Why Does This Team Consistently Come Out Flat

[al would]

I simply do not get how a team that should be hyped as hell with these marque games against ranked teams, that mean so much to tournament seeding and recruiting, can come out of the gate so consistently uninspired and flat. Is the team chemistry that bad, is the confidence that shattered or is the game prep and coaching really that bad?

 

[alabamaheel]

I simply do not get how a team that should be hyped as hell with these marque games against ranked teams, that mean so much to tournament seeding and recruiting, can come out of the gate so consistently uninspired and flat. Is the team chemistry that bad, is the confidence that shattered or is the game prep and coaching really that bad?

I think it’s all three in your last sentence. I commented on another post that I think we are fired up to start but not confident, don’t make our shots early because of the lack of, and not prepared for what the opponent brings. Kinda shelled shocked. I don’t think it’s bad attitude or privilege but who knows.

I do remember Marcus being atrocious in the first half of what seemed like every game. Got to where you knew if it were close, that he would turn it on in the second half. Night and day.

 

[NathanFielder]

I know there's been a lot of focus on who starts at the 4 and 5... Reality is the 1-3 have been the same for the entire season and for the entire season UNC has gotten off to slow starts. I tend to think those 3 (Cadeau, RJ, and Seth) simply aren't the best combination on the floor. Cadeau and RJ are very ball dominant guards and while Seth can score without offense being designed for him, he's certainly at his best with the ball in his hands attacking the paint.

So some water and oil mixing in the backcourt perhaps? You combine that with Cadeau and Seth aren't willing shooters (Cadeau is 1/15 from 3 over the last 4, Seth is 3/12 from 3 over his last 5) and RJ hasn't shot the ball well this season.

But not a whole lot you can do with the backcourt. You can't not start Cadeau because he's the only PG on the team. You're not going to bench RJ for Jackson. And Seth is is a 2-way wing on a team that doesn't defend particularly well. If everything were truly up in the air, I would explore Jackson starting at the 2 to get some more size there. Also, Ian's a late shot clock option like RJ is. But that's probably not a realistic option for this team.

Long winded way of saying this is an entire team issue. The bigs and the coach will get the most criticism. They're the easiest targets.

But if Cadeau is generational, he needs to be a tone setter on both ends of the floor. If RJ is an All American, he needs to simply play like one. And if Seth isn't immune from completely disappearing for large stretches of the game too.

This backcourt can be one of the best in the country. But to have that reputation, you need to perform on the floor.

 

[alabamaheel]

I know there's been a lot of focus on who starts at the 4 and 5... Reality is the 1-3 have been the same for the entire season and for the entire season UNC has gotten off to slow starts. I tend to think those 3 (Cadeau, RJ, and Seth) simply aren't the best combination on the floor. Cadeau and RJ are very ball dominant guards and while Seth can score without offense being designed for him, he's certainly at his best with the ball in his hands attacking the paint.

So some water and oil mixing in the backcourt perhaps? You combine that with Cadeau and Seth aren't willing shooters (Cadeau is 1/15 from 3 over the last 4, Seth is 3/12 from 3 over his last 5) and RJ hasn't shot the ball well this season.

But not a whole lot you can do with the backcourt. You can't not start Cadeau because he's the only PG on the team. You're not going to bench RJ for Jackson. And Seth is is a 2-way wing on a team that doesn't defend particularly well. If everything were truly up in the air, I would explore Jackson starting at the 2 to get some more size there. Also, Ian's a late shot clock option like RJ is. But that's probably not a realistic option for this team.

Long winded way of saying this is an entire team issue. The bigs and the coach will get the most criticism. They're the easiest targets.

But if Cadeau is generational, he needs to be a tone setter on both ends of the floor. If RJ is an All American, he needs to simply play like one. And if Seth isn't immune from completely disappearing for large stretches of the game too.

This backcourt can be one of the best in the country. But to have that reputation, you need to perform on the floor.

Idk how to pull out quotes but your next to last paragraph says it all for me. EC, RJ, and Seth need to bow up. We know what they can do. Do it dang it.

 

[Point2Passer]

The team lacks the necessary mental toughness, along with being at a physical disadvantage at nearly every position.

These 2nd half comebacks are a little overrated. Excluding cupcake games, both teams go on some sort of run over the course of any game. Unless you’re a conference bottom dweller, you’re going to have a portion of every game where a team has a good run.

 

[Kool1234567]

I know there's been a lot of focus on who starts at the 4 and 5... Reality is the 1-3 have been the same for the entire season and for the entire season UNC has gotten off to slow starts. I tend to think those 3 (Cadeau, RJ, and Seth) simply aren't the best combination on the floor. Cadeau and RJ are very ball dominant guards and while Seth can score without offense being designed for him, he's certainly at his best with the ball in his hands attacking the paint.

