that could lead to less of the necessary changes actually occurring.
I'd love to but when you literally live paycheck to paycheck and $100 is two months worth of your electrical bill, you have to prioritize. I enjoy the articles that I can read. Thanks for those.That's why you need to read it.
I feel that. I may not be in your situation but I'm sorry you are there. You shouldn't have to feel like you have to shell out money to simply find joy. That's what the world's in a lot of ways become though. Ironically as I get older I realize the absolutely free things I probably took for granted for decades- conversations with friends and family, sunsets, the moon and the stars- music or a musical instrument you have had for decades- all things that expect nothing and aren't trying to upsell you to a shinier better version- these are the things that matter.
College and specifically Carolina basketball used to be me as a kid at my Dad's place listening to Woody on the radio TV sound off- or just Woody as the sound and the pictures to games that weren't on free TV. Seeing freshman mature into seniors on a real team. My Dad would buy Street and Smiths every season and I'd study that thing down to looking at the last few pages most probably ignored that was a few lines on up and coming players- that's all there was. Now it's NIL, transfer portal, having to pay for an extra tier to get ESPN+ or whatever- "free" sites laced with ads whilst holding the curtain to "the real information and stories" for a price and other forums that you have to pay to join.
Oh this is a basketball thread- go Heels, play great D like you did v. state- blah blah blah.
Take care .
I appreciate the kind words and I couldn't agree more. I rarely watch any Carolina games these days, my heart's no longer in it. I spend time on here to commiserate with other old timers who sorta share my decades of UNC memories and long for the past. Other than baseball(my first love), sports has pretty much left me behind. I'm okay with that. And as you said, when you get older you learn what is really important in life and it isn't the outcome of a game or a season. To me it's faith, family, health, and friends. That's what I focus on now. Take care buddy.
No we don't, unless the committee drinks the Lunardi kool-aid.
Just can't afford any more f-ups til then though.
Our margin of error is indeed razor thin. If we're 20-12 heading into the ACCT, we'd still probably need to win at least one game, maybe two. Do you agree?
I understand what you're saying, but what actually is free? And this is my profession, it's how I earn a living. Concerts aren't free, movies aren't free, plubbers don't fix sinks for free. Journalists shouldn't be expected to work for free either.
As for your other points, I hear you loud and clear. A lot of people share your thoughts.
Yeah, I would include the first ACCT game as a f***-up to avoid.
Bottom line is a dook win puts us in, but a loss is not a DQ by any means. So, if we are in that latter place, we'll play an ACCT opponent we are expected to beat, and yeah, blowing that could be fatal, given the prevailing narratives out there.
At this point in the season I have no clue what is going to happen game to game…
This team is so inconsistent…..Glad they beat west Raleigh….I am still pulling for the team to win games….I also still watch them….I just feel the Program is headed down the wrong Road….
UNC Basketball should never be on the bubble or missing the NCAA tournament period…
It’s starting to become a Trend…
It really hurt that they got blown out at Duke and Clemson. That leaves a mark on your team.
Maybe if they win every game and lose a tough game by 5 to Duke, they’ll be one or 2 wins away in the ACCT away from getting in.
They way they play against Duke will be important. If they get run out the building again, then I think it’s win the ACCT or go home.
They haven’t passed the eye test since December.
I read it and my biggest question is why did it take till late Feb. to start doing what they should have been doing all year? And tbh I think this is just a fluke against a very bad ncsu team and I'll be surprised to see Keats back next year and I''l be (pleasantly) surprised if this defensive approach continues the rest of the way. jmoThat's why you need to read it.
Last edited:
You could be right, and I agree it's baffling it took this long. But Hubert is a bit slow to change sometimes. We will see if it carries into the next couple of games that will be much more challenging than last night.
Problem is that perspective is reality. I am not sure but it seems UNC was favored by many of the metrics in several games (Wake, Stanford, at Pitt) that they lost. Has UNC won a game they were projected to lose this season?
BC and ND, even the first state game, were close games that should have been easy wins. If this team plays its absolute best at home against dook I still don't they win unless dook has an off game. Lost that game and i think they need an ACC tourny run that includes a win over dook, clemson or L'ville to make the dance.
