OK, so I am ready to look FORWARD rather than back!

[DSouthr]

Love this team, it was a great season, while all but 2 teams sat home and watched this title game, our fellas played in it. My mark of a successful season has always been reaching the final 4 and we did that and then some so I am proud of those kids and the team they formed.

No matter what, after last night the season was going to be over and now today that is where we are, officially in the off season. And what do we do in the off season, well we look forward to next season.

While we are still awaiting word on what some of our players will do, I do not expect us to lose any under classmen, yep, I do, I think Justin, Kennedy, and Issiah will all be back and make a run at it again next season. It is going to be really hard to replace Marcus and Brice and Big Joel as well but that is college basketball, you don't get them able to play for you forever but you do get to remember them that long and remember them we will.

We have a really nice core group coming back in Meeks/Issiah up front Justin/Theo at the wings, Joel freakin Berry, Nate. WE have a kid on our bench that didn't play a lot but I really think this kid will blow up next season, Kenny Williams, he is going to get a LOT of PT and don't be shocked if the kid starts at some point next season. Luke is also in the mix, could be that 4 that can step out and hit treys.

But we are adding a really nice mix of in coming freshmen that I am really excited for us to mix in. Tony Bradley, UNC fans are gonna love this kid, he is a bit of a throw back type classic center, very good with his back to the basket or face up and his coming in 3rd at the Micky D 3pt shooting contest tells you that he can step away and shoot. He should mix in really well with Hicks and Meeks and should be able to get that solid PT early in his career that develops you later on. Kid is BIG TIME !

IN our back court we are bringing in 7th Woods, extreme athlete and a dedicated lock down defender that is a streaky jump shooter. He is like a more defensive version of Rodney Purvis IMO, going to have to solid up his shooting but he has all the tools and is VERY coachable. WE have Brandan Robinson, don't know if you have followed this kid's senior season but he seems to flirt with a triple double in nearly every game and regularly puts up 30+. He is in that Theo mold of around 6'6" long & lean, we are gonna enjoy this kid as a Heel. As it stands right now, it looks like we also will have a kid walk on for us that is on a football scholly, Chazz Surratt (sp) who is in his own rite a heck of a basketball player and his brother is looking hard at us as well. But this kid brings a bit of a football mindset to the hard wood, don't call him soft, heck of a player in BOTH sports, trust me, he is not your typical walk on level talent.

WE will as well be looking to bring in another front court player, we are looking at a 6'8" stretch 4 that would be a freshman as well as summer decomits, grad transfers, and there may be a JC kid or 2 we take A LOOK AT.

Of course we will have some questions going in to next season, more around our front court IMO but IMO we had questions coming in to this season as well and we made it to the title game. To me a real key is Meeks, can he find his game, can what ever it is that has slowed him since december be put in the past this off season? Another real key is Theo now has his first healthy off season to be able to really work on the skill aspect of his game, specifically jump shooting technique and maybe ball handle.

Our PG slot is in great hands with Joel, Nate can come in when Joel sits and 7th can as well log a few minutes there. Our 2 guard position, Between Kenny, Nate, and 7th we are in GREAT shape there. At the wings, Justin, Theo, and Brandan Robinson is as deep a group of wings as you will find all 3 very talented. I am expecting to see a lot more 2 wings on the floor together next season. And of course between the 2 front court positions we have Hicks, Meeks, Tony, Luke and maybe 1 more to be added in the coming months.

I fell in love with our version of small ball this season with Theo and Justin on the floor together but think about this for a second, Theo, Justin, and Brandan Robinson all in the game together, all 6'6-7" and all long defenders! It would protect our bigs from foul trouble by only having one of them on the floor and Joel distributing the rock! I want to see what that look can give us but I think it would be big time golden! can you say SWITCH off the screens!!!

IMO, that can very well be a top 10 team with a outside shot at being a final 4 team. If kenny does what I think he will, if meeks rounds back in to what we know he can do, if Issiah can stay on the court and out of so much foul trouble and Tony be that shot blocking high % shot making center we love... We could be really really really good by late season, we could be back at the well next season this time.

 

[RP12]

I love Marcus and Brice, and we certainly need to have healthy Meeks and Hicks to step up. But for me the key even to this run was the grit of our sophomore class. If this guys are all back we could be better next year. Not necessarily more talent or potential but could be more consistent and a threat to win it again.

