Quick stuff (Elon game)...

[gary-7]

...and welp, it's a good thing we made FTs.

Look, there were 4 things I mentioned in a previous thread that I was looking for, so let's just take those individually:

- Defense: While the effort was decent, it was --- shall we say --- inconsistent, in that some guys were busting it more than others. In particular, Bacot (despite the foul trouble), Black and Harris gave good accounts of themselves. We showed some aggression on their predictable high post entries and got some run-outs. On the bad news front, still nothing multiple... and being candid, at this point of the season I'm just having to SMH a bit at that.

- PG: This team is desperately in search of an offensive identity and one place to start is that we're just better when Caleb runs point. Still not a consistent rhyme or reason there, however, and there's more to it than that (see below).

- Inside-out: The good news here was the concerted efforts in that direction, but we were letting their auto-doubles bother us too much by either a) not being strong and decisive on post moves, or b) the ball sticking on one side of the floor.

- Transition: Truth be told though, this is the make-or-break aspect right now. There were times when the Carolina Secondary arose from the dead, and I tell ya, when it did we actually looked like a team. In both halves there a few (too few) possessions in which everyone busted it down the floor, filled their assigned lanes and actually passed ahead and/or swung and reversed the rock. And we got good outcomes, even freelancing a couple of times off the initial iteration and getting good looks.

Herein lay the biggest issue right now: These aforementioned Secondaries marked the few times the ball wasn't sticking --- because it sure as hell was most of the rest of the night. Look at our Assist numbers. I haven't --- don't have to --- because I know we didn't have many. As much as I am pulling for Hubert, right now he seems bound and determined to slow things down too often, and try to force too damn much half-court "NBA stuff". We're seeing the results, and having to rely on late-possession logo-3s is just not a formula for long-term success at this level.

- Finally, just to throw in a couple of random notes, I posted last week that Ant and Kerwin were auditioning for the first Wing off the bench role, and I'm honestly not surprised at the direction that seems to be going. Also interesting to see a pre-garbage-time Dunn appearance.

Anyway, apologies for the tone, but this was a frankly disappointing outing --- at least to these eyes --- vs an out-manned team, at a critical improvement time before sh** gets real again. I can only gently urge Hubert and staff to crank up the Secondary and get the guys running the floor and hitting lanes as a DEFAULT and sharing the ball in the process...

 

[IDUNK4HEELS]

Listening to Coach Davis post game interview you could tell he was not too happy about what went down on the court. He said he was frustrated by the effort

 

[39 Feet Above Sea Level]

Through many years we have seen Carolina "struggle" or lose unexpectedly during a week-long
layoff against teams that shouldn't pose a problem. While the outcome was never in doubt, our concentration
(i.e. turnovers) was not at an acceptable level vs a team of this caliber. After the next two tough
practices, we'll see a better outcome against Furman.

 

[Tarheel75]

Thank You for the summary, Gary.

Two things I want to mention and get them out of the way.

1. I have seen this movie many times over the years...., (i.e. Exams Week).
2. Playing down to your competition.

The first one I have seen just about every year and experienced the lethargy myself.
If, like it was for me back then, you had several exams to complete, and practice was very limited with just a shoot around and 1 full practice during the week of exams.
Let's give them this one, OK?

The second one is the most disturbing. We have had teams in the past that have suffered with this enigma. We have played 9 games to date and have played 5 of those against teams that we all could see that we were overwhelmingly more talented than.

Coach Smith thought that most young teams had to have a week to ten days to readjust mentally during exam periods and he practiced a little differently following exams if we had any games to play and I cannot remember a season that we didn't. The exam practices back then were designed to get us to re-focus on playing basketball. They were brutal and the entire staff was demonic. Let's hope that the team comes out against Furman Tuesday with a renewed sense of urgency.

Now...., back to the game. We suffered through 16 TO's of which Caleb had 4, RJ had 3, Garcia had 3, Manek had 3, Leaky had 2 with the last one committed by Blue Steel.
I was surprised that Caleb had 4, as it appeared to me and the guys I was with, that RJ, Garcia, and Manek had most all of the miscues. Just wondering if Caleb got charged with some that RJ should have had...., doesn't matter though.

