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The real needs for next season

IDUNK4HEELS

IDUNK4HEELS

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With the first 10 players coming back UNC will be solid at every position but the future needs to be looked at. As much as many think Ingram is the missing piece to help Carolina go even further I beg to disagree. With Paige, Johnson, James and Tokoto all being seniors and the possibility if Meeks explodes next year to the point he is leaning toward the NBA the lack up bigs up front could be a major concern. Saying that I am willing to pass on a one and done player in Ingram for some talented beef in the paint.

Secondly a shooting two guard is a must. With Berry and Felton playing the point that position is covered for years but a two guard who can drain the j is imperative for the success of future teams. Giles, Bam Bam and the shooting guard Smith would all help the Heels.
 
First off.... Everyone needs to come back.

Most important thing that needs to be added: shooting. Have no idea where that's coming from. I think Berry will be a good shooter. Britt needs to continue and have shot credibility.

Underrated thing we need to add. A guy that simply plays hard every second he is on the floor. A guy who others will want to follow the effort level.

I'd like to add a legit rim protector, but that's getting greedy.
 
Someone who attacks the rim. Not drive and shoot a floater... I mean take it to the rim.
 
I want a big that goes strong straight to the goal and doesn't fall away or get neutralized by any level of contact. Don't get me wrong, I love Brice and Kennedy, but neither one of them will go straight at the rim if they are being guarded.
 
A mental toughness that says we WIN those battles down the stretch and not fritter away leads like we did last night and a half dozen times this year .Just a WILL to win that drives you to Victory...and another shooter as well.
 
Originally posted by strummingram:
Someone who attacks the rim. Not drive and shoot a floater... I mean take it to the rim.
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I think we have him Strum in Pinson. Just need him to be healthy. Also brings the attitude that a few have alluded to. Think he and Berry will be the leaders of the future group of Tar Heels and will set a really good tone as far as attitude.
 
As a team, they need to learn to play defense without fouling.

We used to hear all the time how UNC made more free throws than its opponents attempted. This season, opponents attempted 843 free throws while UNC only attempted 814.

Some of that disparity comes back to the comment about attacking the rim, which I agree with. In all, though, the team is positioned exceptionally well for next season if everyone returns.
 
Also, we need to learn how to protect second-half leads. Off the top of my head, we crumbled in games against dook, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin. I've thought about going back through box scores to see how many other times this happened, and the total point swing. Maybe if I have time....

I'm not a Roy basher by any means, but he bears the responsibility for much of that. JMO, but we need to tighten up the rotation in the last quarter of the game as long as there aren't issues with foul trouble. So many teams are able to play with 7-man rotations for an entire game. We should be able to do it for 10 minutes.
 
Raising, you hit the nail on the head. We all know the needs we have from a personnel perspective, but from a coaching perspective, I'm on board with one of our biggest obstacles in reaching consistency was Roy's awful, inconsistent sub patterns during all times of the game. We never had a cohesive group of 5 that we could rely on. We also never found a 2nd wave of subs that could come in the game and fit in without causing us to see a significant drop.

Roy had a tough year personally with a few personal losses of folks close to him. I think he deserves a pass in that regard for this year. NCAA stuff adds to that. However, if we see the same product on the floor next year making the same stupid mistakes then you have to question how much longer Roy coaches. If he's not making a difference and enjoying it, then I'd argue that we should be looking for the next in line.
 
Originally posted by Raising Heel:
Also, we need to learn how to protect second-half leads. Off the top of my head, we crumbled in games against dook, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin. I've thought about going back through box scores to see how many other times this happened, and the total point swing. Maybe if I have time....

I'm not a Roy basher by any means, but he bears the responsibility for much of that. JMO, but we need to tighten up the rotation in the last quarter of the game as long as there aren't issues with foul trouble. So many teams are able to play with 7-man rotations for an entire game. We should be able to do it for 10 minutes.
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we fell apart in 2nd Louisville game as well
 
Is shooting really a huge concern? We have 3 guys who can hit the 3 regularly, Britt surely will improve his already improved right handed shooting, and Pinson was known as a shooter coming out of HS.

I may be the only one thinking this but I think we are freaking loaded next year. Work on the free throws and eliminate bad shots. That's all we need to do and this is a Final Four talented team.
 
Originally posted by SJung851:
First off.... Everyone needs to come back.
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It would be a gigantic mistake if any of these guys left early.

Ford's big board has Justin at 40 (2nd round to undrafted), Kennedy/JP/Brice at 77,78,80. Seriously, they can't leave.
 
