Now that the 2024-25 season is in the books, I think it will be fun to look back at some of the spot-on and not-so-much predictions for this season. I tried to keep it specific to the 2024-25 season as opposed to general big picture predictions about a player. I won't name the cold takes because this is more meant to be fun and we can share a laugh about how wrong we were.
Feel free to add to this too. Let's keep it fun and not take ourselves too seriously.
___________________
A general round of applause to @DaveChapelle for continuously mentioning how UNC's bigs were not good enough this season. Regardless how you think of Chappelle, I think that was an accurate prediction. Others shared this prediction too. But since Chappelle was most ubiquitous, he'll get a specific mention for this prediction that many shared. Congrats to Chappelle and those who shared this opinion.
General round of applause to @DSouthr for being consistently bullish on Seth Trimble, who had a breakout season. Others also remained bullish on Seth so kudos to y'all too. I think DSouthr was extremely consistent in his bullishness for Seth.
Next one: @notashelbyfan. This came off a preseason discussion of how good UNC would be if Jalen Washington were the starting 5. Despite Washington not being the C1 the entire season, the general take was right on the money. And a shoutout to those who called the bubble season early in the season. I think @Bubspub88 was on it with a few others.
Link: t.ly/am5k1
The beauty of this thing is that we shall see, but I will make a prediction if he is our starting 5 next year we will be a bubble team at best. With that said I think we will bring one in because they know he isn't the answer.
______________________
Now for more fun. The cold takes from the season! Apologies if there's some repetition. Some players were more polarizing than others.
I'll start with a beauty from me.
Link: t.ly/xB0zA
I'm a fan of Cade Tyson. Has some limitations, not overly twitchy or bouncy so maybe he has some defensive struggles against certain matchups. But this team will need shooters and I'm almost always down for a 6'7" dude who can shoot. He looks like he has long arms and a decent reach too (although playing in short shorts may distort that view). I also like that he was a 14 PPG scorer as a freshman. It doesn't mean everything, but Wojcik took 3 years to score 9 PPG. Tyson was productive and asked to score from the get-go. So I don't think it's a Wojcik situation. From the little I saw, I saw some ability to play off 2 feet from the elbow or in the paint. Which I am extremely partial to. I think that stuff translates at any level of basketball. (Cade Tyson was not good)
We will beat Duke... Not really a prediction in fairness. More of a loyalty test of UNC fans.
What will peeps say when our 5'10", 90-pound weaklings beat the stink off puke and other evil doers? If we start the season and win the Maui, making us a Top 5 team again, will peeps still continue to search for issues with Hubs and our team? If we stumble and lose a few at the beginning but find our stride and go on a run, who gets the credit? Who will jump ship? I can't wait to see how some of our comments age, lol. FTR: I'm fine with all of mine, can others say as much? This is going to be a fun season!
Various Jalen Washington takes:
OK, "bubble team" because JWash starts at the 5.? Yeah, you go with that... bless your heart.
I can’t wait for Washington to start. I think he’s the perfect 5 for us. As a starter he will get about 10 touches and he will shoot about 55% from the field. I think he will average a double double in around 25 minutes a game. Washington is currently just as polished as bacot, if not more on the offensive end. With some added muscle, he should fill in nicely. Lastly, he’s already shown us he can be an above average shot blocker. I think his comparison is a lengthy garrison brooks rather than Deon.
I really, really hope JWash does NOT transfer! He could be a dominant Big by next season and JB could be the next in line while contributing from the bench! Portal is a great option too, but I think a lot depends on what RJ decides! If we somehow keep RJ, Capt., Ingram, Seth, and JWash-portal becomes an afterthought to me! (Is all that possible??) Is JWit done?
Depth:
Three tough issues that are emergencies are: Focus/Intensity on D/Rebounding from the jump, Cade finding his footing (or someone else stepping up), AND JWash taking open looks when they appear! Our 9-11 deep team has already answered all other questions! The good news is, we are a guaranteed 9 deep with Claude and Tyson being the possibles in our hand! (Yes, I'm counting JB. I think Claude should be counted too but he isn't seeing the floor. I believe Tyson will click soon too.)
I am often accused of being too positive whatever that means so I tried to be conservative with the 10 deep thing.
Seth and Cadeau's 3PT shooting:
All I have to say to those jabronies is back off EC and Seth again and see what happens...