However, here's the more important stat. We only had 11 assists and that's not good sharing of the basketball, and I am sure that this will get a real good look by the coaching staff. Too many TO's and too little of assists. While we did have 19 fast break points which equates to good defense and getting out and running and scoring, we are having some issues with our offense that I have seen, and Gary has mentioned on several occasions. To my eyes it still appears that we, at times, (and this game was one of those) revert to playing too much "one on one" basketball and less sharing which makes selfish play manifest and leads to inconsistencies in all areas of play.

While Garcia had good stats offensively, he is still a "black hole" on offense. He took a dozen shots, and scored 22 points, 7 rebounds. Looks good, but there were 4-5 of those missed shots when he got the pass and should have given those up for a better shot, and instead, forced a bad shot off balance. Bacot had a fair game but still suffers with taking off balance and impossible angled shots that have very little chance of going in.

We played a decent game on the defensive side as we scored 23 points off of Elon's TO's, and that's a telling stat when it comes to judging defensive play. If not, with 39% FG and 30% on 3's, we most likely lose this to a more talented team. I may be wrong, but I don't think this team has covered the spread set for any of their games this year? I could be wrong there, but...., the point being, is that we should have skull drug some teams and haven't.

Caleb had a really good night and was a force on both ends. RJ was mediocre, Manek had a piss poor game all around and couldn't throw it in the ocean from a boat so to speak and was stripped of the ball and out hustled on several plays in this game.

Leaky was really good. He is playing within the framework of team play and his defense and rebounding were key in this game as well. He is proving himself to be invaluable defensively and is what we all know to be a "glue guy" on this team.

Nice to see that Dunn got 5 minutes or so of play. He is going to be a real nice addition. While he did not score (never shot that I remember), he played some good defense. As I have said before, look for more players to emerge as they get accustomed to the speed of the game and have earned the time in practice. If you are wondering why Styles did not play, then accept that he has not earned those possible minutes during practices and is not ready to play well enough to give positive minutes on the floor.

ETA: Forgot to mention that the Rock School from Florida were in the dome last night. They have a 6'8" forward (Ryan Jones) who was in attendance with his team. It's his second trip to UNC. He has also visited with Fla., NCSU, & Duke to name a few. From what I have been able to find out, he is very interested in UNC. He is positioned around 200, so I don't know what Hubert's interest might be.

 

[Bubspub88]

I always give a pass to the post-exam game. I just do not expect to see good rhythm, especially on offense. Unfortunately I was not disappointed. Turnovers were frustrating but most were just brain farts that usually come when regular routines disrupted. I think there were 16 total but Elon only had 8 steals. I still think Manek is looking to throw up a 3 too quick but RJ looked more in control. Black's performance was a nice surprise - he had tremendous impact and I don't remember him taking a shot.

It seems like a long time since UNC could rely on defense when offense struggled, and though the D took a step back in light of the competition it was not awful. In the past a team like Elon that could jack up 3's would often make this a single digit game. Heels played solid D without fouling. Transition offense made some appearances thanks to that D.

 

[Tarheel75]

I always give a pass to the post-exam game. I just do not expect to see good rhythm, especially on offense. Unfortunately I was not disappointed. Turnovers were frustrating but most were just brain farts that usually come when regular routines disrupted. I think there were 16 total but Elon only had 8 steals. I still think Manek is looking to throw up a 3 too quick but RJ looked more in control. Black's performance was a nice surprise - he had tremendous impact and I don't remember him taking a shot.

It seems like a long time since UNC could rely on defense when offense struggled, and though the D took a step back in light of the competition it was not awful. In the past a team like Elon that could jack up 3's would often make this a single digit game. Heels played solid D without fouling. Transition offense made some appearances thanks to that D.

TO's are a real issue with me. It robs you of an opportunity to score and it gives your opponents another opportunity to score, which you are working to prevent to begin with. TO's are generally affected by one or the other of (selfishness or carelessness).
While I don't believe that selfishness is predominant with this team, I do, (and I am sure many others do) see an abundance of carelessness among the players with the ball. In the past few years, ball security has been an issue. It's quite simple, the more you take care of the ball, the more time you have it and increase your chances to score while keeping your opponent's opportunities to score at a minimum. Coach Smith would have had a coronary issue with any team that did not value possessions.

 

[heels05champs]

Through 9 games, I’m just not seeing an identity with this team. They don’t mix defenses like Dean’s teams and certainly do not run the secondary break or uptempo of most Roy teams. They lack a true point guard and do not dominate the paint like most good Carolina teams. It’s just been hard for me to acclimate to the way this team plays and ultimately how they’re being coached.