BC and ND, even the first state game, were close games that should have been easy wins. If this team plays its absolute best at home against dook I still don't they win unless dook has an off game. Lost that game and i think they need an ACC tourny run that includes a win over dook, clemson or L'ville to make the dance.
Then maybe Hubert isn't the right person for the job because NCAA D1 bball is a very DYNAMIC environment and changes are fast and generally unforgiving to those slow to adapt and adjust. Changing defenses featuring pressure should have been the hallmark of this small line up/deepish bench very early and often this season. jmo
Last edited:
OK, so I have read the piece before I add this reply. The title of this thread kind of pisses me off, not at AJ for saying it, just being reminded that we have spent far to much of this season doing what strikes me as stupid things. One of the smallest teams in D-1 ball decides to play better the thing to do is to go super small? Why, because it worked some at a point in a game? Your back court is already the smallest in major D-1 ball so hey, why not make our front line the smallest to, who ever thought that up needs a job asking if you want fries with that.
It goes to this theory that Hubert seems to fully believe in of "position-less" players. Anyone that watches Cadeau defending a 6'10" 230lbs center deep in the paint realizes there is no such thing as position-less. Sure, there are a few that may be able to play all 5 positions, Flagg may be that right now, Lebron could, Magic could but guys like that are very rare, you don't build an offense based on 5 of them on your team without being different level stupid. Sorry but that is simply how it is.
The only real question is why it has taken so long for us to finally realize maybe it is a good idea for this team to match up as best as it can, what should be basketball 101. This added to the serious lack of ability to evaluate talent, both your own talent as well as the other teams are individual death blows for most coaches across the country. A team like this must identify the individual strengths and weaknesses with our own players and have them played toward their strengths, not toward their weaknesses. These glaring flaws to me raise real questions of our entire basketball staff's ability to handle the job of a coach.
And for me, what makes this even crazier, forget about Hubert as a coach, go back to what he did before Roy brought him in as an assistant, he was a commentator that broke down the team as well as individual players that he was assigned to call games for. He was good at that so why is he all the sudden not able to now? Is it the pressure of the job?
It goes to this theory that Hubert seems to fully believe in of "position-less" players. Anyone that watches Cadeau defending a 6'10" 230lbs center deep in the paint realizes there is no such thing as position-less. Sure, there are a few that may be able to play all 5 positions, Flagg may be that right now, Lebron could, Magic could but guys like that are very rare, you don't build an offense based on 5 of them on your team without being different level stupid. Sorry but that is simply how it is.
The only real question is why it has taken so long for us to finally realize maybe it is a good idea for this team to match up as best as it can, what should be basketball 101. This added to the serious lack of ability to evaluate talent, both your own talent as well as the other teams are individual death blows for most coaches across the country. A team like this must identify the individual strengths and weaknesses with our own players and have them played toward their strengths, not toward their weaknesses. These glaring flaws to me raise real questions of our entire basketball staff's ability to handle the job of a coach.
And for me, what makes this even crazier, forget about Hubert as a coach, go back to what he did before Roy brought him in as an assistant, he was a commentator that broke down the team as well as individual players that he was assigned to call games for. He was good at that so why is he all the sudden not able to now? Is it the pressure of the job?
While I do understand your disdain, 9 times out of 10 you put your best five out there. Unfortunately our best five don’t mesh and size is only a blip of the problem. Chemistry and egos none the less. No post to help out our definitely smaller guards. IMO once again people have been sucked in to a few wins against not good and terrible teams. I do get that they’ve played better and our larger lineups have done better, but against who???
Hubert was a tv analyst but what made him good at it? And even if he was good, that definitely doesn’t make him coaching material. Great man and perfect mentor for a lot of these young men but not a head coach for UNC. Just for the record, I believe that’s the first time I’ve said that, for whatever that’s worth lol. Nothing
To me it’s about putting your most effective five on the floor the majority of the time, not necessarily your best five. This will and should necessarily change from one opponent to the next, depending on the makeup of those opponents. Hubert has not done this, he keeps trying to fit square pegs into round holes. We’ve seen the results of not game planning and failure to maximize the somewhat limited abilities of our team.