One word......toughness. The only one that shows it is Hicks. Meeks out to be a bull in a china shop, but isn't. Johnson just isn't that type of player. James should be a non-factor. Guards for the most part are up and down players. Just toughness. I'd like to see UNC go back to being the more physical team
 
My personal opinion, and this may seem harsh, but...

I think in order for us to become the final 4 team that we all feel we should be able to become, Marcus Paige either has to step up and become a consistent baller, that doesn't have to work SO HARD to get his shot off, or he's got to fall back and become the 3rd option to Johnson and someone else on the perimeter (looks like Jackson).

In my humble opinion, and I really really like that kid, but Marcus Paige isn't really that elite level UNC point guard, nor is he that elite level UNC scorer. Paige isn't on the level as Ed Cota, Raymond Felton, Ty Lawson or even Kendall Marshall as far as being a true quarterback on the court. This isn't a knock on him, but those were final 4 caliber players (marshall's injury hurt bad). As far as being a scorer, the Joe Forte's, Rashad McCants', Wayne Ellington's and Harrison Barnes' of the world, he is not. Those guys could score in their sleep and with relative ease. Too many teams have the ability to really shut out Paige by simply putting a bigger defender on him and shadowing him. When Paige does get the ball (often times he can't break loose, last night was evidence of this) he really has a hard time getting his shot off. He made a great move last night in the post, was really happy to see him to do that.

I say all of that to say this... We will be an elite team in my opinion, if we go through Brice on offense, our top perimeter threat is Jackson, and Paige becomes our third weapon! Too much has been put on his shoulders the last two years to be THE GUY and he's just not that guy.

Saying that you aren't the point guard of Cota, Felton, Lawson or Marshall doesn't mean you can't play point. Saying you aren't the scoring guard of Forte, McCants, Ellington or Barnes doesn't mean you can't score. It just means you have to find your own niche. WHATS WRONG WITH BEING SHAMMOND WILLIAMS? In my opinion, that's exactly who Paige is! When our team identity reflects that, I think we could be pretty special. Just my opinion though
 
Originally posted by EmJay14:
My personal opinion, and this may seem harsh, but...

I think in order for us to become the final 4 team that we all feel we should be able to become, Marcus Paige either has to step up and become a consistent baller, that doesn't have to work SO HARD to get his shot off, or he's got to fall back and become the 3rd option to Johnson and someone else on the perimeter (looks like Jackson).

In my humble opinion, and I really really like that kid, but Marcus Paige isn't really that elite level UNC point guard, nor is he that elite level UNC scorer. Paige isn't on the level as Ed Cota, Raymond Felton, Ty Lawson or even Kendall Marshall as far as being a true quarterback on the court. This isn't a knock on him, but those were final 4 caliber players (marshall's injury hurt bad). As far as being a scorer, the Joe Forte's, Rashad McCants', Wayne Ellington's and Harrison Barnes' of the world, he is not. Those guys could score in their sleep and with relative ease. Too many teams have the ability to really shut out Paige by simply putting a bigger defender on him and shadowing him. When Paige does get the ball (often times he can't break loose, last night was evidence of this) he really has a hard time getting his shot off. He made a great move last night in the post, was really happy to see him to do that.

I say all of that to say this... We will be an elite team in my opinion, if we go through Brice on offense, our top perimeter threat is Jackson, and Paige becomes our third weapon! Too much has been put on his shoulders the last two years to be THE GUY and he's just not that guy.

Saying that you aren't the point guard of Cota, Felton, Lawson or Marshall doesn't mean you can't play point. Saying you aren't the scoring guard of Forte, McCants, Ellington or Barnes doesn't mean you can't score. It just means you have to find your own niche. WHATS WRONG WITH BEING SHAMMOND WILLIAMS? In my opinion, that's exactly who Paige is! When our team identity reflects that, I think we could be pretty special. Just my opinion though
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Your statements have some merit. But it's not so black and white. Paige is not the level of PG that Ray, Ty, Ed and Kendall were. And he's not scorer that Joe, Rashad, Wayne and Harrison were. But he's a better scorer than Ty, Ray, Ed and Kendall were. And he's certainly a better QB of the system than Joe, Rashad, Wayne and Harrison were. All those guys specialized in their one skill. Marcus is more of a versatile guy. So he may not be an "A" player at either of those. But he's a B+ at both of those.

But make no mistake - Marcus is our best player. Period. Our team next year will be Marcus' team. We will be successful in large part because of Marcus. I think you're being shortsighted. Marcus struggled because teams knew he was the guy and that we couldn't get consistent production elsewhere - not because he doesn't have it in him. Did you watch the 13-14 season when he literally carried us? He also dealt with a nagging injury all season.