So some water and oil mixing in the backcourt perhaps? You combine that with Cadeau and Seth aren't willing shooters (Cadeau is 1/15 from 3 over the last 4, Seth is 3/12 from 3 over his last 5) and RJ hasn't shot the ball well this season.

But not a whole lot you can do with the backcourt. You can't not start Cadeau because he's the only PG on the team. You're not going to bench RJ for Jackson. And Seth is is a 2-way wing on a team that doesn't defend particularly well. If everything were truly up in the air, I would explore Jackson starting at the 2 to get some more size there. Also, Ian's a late shot clock option like RJ is. But that's probably not a realistic option for this team.

Long winded way of saying this is an entire team issue. The bigs and the coach will get the most criticism. They're the easiest targets.

But if Cadeau is generational, he needs to be a tone setter on both ends of the floor. If RJ is an All American, he needs to simply play like one. And if Seth isn't immune from completely disappearing for large stretches of the game too.

This backcourt can be one of the best in the country. But to have that reputation, you need to perform on the floor.

I think we can now very comfortably say that EC is not Generational…He will be a solid 4 year pg that you need to surround with NBA players….Biggest mistake Hubert made last year was keeping RJ and not Ingram….Should have offered Ingram more than he would make going to the league and told RJ go get paid young man….

1-EC
2-Seth
3-Ingram
4-Lublin
5-Portal Center

Bench

Ian
Drake
JWit
Cade
JWash
Claude…
James Brown

 

[al would]

The team lacks the necessary mental toughness, along with being at a physical disadvantage at nearly every position.

They sure as heck haven't appeared to be at a physical disadvantage in the second half of a lot of games against some really good teams. The same team that hits the floor to start half #1 usually starts half #2. So how's that pencil out?

 

[al would]

Should have offered Ingram more than he would make going to the league and told RJ go get paid young man….

Thinking RJ stayed because his best $$ option was UNC NIL .. on hubcap after that. jmo

 

[Kool1234567]

Thinking RJ stayed because his best $$ option was UNC NIL .. on hubcap after that. jmo

This is the thing moving forward you have to make roster decisions each year…Not kicking kids off the team but having real conversations with them as Men….Hey RJ you are going to have to take a paycut so we can get what we need for next year…

We don’t know if Hubert is built for that….

 

[notashelbyfan]

Because they are poorly coached!

 

[dtodd4475]

Idk how to pull out quotes but your next to last paragraph says it all for me. EC, RJ, and Seth need to bow up. We know what they can do. Do it dang it.

The problem for me is they are redundant in their strengths, and two of the three want no part of creating a 3 look for theirself. Yes, those are the top players along with Ian, all little, with no complimentary skill set help offensively outside of those little fellas. Tiny with Seth at the 3, tiny frontline behind them.

The elephant in the room for me.

 

[big_deez]

The problem for me is they are redundant in their strengths, and two of the three want no part of creating a 3 look for theirself. Yes, those are the top players along with Ian, all little, with no complimentary skill set help offensively outside of those little fellas. Tiny with Seth at the 3, tiny frontline behind them.

The elephant in the room for me.

DTodd, now, have you been drinking? Heh

 

[alabamaheel]

This is the thing moving forward you have to make roster decisions each year…Not kicking kids off the team but having real conversations with them as Men….Hey RJ you are going to have to take a paycut so we can get what we need for next year…

We don’t know if Hubert is built for that….

There’s no pay cut for anyone who has their own nil. HD didn’t have to give him anything extra. Kids we didn’t get because of money were not because of current players.

 

[alabamaheel]

Thinking RJ stayed because his best $$ option was UNC NIL .. on hubcap after that. jmo

I tend to agree. Hard to turn it down not knowing where your next guaranteed money will come from. He may make some good money oversees but to get to play for your school and get paid has to be great.

 

[alabamaheel]

I think we can now very comfortably say that EC is not Generational…He will be a solid 4 year pg that you need to surround with NBA players….Biggest mistake Hubert made last year was keeping RJ and not Ingram….Should have offered Ingram more than he would make going to the league and told RJ go get paid young man….

1-EC
2-Seth
3-Ingram
4-Lublin
5-Portal Center

Bench

Ian
Drake
JWit
Cade
JWash
Claude…
James Brown

lol hd didn’t have a say on Ingram going to the draft. He would’ve had to pay Ingram extra just to get him to stay. RJ wasn’t a second choice. Had Ingram had stayed they would still be without a big. He would’ve been stuck inside, which would be better than now of course but with no shooter to help him. And if he didn’t pay a portal Big to come here, he wasn’t gonna pay Ingram enough to keep him either.