 

[Tarheel75]

Through 9 games, I’m just not seeing an identity with this team. They don’t mix defenses like Dean’s teams and certainly do not run the secondary break or uptempo of most Roy teams. They lack a true point guard and do not dominate the paint like most good Carolina teams. It’s just been hard for me to acclimate to the way this team plays and ultimately how they’re being coached.

7-2 brother. Can't discount that. After Tuesday, we will see what this team is all about.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

- Finally, just to throw in a couple of random notes, I posted last week that Ant and Kerwin were auditioning for the first Wing off the bench role, and I'm honestly not surprised at the direction that seems to be going.

At the moment neither can shoot, but Ant can defend.

What happened to Kerwin's outside shot? Is there something fundamentally wrong, or is he just going through a "patch"?

Meanwhile, Justin McKoy is playing the same number of minutes for us as he did for UVa as a freshman. I doubt that's what he expected when he transferred. He'll play a bigger role for us next year if he's up to it, but will he be up to it?

Styles didn't play. Was he sick or something?

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

When I was watching the Elon offense, I would often see their guy dribble into the paint and then kick the ball out to a waiting shooter.

It almost looked intentional!

Should we try that?

 

[gauchoheel]

I think we need much more from the 2-4 spots than we got in this game and many of the other games this season.

Obviously Manek was just off, but he and Garcia could be more dynamic in general given their shooting prowess. Move the ball quickly, stop with the 2-3 forced shots per game they often combine for. Not sure Manek should get post-up possessions; he's got some crafty moves but is not too strong and doesn't pass out well from there. And boy, when they're both in and Bacot is out the interior defense is pretty soft...

I think Leaky is getting a bit too much credit, sorry to say. He's a very good rebounder, passer, and defender on crafty wing players. However he gets toasted a couple times per game most by quicker players, which I think prevents him from getting a lockdown defender status (we've also yet to have a good defense with him on the team in 4 years). On offense, he has a negative impact that doesn't show up in the box score. The doubles to Bacot couldn't happen so easily if Leaky we're any kind of shooting threat. He did have one nice fast break possession today but also often slows things down too much there due to his lack of handle. 2 points is not enough from a wing player.

RJ has the great shooting but also glaring deficiencies on defense and wasted possessions.

Really hope Harris can show a bit more on offense. He's our best chance to be a well-rounded player outside of Love/Bacot.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

As much as I am pulling for Hubert, right now he seems bound and determined to slow things down too often, and try to force too damn much half-court "NBA stuff".

At the moment this is the slowest (worst tempo) UNC team since the 8-20 season under Doherty. And yet it's not because we have a bunch of sluggish players.

That said, there are plenty of great slower-tempo teams. So if we are sacrificing some tempo and getting better half court offense in trade, I'm OK with that. Is that's what's happening?

But why not both? Up tempo AND good half court offense.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

The best news over the last 3 games or so is that Caleb has turned the corner.

He's not done improving, but it looks like everything is coming more easily to him now vs just a few weeks ago.

I guess the UCLA game will show whether that observation is premature, but I think he's really on the other side now.

Now that he's no longer in competition with RJ, one thing I wish he would do more is look for RJ when he's open. I swear, it sometimes looks like he deliberately ignores RJ. The kid is shooting 48% from deep. Use him.

If you aren't going to get the ball to RJ when he's open, you might as well have Ant on the floor for the extra D.

 

[gary-7]

But why not both? Up tempo AND good half court offense.

Well, there it is. Right now we look robotic trying to set up plays, as opposed to seamlessly flowing into them out of transition. With just a few exceptions, the Secondary should be the default transition to offense, even after a made shot. If we decide to run a set play, it can be facilitated from there.

Part of that capability depends on your PG (JB being the most recent prototype) having the knack for wrangling --- not to mention the other guys knowing exactly who that is (hint, hint). The other aspect is sheer commitment to that model, e.g., guys consistently hitting their marks and looking to take advantage of an unset defense before morphing into whatever set may be called.

 

[IDUNK4HEELS]

I think we need much more from the 2-4 spots than we got in this game and many of the other games this season.

Obviously Manek was just off, but he and Garcia could be more dynamic in general given their shooting prowess. Move the ball quickly, stop with the 2-3 forced shots per game they often combine for. Not sure Manek should get post-up possessions; he's got some crafty moves but is not too strong and doesn't pass out well from there. And boy, when they're both in and Bacot is out the interior defense is pretty soft...