This is older (said in 2023). But UNC would win a National Championship if Cadeau stayed for 2 seasons:
I firmly believe that if he stayed 2 years a Natty is pretty close to a done deal! I know next season will be as fun a ride as UNC has had in years!
Feel free to add to this too. Let's keep it fun and not take ourselves too seriously.
___________________
A general round of applause to @DaveChapelle for continuously mentioning how UNC's bigs were not good enough this season. Regardless how you think of Chappelle, I think that was an accurate prediction. Others shared this prediction too. But since Chappelle was most ubiquitous, he'll get a specific mention for this prediction that many shared. Congrats to Chappelle and those who shared this opinion.
General round of applause to @DSouthr for being consistently bullish on Seth Trimble, who had a breakout season. Others also remained bullish on Seth so kudos to y'all too. I think DSouthr was extremely consistent in his bullishness for Seth.
Next one: @notashelbyfan. This came off a preseason discussion of how good UNC would be if Jalen Washington were the starting 5. Despite Washington not being the C1 the entire season, the general take was right on the money. And a shoutout to those who called the bubble season early in the season. I think @Bubspub88 was on it with a few others.
Link: t.ly/am5k1
The beauty of this thing is that we shall see, but I will make a prediction if he is our starting 5 next year we will be a bubble team at best. With that said I think we will bring one in because they know he isn't the answer.
______________________
Now for more fun. The cold takes from the season! Apologies if there's some repetition. Some players were more polarizing than others.
I'll start with a beauty from me.
Link: t.ly/xB0zA
I'm a fan of Cade Tyson. Has some limitations, not overly twitchy or bouncy so maybe he has some defensive struggles against certain matchups. But this team will need shooters and I'm almost always down for a 6'7" dude who can shoot. He looks like he has long arms and a decent reach too (although playing in short shorts may distort that view). I also like that he was a 14 PPG scorer as a freshman. It doesn't mean everything, but Wojcik took 3 years to score 9 PPG. Tyson was productive and asked to score from the get-go. So I don't think it's a Wojcik situation. From the little I saw, I saw some ability to play off 2 feet from the elbow or in the paint. Which I am extremely partial to. I think that stuff translates at any level of basketball. (Cade Tyson was not good)
We will beat Duke... Not really a prediction in fairness. More of a loyalty test of UNC fans.
What will peeps say when our 5'10", 90-pound weaklings beat the stink off puke and other evil doers? If we start the season and win the Maui, making us a Top 5 team again, will peeps still continue to search for issues with Hubs and our team? If we stumble and lose a few at the beginning but find our stride and go on a run, who gets the credit? Who will jump ship? I can't wait to see how some of our comments age, lol. FTR: I'm fine with all of mine, can others say as much? This is going to be a fun season!
Various Jalen Washington takes:
OK, "bubble team" because JWash starts at the 5.? Yeah, you go with that... bless your heart.
I can’t wait for Washington to start. I think he’s the perfect 5 for us. As a starter he will get about 10 touches and he will shoot about 55% from the field. I think he will average a double double in around 25 minutes a game. Washington is currently just as polished as bacot, if not more on the offensive end. With some added muscle, he should fill in nicely. Lastly, he’s already shown us he can be an above average shot blocker. I think his comparison is a lengthy garrison brooks rather than Deon.
I really, really hope JWash does NOT transfer! He could be a dominant Big by next season and JB could be the next in line while contributing from the bench! Portal is a great option too, but I think a lot depends on what RJ decides! If we somehow keep RJ, Capt., Ingram, Seth, and JWash-portal becomes an afterthought to me! (Is all that possible??) Is JWit done?
Depth:
Three tough issues that are emergencies are: Focus/Intensity on D/Rebounding from the jump, Cade finding his footing (or someone else stepping up), AND JWash taking open looks when they appear! Our 9-11 deep team has already answered all other questions! The good news is, we are a guaranteed 9 deep with Claude and Tyson being the possibles in our hand! (Yes, I'm counting JB. I think Claude should be counted too but he isn't seeing the floor. I believe Tyson will click soon too.)
I am often accused of being too positive whatever that means so I tried to be conservative with the 10 deep thing.
Seth and Cadeau's 3PT shooting:
All I have to say to those jabronies is back off EC and Seth again and see what happens...
This is older (said in 2023). But UNC would win a National Championship if Cadeau stayed for 2 seasons:
I firmly believe that if he stayed 2 years a Natty is pretty close to a done deal! I know next season will be as fun a ride as UNC has had in years!