Our guys have looked more engaged and comfortable the last three games. Part of that may be playing bad teams but I attribute some to guys playing their more natural positions where their chances for success increase significantly. If there’s ever been a situation when the old saying “we can’t afford to overlook anybody” is true, it’s now.
Our guys have looked more engaged and comfortable the last three games. Part of that may be playing bad teams but I attribute some to guys playing their more natural positions where their chances for success increase significantly. If there’s ever been a situation when the old saying “we can’t afford to overlook anybody” is true, it’s now.
Last edited:
we had another coach at carolina who was a nice fellow, great relationship skills for successful recruiting. but, by his own admission not a good tactician, didn't even call timeouts because he didn't really have anything to say. but he was successful, even a hall of famer because he put great talent on the floor. maybe hubert is like his mentor roy. hubert will get at least one more year, so we'll see.
I was about to tap out a reply to bama and glad I read your and jimmy's replies before I did, saved me some typing! You are exactly right, you do not need or even want your 5 best players to start, you want your 5 most effective players to start, you stated it really well!
Jimmy is just as on target, Roy in my opinion was not a great coach, made a lot of decisions that made me scratch my head. But Roy Williams knew talent when he saw it, knew how to put that talent in position to max what that player could do and shielded him away from his weaker areas. IN simple terms that you use archer, Roy didn't try to hammer those square pegs in to round holes.
Roy realized one thing, that basketball is most of ten a game won or lost due to the matchups of individual players. He realized, a 6'3" kid has little chance of defend a 6'9" kid that has 40lbs on him deep in the paint, that the team that had the size mismatch begins the game with an advantage and Roy maintained that advantage, Roy realized the notion of "position-less" ball in college is a myth, a thing that Hubert still does not understand. My gosh, Hubert was touting his "position-less" nonsense again last night in his post game PC? An individual player may be able to play multiple positions, Drake is a great example of that but at the 4 Drake is simply over matched to often with size.
I do agree bama, fans should not get real carried away with these last 2 wins, we were not in as big a size hole vs either and neither were high scoring offenses. But when we match up as best we can we mitigate how deep that hole is that we begin games with. How this team is constructed just puts us in that position before a game is tipped off so you must do what you can to mitigate it. I am concerned that so much of the why we beat the spread in our last 2 games depended on both JWit and Jack giving us huge scoring eruptions, both players have shown us over and over that they can erupt or they can disappear, they can play brilliant and they can go bone headed in the blink of an eye, yet to show they can be consistent.
"Hubert was a tv analyst but what made him good at it?" When Hubert joined Roy's staff both he and Roy talked about just this, what Roy saw and why Hubert felt he could help. IT was that before every game he commented on Hubert did a deep dive in to both teams, was very good at spotting things that were key to the performance of those teams, the very same trait you want breaking down game film of how your team last played as well as your next opponent. But some where along the way Hubert seemed from how he now coaches to have developed some strange notions, like playing 5 out, position-less, letting a cold shooter keep shooting so he "maybe" heats up at the end?
No doubt man, and that what’s frustrating with HD. He’s done the scouting before and seen Roy implement those things. I guess that’s why I think he can be good at what he used to do but not relate it to the coaching side of the equation. And let’s be clear, I’m not in the majority on this either, I know, BUT I don’t mind the 5 out, I don’t mind everyone on the whole dang team being position less, and I don’t even mind a cold shooter trying to heat up. What I do mind is PLEASE for the love of all things sports, it has to work!!! I can’t type that any louder lol. I honestly don’t care who plays where or if my point guard even looks remotely what others think a pg should look like. You know what cures all angst? Winning. You win and that all of a sudden cures bellyaching, loudmouths fanatics , critics, parents, and everyone else who has an opinion. Win. That’s it. It’s amazing to me. Nobody will ever complain if you win. You’ll have an occasional person who may would like it done a little different. But I promise you the more you win the less they will roar their head too.
Similar threads