I think Leaky is getting a bit too much credit, sorry to say. He's a very good rebounder, passer, and defender on crafty wing players. However he gets toasted a couple times per game most by quicker players, which I think prevents him from getting a lockdown defender status (we've also yet to have a good defense with him on the team in 4 years). On offense, he has a negative impact that doesn't show up in the box score. The doubles to Bacot couldn't happen so easily if Leaky we're any kind of shooting threat. He did have one nice fast break possession today but also often slows things down too much there due to his lack of handle. 2 points is not enough from a wing player.

RJ has the great shooting but also glaring deficiencies on defense and wasted possessions.

Really hope Harris can show a bit more on offense. He's our best chance to be a well-rounded player outside of Love/Bacot.

Leaky lead the team in rebounds and assists last night..The hate for Leaky just continues and it is not warranted

 

[King Coach]

The best news over the last 3 games or so is that Caleb has turned the corner.

He's not done improving, but it looks like everything is coming more easily to him now vs just a few weeks ago.

I guess the UCLA game will show whether that observation is premature, but I think he's really on the other side now.

Now that he's no longer in competition with RJ, one thing I wish he would do more is look for RJ when he's open. I swear, it sometimes looks like he deliberately ignores RJ. The kid is shooting 48% from deep. Use him.

If you aren't going to get the ball to RJ when he's open, you might as well have Ant on the floor for the extra D.

It appears to me he’s hell bent on looking inside first…..sure this is what the coaches are telling him to do.

 

[gobblercalls]

I'm not a coach so I don't know all the technical mumbo jumbo. What I do know is that I miss the Carolina style of basketball that I watched from 1967 or '68 through 2017. I lay 99% of the blame on not having players that stay 3-4 years. I believe it takes that long for them to learn the system and especially how much effort is required to compete. UNC basketball used to be so much fun to watch with the changing defenses, presses, backdoor cuts, fast breaks, and above all else the effort that the players played with. Hell, I even loved to see the 4 corners. Like everything else that was UNC basketball it was a work of art. Having said that, I really like this team. I think before the year is over they will figure it out. They are 1 vocal leader away from being a really good team.

 

[King Coach]

...and welp, it's a good thing we made FTs.

Look, there were 4 things I mentioned in a previous thread that I was looking for, so let's just take those individually:

- Defense: While the effort was decent, it was --- shall we say --- inconsistent, in that some guys were busting it more than others. In particular, Bacot (despite the foul trouble), Black and Harris gave good accounts of themselves. We showed some aggression on their predictable high post entries and got some run-outs. On the bad news front, still nothing multiple... and being candid, at this point of the season I'm just having to SMH a bit at that.

- PG: This team is desperately in search of an offensive identity and one place to start is that we're just better when Caleb runs point. Still not a consistent rhyme or reason there, however, and there's more to it than that (see below).

- Inside-out: The good news here was the concerted efforts in that direction, but we were letting their auto-doubles bother us too much by either a) not being strong and decisive on post moves, or b) the ball sticking on one side of the floor.

- Transition: Truth be told though, this is the make-or-break aspect right now. There were times when the Carolina Secondary arose from the dead, and I tell ya, when it did we actually looked like a team. In both halves there a few (too few) possessions in which everyone busted it down the floor, filled their assigned lanes and actually passed ahead and/or swung and reversed the rock. And we got good outcomes, even freelancing a couple of times off the initial iteration and getting good looks.

Herein lay the biggest issue right now: These aforementioned Secondaries marked the few times the ball wasn't sticking --- because it sure as hell was most of the rest of the night. Look at our Assist numbers. I haven't --- don't have to --- because I know we didn't have many. As much as I am pulling for Hubert, right now he seems bound and determined to slow things down too often, and try to force too damn much half-court "NBA stuff". We're seeing the results, and having to rely on late-possession logo-3s is just not a formula for long-term success at this level.

- Finally, just to throw in a couple of random notes, I posted last week that Ant and Kerwin were auditioning for the first Wing off the bench role, and I'm honestly not surprised at the direction that seems to be going. Also interesting to see a pre-garbage-time Dunn appearance.