 

[JuleZ '02 HEEL]

I think we have a very solid core at each position. It remains to be seen who will be the guys who step up and fill the leadership roles, and put the team on their shoulders like Marcus and Brice have done, but we definitely have the potential to be very good.

 

[gary-7]

I think we have a very solid core at each position. It remains to be seen who will be the guys who step up and fill the leadership roles, and put the team on their shoulders like Marcus and Brice have done, but we definitely have the potential to be very good.

We already know who the leader-dog is. JB.

 

[Grayhead]

If all comes back, the front court will be our weakness. Brice was a major factor for us winning the games we did. If we get the same level of play out of Meeks and hicks, then we may have a few more in the lose section. They HAVE to step it up next year. Berry will keep us in games as will Justin. Have no clue on the incoming freshmen, other than they are freshmen. We cannot expect them to be stellar day one. Now, for that long off season......

 

[dadika13]

Really going to miss watching Marcus and Brice play with these guys.

I expect JJ and Kennedy to test the draft, but both are 2nd round picks and will probably be back. That said, we go 7-8 deep with Berry, JJ, Hicks, Meeks, Bradley, Pinson, BRob, 7th. Nate will get some run here and there as well.

That team should be a top 15 team. I've seen early rankings have us as high as 6 and as low as 17. I think we fall somewhere in between there.

 

[TarHeelTroy]

I can see JB along with Justin and Theo taking on the primary leadership roles. Seniors Isaiah and Kennedy will be very critical pieces. If all comes together nicely, who knows? We could make some noise.

 

[ChiShankCity]

I don't know how good Tony Bradley will be right away but the idea of having two potential stretch big guys with Bradley and Maye is really exciting to me. If those 2 can play big minutes next year, Berry will be better, JJ will be better for it.

 

[dadika13]

I don't know how good Tony Bradley will be right away but the idea of having two potential stretch big guys with Bradley and Maye is really exciting to me. If those 2 can play big minutes next year, Berry will be better, JJ will be better for it.

We should hope Maye isn't needed to play big minutes next year. Sorry but he's not all that good against halfway decent competition.

 

[SeaHawk98]

Roy has shown he can build a championship contender around every 4 years. Got screwed a few years back with Creighton's thuggery and got screwed this year by officiating. The NCAA scandal has set the program back some moving forward with most of all the high prospects going elsewhere. If that cloud ever clears, things should get better. I see the program being good next year, but not a champion contender. Hopefully, no one leaves early. We have some holes to fill with Paige and Brice. Also, this year's freshmen class are not that good. Hopefully Williams can become a 3 ball threat, but I just don't see Maye having much of an effect.

 

[mikeirbyusa]

We should hope Maye isn't needed to play big minutes next year. Sorry but he's not all that good against halfway decent competition.

smh ............................... written in stone he will not get better huh?

 

[gary-7]

smh ............................... written in stone he will not get better huh?

Here we go again, huh? I'm smh right along with ya, Mikey.

 

[mikeirbyusa]

Was nice to see a FINALS game with NO 1-done players wasn't it?

 

[gary-7]

Was nice to see a FINALS game with NO 1-done players wasn't it?

Yep.

 

[DSouthr]

We should hope Maye isn't needed to play big minutes next year. Sorry but he's not all that good against halfway decent competition.

If Luke can step outside he can really help us, we played SEVERAL guys not so different in this NCAAT run and those fellas helped their teams. Luke was just a freshman this season, maybe you could wait till he is at least a Jr before giving up on him?

 

[JuleZ '02 HEEL]

Was nice to see a FINALS game with NO 1-done players wasn't it?

Kenny Williams may test the waters.

 

[mikeirbyusa]

Kenny Williams may test the waters.

This Kantucky.

 

[HeelFan58]

We are picked at #5 on 247's too early picks for 2017.

 

[Bur-Heel]

Here we go again, huh? I'm smh right along with ya, Mikey.

Maye will definitely contribute!!

 

[kabmnl]

We should hope Maye isn't needed to play big minutes next year. Sorry but he's not all that good against halfway decent competition.

Did you figure that out by watching him play a huge amount of minutes this year?? Maye will be fine. Let him work on his weaknesses and, build his body to division 1 play. He has skills and he runs well.