I like Brice and he certainly can help carry the load next year. As can Jackson. Berry and Meeks too. But again, to relegate Paige to the 3rd option won't happen nor should it.
 
Originally posted by EmJay14:
My personal opinion, and this may seem harsh, but...

I think in order for us to become the final 4 team that we all feel we should be able to become, Marcus Paige either has to step up and become a consistent baller, that doesn't have to work SO HARD to get his shot off, or he's got to fall back and become the 3rd option to Johnson and someone else on the perimeter (looks like Jackson).

In my humble opinion, and I really really like that kid, but Marcus Paige isn't really that elite level UNC point guard, nor is he that elite level UNC scorer. Paige isn't on the level as Ed Cota, Raymond Felton, Ty Lawson or even Kendall Marshall as far as being a true quarterback on the court. This isn't a knock on him, but those were final 4 caliber players (marshall's injury hurt bad). As far as being a scorer, the Joe Forte's, Rashad McCants', Wayne Ellington's and Harrison Barnes' of the world, he is not. Those guys could score in their sleep and with relative ease. Too many teams have the ability to really shut out Paige by simply putting a bigger defender on him and shadowing him. When Paige does get the ball (often times he can't break loose, last night was evidence of this) he really has a hard time getting his shot off. He made a great move last night in the post, was really happy to see him to do that.

I say all of that to say this... We will be an elite team in my opinion, if we go through Brice on offense, our top perimeter threat is Jackson, and Paige becomes our third weapon! Too much has been put on his shoulders the last two years to be THE GUY and he's just not that guy.

Saying that you aren't the point guard of Cota, Felton, Lawson or Marshall doesn't mean you can't play point. Saying you aren't the scoring guard of Forte, McCants, Ellington or Barnes doesn't mean you can't score. It just means you have to find your own niche. WHATS WRONG WITH BEING SHAMMOND WILLIAMS? In my opinion, that's exactly who Paige is! When our team identity reflects that, I think we could be pretty special. Just my opinion though
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You are way off on Paige. Look how well he started playing for us down the stretch when he started to get healthy again. You can't go out in the highest level of college basketball and not be 100% and expect to be able to put up the numbers you are capable of putting up. The players you are playing against are just too good! I have no doubt in my mind that Marcus will work the hardest in the offseason of all the guys on the team and you will eat your words next year that Marcus should be a THIRD option? I agree that Brice needs to be more of an option, but Brice has a hard time staying on the court and I think Roy sits him more than we would like or possibly should b/c of Brice's history of giving up poor fouls and always finding himself in foul trouble. Marcus is the one guy on the team who really understands what is needed to be an elite team!
 
Just my opinion. Im use to seeing our best player truly be a stud. If this is our best player, then be a stud! His 3 seasons, 10 plus losses each season! Just being honest here. He's tough, he has skill, but he is not a number 1 option for any legit final 4 team! You can disagree all you want but it's the truth.

And yes, he's a better point guard than the shooters, and a better shooting guard than the points I listed, SO WAS SHAMMOND WILLIAMS! And SHAMMOND WILLIAMS was ALSO OUR THIRD OPTION! Just telling it how I see it.
 
Originally posted by EmJay14:
Just telling it how I see it.
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If you think Paige is no better than Shammond Williams you might need some new glasses
nerd.r191677.gif
 
How's he better? Seriously? Shammond made it in the league for a good little while with the same exact skill set as Paige! What's so different between the two? I'm curious.
 
Saying Marcus isn't a stud, isn't / shouldn't be the #1 option, and can't lead a team to the Final Four, is crazy IMO - but everyone is entitled to their opinion. Hanging the 10+ losses primarily on Paige is not fair either. I'll ask it this way. Where would we be over the last three seasons if Marcus did really play like a #3 option? A: lucky to make the NIT in any of those years.


Back to what we need next year. I think we have the right guys, but getting Ingram would really help. Here's what I think we need our existing guys to focus on:

1) better lockdown defense played with staying in front of your guy by moving your feet. Starts with Tokoto and Pinson being shutdown guys, but all our bigs have to get better at this so we don't have the recurring issue of 3 bigs with 3+ fouls with 16 minutes to go in the game. The game has seemed to change where dribble drivers are very protected even when out of control and initiating contact. We need to get better at legit dribble drive defense.

2) JP Tokoto and all our bigs need to be more aggressive at attacking the rim. We are actually a pretty good FT shooting team, but we earn / take way too few of them compared to past Heels teams and elite (Wisconsin) current teams.