Anyway, apologies for the tone, but this was a frankly disappointing outing --- at least to these eyes --- vs an out-manned team, at a critical improvement time before sh** gets real again. I can only gently urge Hubert and staff to crank up the Secondary and get the guys running the floor and hitting lanes as a DEFAULT and sharing the ball in the process...

Great observations Gary. Concerning the inside-out game, I was glad to see Love get the ball to Bacot quickly without lobbing a lazy pass to him. Obviously they have been working on that…but like you observe Bacot got to be strong and decisive on his post moves and stop throwing up those off balance shots. You just can’t post up to just to be posting up….beat your man to the spot, post up, get the ball..score. Watch tape of physco T…..dude would post up exactly where he could go up strong and score…..not where he needed to dribble and do two spin moves.

 

[jeans1515]

A win is all that matters

Its early in the season to be worried about anything.

 

[dtodd4475]

When I was watching the Elon offense, I would often see their guy dribble into the paint and then kick the ball out to a waiting shooter.

It almost looked intentional!

Should we try that?

Our offensive numbers are good though.
81 points per game (39), and #30 in offensive efficiency out of the 350 D1 teams.

#3 in nation 3 point% at 43%, #21 in FG% at 49%.

I'm encouraged that our dee has picked up

 

[gary-7]

A win is all that matters

Its early in the season to be worried about anything.

With all due respect, it's not that early anymore and the win was expected. Getting better matters.

 

[HoopsCoach42]

Is it just me, or does Garcia look like he doesn't know the secondary sets? He seems to always be in the way or out of positon

 

[Tarheel75]

I think we need much more from the 2-4 spots than we got in this game and many of the other games this season.

Obviously Manek was just off, but he and Garcia could be more dynamic in general given their shooting prowess. Move the ball quickly, stop with the 2-3 forced shots per game they often combine for. Not sure Manek should get post-up possessions; he's got some crafty moves but is not too strong and doesn't pass out well from there. And boy, when they're both in and Bacot is out the interior defense is pretty soft...

I think Leaky is getting a bit too much credit, sorry to say. He's a very good rebounder, passer, and defender on crafty wing players. However he gets toasted a couple times per game most by quicker players, which I think prevents him from getting a lockdown defender status (we've also yet to have a good defense with him on the team in 4 years). On offense, he has a negative impact that doesn't show up in the box score. The doubles to Bacot couldn't happen so easily if Leaky we're any kind of shooting threat. He did have one nice fast break possession today but also often slows things down too much there due to his lack of handle. 2 points is not enough from a wing player.

RJ has the great shooting but also glaring deficiencies on defense and wasted possessions.

Really hope Harris can show a bit more on offense. He's our best chance to be a well-rounded player outside of Love/Bacot.

I take umbrage with that statement of yours about Leaky getting too much credit.
If anything, he has not gotten enough credit IMO. Sure, he gets beat at times, as even the great ones have and will continue to do. You have to also give some credit to your opposition don't you think? They have athletes as well, don't they? Leaky, in my estimation, is our best defensive player at this time.

 

[gauchoheel]

Leaky lead the team in rebounds and assists last night..The hate for Leaky just continues and it is not warranted

Yep, and I mentioned he's good at both of those things. "Hate" is a pretty silly way to describe it. I just think shooting, creating, and on-ball defense are critical skills for a wing.

He's a limited player even compared to Theo Pinson, let alone guys like Cam Johnson or Justin Jackson. You simply can't have a wing player who brings so little offense unless they're a dynamic impact defensive player (think Thybulle from Washington a few years ago). Leaky is good on defense (especially compared to some of our other options), but not at that level.

We need him (or someone) to step up on the wing to avoid another season below UNC's standard of excellence. The problem for this team is the 2-4 spots, not point guard or center. I don't think he's been good enough so far for a senior and 3 year starter, but I don't have an ounce of hatred for him.

 

[gary-7]

Is it just me, or does Garcia look like he doesn't know the secondary sets? He seems to always be in the way or out of positon

He is indeed the single biggest culprit I've noticed in not getting to his spots on the Secondary. He seems to want to be a 3 instead of a 4.

 

[dtodd4475]

Yep, and I mentioned he's good at both of those things. "Hate" is a pretty silly way to describe it. I just think shooting, creating, and on-ball defense are critical skills for a wing.