 

[Steat]

We are picked at #5 on 247's too early picks for 2017.

CBS has us at #8.....

 

[Steat]

I would love to see Kenny Williams take control of the 2 position. Justin will probably test the waters.

 

[tarheel0910]

I think Kenny has starter potential next year if he can get his shot to start falling. He is already an above average defender, so he just needs to work on that shot.

 

[ChiShankCity]

We should hope Maye isn't needed to play big minutes next year. Sorry but he's not all that good against halfway decent competition.

Doesn't need to be all that good IMO. If he can hit an open 3 and rebound some, that will help this team enough.

 

[IDUNK4HEELS]

Must agreed Dsouthr this season was a great celebration of Carolina basketball. The young men put everything out on the floor and more. Like you I am already ready for a new season to begin with new faces and new expectations and a great ride that the team always gives...

 

[dadika13]

If Luke can step outside he can really help us, we played SEVERAL guys not so different in this NCAAT run and those fellas helped their teams. Luke was just a freshman this season, maybe you could wait till he is at least a Jr before giving up on him?

Yeah, thus I said if we expect something out of him next year we are nuts.

So many of you say "step out and hit an open 3" when we saw none of that this year. The kid can get better and miracles do happen everyday, but in no way am I expecting him to suddenly be ready to face ACC level ball. He was a very lightly recruited walk-on. This isn't Isiah Hicks or JMM we're talking about (both whom struggled very much as frosh)

 

[gary-7]

Yeah, thus I said if we expect something out of him next year we are nuts.

So many of you say "step out and hit an open 3" when we saw none of that this year. The kid can get better and miracles do happen everyday, but in no way am I expecting him to suddenly be ready to face ACC level ball. He was a very lightly recruited walk-on. This isn't Isiah Hicks or JMM we're talking about (both whom struggled very much as frosh)

Luke Maye is not a "lightly recruited walk-on" and it will be far from a miracle when he becomes a major contributor.

 

[Ozheelfan]

Luke Maye is not a "lightly recruited walk-on" and it will be far from a miracle when he becomes a major contributor.

Yeah Gary, I think Luke is about 20 lbs and another season of experience away from being a very reliable front court bench weapon for Roy.

The kid is smart, plays super hard and can shoot. He was asked to play some minutes he wasn't ready for this year and made mistakes.... guess what? Brice made mistakes his freshman year too, Isaiah still makes mistakes, mistakes are good..... if you learn from them.

I see Luke getting 8-10 minutes this next year and more in his Junior and Senior campaigns.

 

[DSouthr]

Yeah, thus I said if we expect something out of him next year we are nuts.

So many of you say "step out and hit an open 3" when we saw none of that this year. The kid can get better and miracles do happen everyday, but in no way am I expecting him to suddenly be ready to face ACC level ball. He was a very lightly recruited walk-on. This isn't Isiah Hicks or JMM we're talking about (both whom struggled very much as frosh)

Actually I do recall Luke stepping out and nailing a nice 3 ball this season, so it is not as if he did not show that at all. Yeah, I saw some limitations in Luke, he does not catch and go up strong thru contact or at least didn't show that a lot when he had good opps to, needs IMO to work on flexibility and vertical explosion up and thru contact but for a freshman walk on he was solid. By the way, the kid was offerred a full scholly from Clemson, he elected to walk on for us, so it was not exactly like he was not recruited or offerred by anything but D2 programs.

 

[Steat]

As long as Joel freakin Berry is healthy and ready to go when the season starts I'm not worried about anything.

 

[dadika13]

We're gonna have to agree to disagree about Luke "Brice Johnson Jr." Maye that yall are making him out to be.

I'm really curious to see how good the 3 freshman are and who will contribute immediately. I feel like all 3 guys have been underranked and I can't wait for them to go right at those guys who were ranked high because they chose Duke.

Kenny Williams could be the X-factor. If he develops into a reliable guy off the bench that can give us 2 3's per game that will be huge for us.

 

[TARRRRRHEEEEEELS]

Nate's going to get a lot more than "a little run here and there." Nate's going to have to play a big part next year if UNC has any chance of making noise. Joel and Nate are the only true ball handlers UNC will have.