3) take more threes

4) Improved focus on defensive rebounding

I think the shooting, running, etc will take care of itself with guys working on it in the offseason. Items 1,2, and 4 refer a lot to effort, desire, hunger, good "angriness" that Roy mentioned about Wisconsin.....using this year's disappointment to fuel an intensity and desire to show no mercy and to not be denied in the following year.

If we could get even 90% of that intensity and desire that the 05 and 09 teams showed, we'll be a title contender.
 
What's the definition of a stud? A 6'1 165 guard that isn't necessarily that quick but is a knock down shooter, that's a stud? A tough kid who plays through injuries but really struggles vs bigger defenders and doesn't go right well, that's a stud? I like this kid, but now to defend my point, I have to bash this kid. This isn't where I wanted to go.

My initial post stated that unless he becomes that guy over the offseason that can fix those flaws, then he should fall back to a third option. As of now, he's not a first option for a final 4 team. Proof is in the pudding. If he can't become that guy, I'll take the 6'9 version of him as our perimeter guy, with the offense going first and foremost through Brice Johnson.

This post was edited on 3/27 2:37 PM by EmJay14

This post was edited on 3/27 2:37 PM by EmJay14
 
Originally posted by EmJay14:
Just my opinion. Im use to seeing our best player truly be a stud. If this is our best player, then be a stud! His 3 seasons, 10 plus losses each season! Just being honest here. He's tough, he has skill, but he is not a number 1 option for any legit final 4 team! You can disagree all you want but it's the truth.

And yes, he's a better point guard than the shooters, and a better shooting guard than the points I listed, SO WAS SHAMMOND WILLIAMS! And SHAMMOND WILLIAMS was ALSO OUR THIRD OPTION! Just telling it how I see it.
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If you think Shammond would be better than Paige with the team we currently have, I disagree. Shammond got to play with Cota, Vince, and Jamison for christ's sake...hahahaha =). BTW I am a big fan of Shammond Williams, but all he had to do what shoot the ball, unlike what Paige has been asked to do during his years at Carolina due to a team that lacks the talent we had when Shammond was playing for the Heels.
 
Originally posted by IDUNK4HEELS:
With the first 10 players coming back UNC will be solid at every position but the future needs to be looked at. As much as many think Ingram is the missing piece to help Carolina go even further I beg to disagree. With Paige, Johnson, James and Tokoto all being seniors and the possibility if Meeks explodes next year to the point he is leaning toward the NBA the lack up bigs up front could be a major concern. Saying that I am willing to pass on a one and done player in Ingram for some talented beef in the paint.

Secondly a shooting two guard is a must. With Berry and Felton playing the point that position is covered for years but a two guard who can drain the j is imperative for the success of future teams. Giles, Bam Bam and the shooting guard Smith would all help the Heels.
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First off, I agree with you about Ingram, in time he will be a really good player but if the kid were to commit to us I really don't think he would help us much next season, kid is rail thin and this isn't Kinston high. MId way to the end of his soph season, the kid will be able to produce but he is looking about like Hicks as a freshman PT if he commits to us for next season cause no way we lose Brice at this point. & guys, sorry but Ingram isn't a wing, he is a rail thin 4 in the Henson mold with a little less reach and maybe a tad better jump shot.

I don't think shooting guard is that strong a priority because we have Felton locked in for the class after, big time priority to me is Bam Bam, Bradley, Giles...we need 2 of those 3 and I would absolutely LOVE Dennis Smith.
 
Attitude.

Call it mental toughness, cockiness, swagger or whatever but this team needs to develop that killer mentality. Think back to Roy's championship teams, when they stepped on the court their body language portrayed an intensity that made you know they were gonna win. A lot is due to all the injuries and simply not being able to practice at full strength in the last third of the season. Hard to have total confidence in those late game situations if you have not practiced them. Many have said our best team was Berry and Paige in the backcourt, but how much time did they work on that chemistry with both limited in practice late in the season? All that being said I think the pieces are in place for a deep run next season, but my gut says it will be without Brice. He isn't ready but college game has become one that a big man still in college his senior year is a bust.
 
As for addition by subtraction, I would be thrilled if a particular UNC point guard decided to transfer.
 
Originally posted by Heels Noir:
As for addition by subtraction, I would be thrilled if a particular UNC point guard decided to transfer.
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Why don't you like Stilman White?
 
He may be better than Shammond (may) but thats the type of player he is. An under sized scoring guard thats gritty and shoots well but not extremely quick and can be locked down by one player.