He's a limited player even compared to Theo Pinson, let alone guys like Cam Johnson or Justin Jackson. You simply can't have a wing player who brings so little offense unless they're a dynamic impact defensive player (think Thybulle from Washington a few years ago). Leaky is good on defense (especially compared to some of our other options), but not at that level.

We need him (or someone) to step up on the wing to avoid another season below UNC's standard of excellence. The problem for this team is the 2-4 spots, not point guard or center. I don't think he's been good enough so far for a senior and 3 year starter, but I don't have an ounce of hatred for him.

UNC did pretty well with Jackie Manuel in that role, as a just let him shoot guy at the wing. With this years team prowess shooting from 3, moving the ball after a double in the post should get plenty of good looks.

Leaky has also been very efficient offensively, if he does not shoot the 3 after his guy doubles he can penetrate and kick, or draw foul where he is shooting 85% from the line.

We struggle when he is off the floor on the defensive end. I think his presence on the court has been understated to this point of the season if anything.

 

[ACokeForRoy]

Manek seems to continue his struggles. Just seems like a fish out of water at times. Lack of confidence in his shot.

 

[al would]

I read all the comments. IMHO this group plays way to much outside in which makes defending them way to easy and limits your offensive rebounding. This was a total disaster against a way less talented team. Still no assertive pg play .. still no attempt to use the size advantage inside .. Bacot continues to attempt no defense even against an under matched opponent. Ugly f'n game all the way around .. no leadership and some seriously bad coaching to exploit the weaknesses. Give a damn if it's an exam week or not UNC should have won by 30.

 

[Archer2]

I read all the comments. IMHO this group plays way to much outside in which makes defending them way to easy and limits your offensive rebounding. This was a total disaster against a way less talented team. Still no assertive pg play .. still no attempt to use the size advantage inside .. Bacot continues to attempt no defense even against an under matched opponent. Ugly f'n game all the way around .. no leadership and some seriously bad coaching to exploit the weaknesses. Give a damn if it's an exam week or not UNC should have won by 30.

Don’t beat around the bush, tell us how you really feel.

 

[jeans1515]

With all due respect, it's not that early anymore and the win was expected. Getting better matters.

Which was my point.

Expecting a team to play perfect every game is ridiculous.

Our NC teams would lose games early then the next thing you know we won the conference and the national title.

 

[Tom79]

I agree with '75, exam weeek hangover and playing down to ones competition.

 

[gary-7]

Which was my point.

Expecting a team to play perfect every game is ridiculous.

Our NC teams would lose games early then the next thing you know we won the conference and the national title.

What I saw resembles neither "perfect" nor potential eventual national champion. Some fundamental things are gonna have to change in our approach to get where we want to be, and thats the relevant point.

 

[NorCalTarheel]

Our guards are score first (and score second) guys. How many time have we seen a pass inside, have a big kick it back out in order to re-post AND get it back? I honestly can't think of a single time I've seen that scenario this year.

Our guys often seem like they are in a race to see who can get their shot up. I don't see the guards pass ahead to start a break, lots of pounding the ball into the ground rather than move the ball, and God forbid a dish after the drive rather than crashing through a wall of defenders only to burp up a contested shot. Of course the bigs become black holes because who knows when they'll see another entry pass that gets through!

Our shooting is so improved this year from recent Carolina teams that I'd LOVE to see more inside-out action. I'd love to see our guards play like they are an assist away from a triple double rather than auditioning for whatever scoring contest they think is next.

I know our guys are trying but they don't seem like they have "gelled" just yet.

 

[King Coach]

Our guards are score first (and score second) guys. How many time have we seen a pass inside, have a big kick it back out in order to re-post AND get it back? I honestly can't think of a single time I've seen that scenario this year.

Our guys often seem like they are in a race to see who can get their shot up. I don't see the guards pass ahead to start a break, lots of pounding the ball into the ground rather than move the ball, and God forbid a dish after the drive rather than crashing through a wall of defenders only to burp up a contested shot. Of course the bigs become black holes because who knows when they'll see another entry pass that gets through!

Our shooting is so improved this year from recent Carolina teams that I'd LOVE to see more inside-out action. I'd love to see our guards play like they are an assist away from a triple double rather than auditioning for whatever scoring contest they think is next.

I know our guys are trying but they don't seem like they have "gelled" just yet.

Maybe that’s because our bigs are black holes?
And maybe it’s time to stop lumping our backcourt together because I see a good improvement from Love. He didn’t have his usual 4 assist last game but he sure was passing it inside to Bacot and giving that little top of the key pass to Manek….they just weren’t hitting shots.