It's a rare problem for UNC but if Meeks doesn't play night and day different than he did this year, UNC is going to have some issues down low. Meeks HAS to be better and Isiah can not get in foul trouble every game. Opposed to many on here - I think Luke Maye is going to be able to give UNC a good 6-8 minutes minimum each game. The kid is smart and I think was just a bit overwhelmed his freshman year.

Anyone know much about this Tony Bradley dude? How is his elevation? LMAO.

 

[DSouthr]

We're gonna have to agree to disagree about Luke "Brice Johnson Jr." Maye that yall are making him out to be.

I'm really curious to see how good the 3 freshman are and who will contribute immediately. I feel like all 3 guys have been underranked and I can't wait for them to go right at those guys who were ranked high because they chose Duke.

Kenny Williams could be the X-factor. If he develops into a reliable guy off the bench that can give us 2 3's per game that will be huge for us.

Man, Luke is no where near Brice in level of talent and I know I did not in any way imply he was. But let me give you and example, UVa, IMO the hardest team we played all season, exception being Villinova in the title game, played a white kid, not overly athletic but was a solid contributor on what I would consider the best defense in the country at least for the regular season considering the level of competition they played. Indiana had a couple similar type guys, step out and hit treys but not prime athletes for this level of competition. But they still contributed, there was not huge drop offs when they came in to the game. I think in time Luke can give us that kind of play but no one is suggesting he is Brice Johnson.

I get you are looking to add some drama to make your point, I get that but man, ease up on that, kid is a Tar Heel and walked on for us when he could have taken a major D-1 scholly for another ACC school.

 

[ChiShankCity]

We're gonna have to agree to disagree about Luke "Brice Johnson Jr." Maye that yall are making him out to be.

I'm really curious to see how good the 3 freshman are and who will contribute immediately. I feel like all 3 guys have been underranked and I can't wait for them to go right at those guys who were ranked high because they chose Duke.

Kenny Williams could be the X-factor. If he develops into a reliable guy off the bench that can give us 2 3's per game that will be huge for us.

I think all most realistic fans want out of Luke is to be a competitive rebounder and to be able to hit an open 3. If he and Bradley can be effective pick and pop players and competitive rebounders next year... That will help: Meeks, Hicks and our half court offense.

If they can't make an open 3 on a somewhat consistent basis, we're going to struggle to score more than people think IMO. Unless JJ becomes a 35% 3 point shooter as does Pinson.

 

[UNC Blue Hup]

One thing we all know about Maye is that he'll leave his heart and soul on the court every game. He has skills and that makes him all that much better..and he's very tough too. Weight room and a 12 foot jumper will make the difference.

 

[mikeirbyusa]

We're gonna have to agree to disagree about Luke "Brice Johnson Jr." Maye that yall are making him out to be.

Come on man! NOBODY is saying he's "Brice Johnson". But why throw our own under the dern bus so much, sure gets old here!

 

[dadika13]

I'm trying to be the realistic voice of our fan base, not the one that wears carolina blue googles. And someone actually said, "well be easy on Luke, Brice made mistakes frosh year too". Thus, someone actually compared them which is ludicrous.

Someone above said they hope Bradley and Maye can come in next year and do the same thing. Really!?! That's either a. what we expect from our McD AA? or b. we expect Maye to compare to a McD AA? Both are very very wrong.

It isn't throwing a kid under the bus to be realistic about his ability. I've never doubted his work ethic or his heart, but I'm NEVER going to say that it will be good if he's getting major minutes which is how this started.

I'll continue to argue that we aren't good enough to be ranked #6 in the country next year, that Luke Maye isn't good enough to play big minutes vs ACC competition, and that Duke is easily #1 with an absolutely loaded squad next year. I'm not a homer and never will be. That said, I was one of our many fans who woke up Tuesday with no voice and an awful feeling in the pit of his stomach because of how bad I wanted that win on Monday. I can be passionate and objective, it seems some people here struggle with that thought and assume I'm just being negative.

 

[tarheel0910]

And someone actually said, "well be easy on Luke, Brice made mistakes frosh year too". Thus, someone actually compared them which is ludicrous.

Nothing ludicrous about that statement. That's not saying Luke is as good or talented as Brice, that's saying that even great players can make mistakes.