If we don't turn it around then we will next season! That is the way it has happened for my entire life as a UNC fan! It is absolutely idiotic to expect Hubs to be the only 1st time head coach in history to start at a HOF level! It is ridiculous for us to expect a 1st time coach to take the same team a HOF coach lost with and then turn them into the Showtime Lakers! Anybody who pisses on the idea of Family or the Carolina Way should be banned immediately! We are UNC and we do not do things like the rest of the masses; anyone who doesn't appreciate that is free to jump right back off the bandwagon! puke and kentuck have plenty of room for fair weather fans while we want only those who actually know how to support! I am truly disappointed that this team hasn't built upon the momentum of last year's magical run, but I recognize that things happened this year off the court that did NOT last year. I see plenty of potential but even my optimism about reaching it is waning! There is ample talent on this team and our coaches are adequate. I'm not giving up! I can't wait to see what Hubs does with his guys and I really hope this team gets it before it is too late!
It's Not Too Late - But What Happens if We Don't Turn It Around?
- Thread starter What Would Jesus Do?
- Start date
So, what does Hubert do next year if he’s stuck with the same backcourt? Obviously neither is talented enough to get drafted, so one or both will either come back or transfer. I personally think Hubert needs one or two guards from the portal with one being a pass first lead point guard to move RJ off the ball. Does Hubert have it within himself to replace one or both of them as starters if they both decide to return? If not, we are looking at a repeat experience next season with those two running the backcourt 35+ mpg. Just imagine how many shots they will take next season if Bacot isn’t in the middle to pass to.
I don't think saying our ranking was "inflated" last year is the right way to position it. The tourney games should count as much as any other games in your team assessment. We were good last year and this year aren't as good.
I think the big factor is Nance honestly. Caleb has regressed a little, but there is a HUGE knock-on effect on spacing when you sub Manek for Nance. It's especially hard on Caleb (and Bacot), who is our primary dribble drive threat. I think a big part of Caleb's decline is due to the defensive positioning, not an actual skill decline. It's hard to disentangle, but the gap between Manek and Nance is very clear.
This team is just ill prepared to succeed. It is becoming more evident with each game that any opposing defenses that can jump the ball handler(on the high screen/roll) completely derails the possession. Miami destroyed our ball handler(it was a clinic) and forced him to dribble backwards to the midcourt line just to maintain possession. Huberts other option was to post up Bacot but the defense doubled him from the backside, manned up on the pg and wing that Bacot could see, and did not allow him to turn and see(Nance opposite wing and Leaky opposite corner were defended by one player). These sets are simple, unsophisticated, individual options that do not involve any team movement.
So defenses are doubling the ball, whether its screen/roll or feed the post. Hubert expects the players to figure out what to do during the "live action". It all falls on the players shoulders and they are veteran, experienced talent. This offense is 2 years old and should be operating at a much higher level of execution. I actually believe the players have executed what they have been instructed but the system is so basic, simplistic with no player movement that success only appears when the players overachieve. These sets are the problem, new recruits are not the answer.
So defenses are doubling the ball, whether its screen/roll or feed the post. Hubert expects the players to figure out what to do during the "live action". It all falls on the players shoulders and they are veteran, experienced talent. This offense is 2 years old and should be operating at a much higher level of execution. I actually believe the players have executed what they have been instructed but the system is so basic, simplistic with no player movement that success only appears when the players overachieve. These sets are the problem, new recruits are not the answer.
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Sure they count. I just think it was a fluke. We had a good stretch last year but we weren't all that good last year. I absolutely think those 13 games inflated our stats and inflated expectations into what we could be this year. They've only been that for 13 of like 100 games of this junior/senior core's careers.
After the home loss to Duke, we were 16-7 and these were our metrics at that time:
- 21st in offensive efficiency (112.6)
- 86th in defensive efficiency (97.2)
- 38th overall team ranking
After that loss, we went 13-3 and here were our metrics during that span
- 14th in offensive efficiency (116.3)
- 9th in defensive efficiency (90.0)
- 8th overall team ranking
More specifically, after the Pitt loss, we went 11-2, during that span:
- 22nd in offensive efficiency (116.4)
- 5th in defensive efficiency (86.9)
- 3rd overall
Yes I understand how the numbers work. You just can't throw out 13 games of a season though, any more than you can throw out 13 of the worst games of this season to make us look like a top 5 team. The fact the team was able to put together that run means something about the inherent quality of the team.
Were we the 2nd best team in 21-22? Probably not. But #18 is pretty fair. If this team puts together a similar run we will also probably be a top 20 team. We likely won't though because Nance (or Brooks in 20-21) is a huge downgrade from Manek as it turns out. Not the same team and no one else is better than they were last year.
I would agree that the core is overrated by UNC fans though. RJ/Love are horrible defenders by UNC standards and Leaky gives back all his value by being an offensive dud. We only have one two-way player in Bacot, and he's not even a great defender. It's not as good of a core as others in recent memory.