It puzzles me, hes our best player so many say... a few years ago people want to cut Barnes head off for not showing up in our tournament loss the way a best player is supposed to. I havent heard a single soul step up and say anything about Paige having 6 points the entire game, then scoring 6 in the matter of seconds... if hes truly THE GUY, be THE GUY... too often in big games people take him out. And we still thrive! Check the first duke game where he had like 5 points and 2 assists. Last night he was blanketed for most of the game and we almost pulled off the upset. Its just hard for me to accept him as our true #1 option. Good player, but not THE GUY of a final 4 tarheel team
 
I like Ingram and would love to have him in Carolina Blue; but he isn't the answer for next year as he would be buried deep in the rotation behind, BJ, Hicks, & Jackson. Also, I don't think Ingram is a One'n'Doner. I think he will need a few years to develop his body and game to the league level.

What we need next year is a high scoring wing player, named Jaylen Brown! Dude has an NBA body and game already. He could immediately come in and give us 15pts/gm which would take us to the FF. No big man or PG is going to come in next season and displace what Ol'Roy has designed. Only an elite wing man would get the PT and make the major impact this team needs. And if you were Brown, why wouldn't you want to spend you only season in college on a veteran squad with size, speed, athletism and senior leadership? Would you rather go to UK not knowing any of the roster and wondering if you are going to end up with huge holes in the team and end up in the NIT like their 2013 squad?
 
Need to start Berry at the point. Rotate Hicks and Meeks at center. Find more playing time for Pinson. Change the offense to a spread dribble drive and kick offense and quit trying to force the ball inside every possession. More press and run.
 
What we need for next season IMO comes from the returning players, it isn't going to be solved by an incoming freshman, it will coome from the players we had this season.

1) Brice, needs to get stronger, needs to add some bulk, would love to see him dedicate even more to the jump hook, needs to understand how the silly fouls take him out of so many games.

2) Hicks, really needs to get stronger, a lot stronger, needs to live in the weight room and with that added strength he needs to play strong, seems to really lack confidence at times, like he still does not believe in his own ability.

3) Joel James, would like ot see him drop some of that weight but the big thing is to see him really staret to believe & understand he is a HUGE man and stronger than the vast majority of players he will go against. be big & strong, play big & strong. learn to block out and learn to set screens without moving.

4) Justin jackson, get stronger young man & work on a post up move or 2 and from there it is just believing he is a great talent that he actually is. Add 15-20lbs of muscle and this kid will be dynamic, really looking forward to what he brings next season.

5) Marcus, understand that you have ot rely & trust in your team mates, you do not have to do it all, your fellas can help you and if you let them you wil not see as many double teams or junk defenses geared to stop you.

6) Nate, weight room cause he needs to move out of the dorm and in to the weight room, maybe share a cot there with Hicks.

7) Joel Berry, hone in that jump shot, believe that you belong because you absolutely do, you can not have the second fiddle mindset, take the challenge of believing you are UNCs PG and that no one else can beat you out for that spot.

8) Pinson, work your butt off in the weight room, get some help for that shooting stroke cause it is broke. Both you & Joel berry tend to shoot the ball from in front of your face rather than high releases, work with Hubert on this.

9) JP, put up enough jump shots that you will finally begin to believe in that stroke, shooting is about proper form for sure but it is more about belief the ball will go in. JPs form isn't bad, does at times tend to float off to a side on his jumper but so many6 have told him he can't shoot that at times I think he believes that to, he can't. His shot is much better than it was a year ago, another year of similar improvement could put him in the NBA. But pal, ya got to focus when you have ot pass the ball, ya get way to casual and that has been bad at critical times.

10) Meeks, you have to get more explosion in those legs, you struggle to explode up and finish strong thru defenders. A kid as physically strong as you has got to explode up and thru contact, attack the defender's body and finish straight thru him. Y^our bulk can be just as effective as a long reach on another players but you have to play thru contact and hit those free throws.


Experience is going to really help this team, specifically the freshmen will get a lot better in this off season. But a common theme, so many talking how soft we are is more to me our really not being physically strong at several key positions and players. Guys like Hicks, Nate, Brice, Marcus, Jackson, and Theo really need the weight room as does meeks (lower body & verticle explosion training). And I think we have some guys that are just not as confident consistently as they need to be, weight room can for sure help that but it isn't the total magic bullit, you have to believe in your own ability, you have to own it. Physical & mental maturity IMO was the difference in that whisky game as well as several of our losses.
 
We have May for next year and Ingram and Jaylen Brown with offers and I am not aware of anyone else even on the radar. So where would the big man come from?
 
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