 

[Kool1234567]

lol hd didn’t have a say on Ingram going to the draft. He would’ve had to pay Ingram extra just to get him to stay. RJ wasn’t a second choice. Had Ingram had stayed they would still be without a big. He would’ve been stuck inside, which would be better than now of course but with no shooter to help him. And if he didn’t pay a portal Big to come here, he wasn’t gonna pay Ingram enough to keep him either.

No problem but I disagree…I would rather have Ingram than RJ this year…Roster management is key moving forward…Old way is dead except it or get left behind…

 

[alabamaheel]

No problem but I disagree…I would rather have Ingram than RJ this year…Roster management is key moving forward…Old way is dead except it or get left behind…

Oh I agree. I just don’t think it was an option for Ingram.

 

[Kool1234567]

Oh I agree. I just don’t think it was an option for Ingram.

I get it but I would have offered him the bag….What is he making now…

 

[Kool1234567]

Harrison Ingram's salary is $578,577 for the 2024-25 season. He is a 22 year old small forward who was born on Nov 27, 2002. He was drafted 48th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2nd round of the 2024 draft. He has signed 1 contract worth a total value of $578,577.


We didn’t have a Million for him…

 

[superstar57]

Ummm. If you have no production from your center or forward positions this is what the games will look like.

We come out flat because we don't have anyone down low to get us easy buckets.

It's not coaching! Recruiting maybe. We may probably have the best collection of Guards in America. Give me Kennedy Meeks and Isiah Hicks on this squad and we are top 10 if not five. I mention these two guys because neither were stars in my opinion, just capable bigs.

The issue is obvious, we talked on this board all off season about this. Now that season is here, we pretend this is a surprise! SMH

 

[notashelbyfan]

Ummm. If you have no production from your center or forward positions this is what the games will look like.

We come out flat because we don't have anyone down low to get us easy buckets.

It's not coaching! Recruiting maybe. We may probably have the best collection of Guards in America. Give me Kennedy Meeks and Isiah Hicks on this squad and we are top 10 if not five. I mention these two guys because neither were stars in my opinion, just capable bigs.

The issue is obvious, we talked on this board all off season about this. Now that season is here, we pretend this is a surprise! SMH

First off "if my aunt had balls she would be my uncle" so if this team had is irrelevant.

Some of us said all off season that if we didn't get a big we was toast i even went as far as to say if we Washington or Withers had to start on this team we would be a firm bubble team come early March, we'll its going to be worse we are not even going to be a bubble team, being on the bubble would be an improvement.

Recruiting is a huge part of coaching in CBB, IMO if you can't coach and your team stinks because you don't have player then that's a coaching problem.

 

[superstar57]

First off "if my aunt had balls she would be my uncle" so if this team had is irrelevant.

Some of us said all off season that if we didn't get a big we was toast i even went as far as to say if we Washington or Withers had to start on this team we would be a firm bubble team come early March, we'll its going to be worse we are not even going to be a bubble team, being on the bubble would be an improvement.

Recruiting is a huge part of coaching in CBB, IMO if you can't coach and your team stinks because you don't have player then that's a coaching problem.

Lol. Recruiting is a coaching duty for sure, but we have who we have, and by looking at the games coaching this team is not the problem, not having a quality big is however.

But if you want to blame HD, it means nothing to me. Most 5* bigs think they are 1 and done. Carolina since Harrison Barnes has struggled to bring in a 1 and done talent and get them drafted high the following year.

Our Craolina way teaches young guys to play basketball the correct way, and it doesn't necessarily result in a guy going top 10 the following season. The new era of NIL doesn't really fit Carolina, because we want students of the game and those that love Carolina's campus life. HD is a student of Roy and Dean, both of them would be in same situation as HD right now. Roy had some seasons at the end that were even worse than what we are seeing now.

If coaching is the problem, then It would be interesting to see how UNC fans and alumni respond to a Deion Sanders type of coach, because kids today want the spotlight on them rather that be money from NIL or a school that can help them with there social media profile.

I still can't understand why we couldn't get a quality big in portal or recruitment. To have the chance to play with a pass first PG should have been enough.

 

[RP12]

There is one consistently aggressive offensive player in the starting 5 and he’s 5 ‘10 and not overly athletic. I say make Trimble the 6th man since he has started to revert to being passive. Start EC, RJ, Ian, Tyson, Lubin. First two subs are Powell/Trimble to clamp down after hopefully a better scoring start.