 

[TPFKAPFS]

We are slow to recognize improvement (yet quick to heap criticism) in Love, Leaky, Bacot, and RJ! All still have work to do but they have made strides and should be congratulated. Our team D and Secondary Break definitely need to keep improving as well, but it is a dadgum improvement over the past! The TOs + Refusing to pass on good/rushed shots to get great ones are something to harp on IMO!

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Is it just me, or does Garcia look like he doesn't know the secondary sets? He seems to always be in the way or out of positon

He's doing fine. But he certainly has a way to go before he's ready for the NBA. Which is a relief, since that presumably means we'll still have him after Armando and Brady (and maybe Leaky) are gone. Not to mention Caleb.

Although Dawson has been good, he - like some others - is inconsistent. It doesn't help that our expectations were so high for him. After all, he killed us on our own court in the Marquette game. But that was probably his best game of the season, so we couldn't really expect that all the time.

I look forward to seeing him grow this season. I want him to get even better, but I hope he doesn't get so good that he leaves.

It's amusing to compare Dawson's scoring with RJ's. They have taken the exact same number of 2-pt shots (52) and have hit the exact same number (24), as well. Doesn't mean anything, but caught my eye.

They are very close on 3-pt shooting, too - percentagewise - although RJ has taken nearly twice the number of deep shots (39 vs 20). With their shooting percentages (RJ = .487, Dawson = .500), they can both let loose whenever they want to (within reason), as far as I'm concerned. Both good from the FT line - where Dawson hits a fine .774 while RJ leads the team at .870.

 

[Pusha_D]

We can't continue to compare this era to the Dean or Roy era. It's a new era and coaching style.

 

[gary-7]

We can't continue to compare this era to the Dean or Roy era. It's a new era and coaching style.

With all due respect, that's just silly.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

We can't continue to compare this era to the Dean or Roy era. It's a new era and coaching style.

Come on, now, comparisons are fun. And considering that Hubert learned the college game under Dean and Roy, it makes those comparisons all the more interesting.

I really enjoy it when more knowledgeable fans point out features Hubert may have gleaned from Dean, Roy, or his NBA days. Especially when they talk about why those features do or don't work in the current setting.

 

[DSouthr]

I see a LOT of consistency on this team!

1) When the ball goes inside to Bacot, no matter if he has a good shot or not, he consistently puts it up anyway, he consistently does not kick it back out. Isn't the kick it back out and re=post still a thing in this sport?

2) Our guards are driving and they are consistently looking to finish as their first, second, and sometimes 3rd option. Our guards are consistently not playing a draw and dish to a big man for the flush no matter how many defenders are in their path.

3) Leaky Black is consistently our best defender, a title Kerwin is consistently not looking to take from Leaky.

4) Manek very consistently does not seem to realize that every time the ball touches his hands he is not supposed to shoot it. His shot selection has been rock solid consistent but not in a good way.

5) PLaying down to lesser teams, the very definition of consistent.

6) Hubert telling us in his post game how proud he is of how the guys played is as well consistent. Now Hubert is my guy but I don't want to hear how proud he is of a guard that committed 4 TOs in the game. IN doing so you are telling me that you endorse play that occurs outside of what you are teaching them.

7) VERY consistently we see a lack of UNC primary and secondary breaks, big men not filling the lanes properly, guards not kicking the ball ahead, very consistent in this area.

8) Team defense is consistently inconsistent, as is our effort level that peaks and wanes during games.

9) Garcia, consistently plays like he is a wing no matter if Bacot or Manek are on the floor with him? At 6'11" wouldn't you think he would be looking to work on and integrate both front court finishing as well as jump shooting?

10) I am consistently NOT seeing oops passing to big men cutting from the short corner that used to be staples of UNC offense.

I am going to cut this to just 10 areas of consistency I see along with my hope for less consistency in these areas...

I watched Baylor beat Villinova yesterday in so I watched a Baylor team put on a clinic for anyone interested in a team playing defense. Villinova had less than 30pts with less than 3mins left in the game, 40 min game and in a little over 37mins held a top 10 team to less than 30Pts? Baylor had 5 guys on the court at all times that played frantic aggressive smart defense! Hint for Hubert, spend some time going to a defensive clinic that features Drew and how he teaches his team to defend.