Why wouldn’t Puff come back and start at the 3?

[UNC Blue Hup]

He’s just as good as anyone in the portal at the 3 and with his familiarity and energy he showed flashes. I know you’ll say he can’t stay healthy and didn’t make his 3’s but he did bring energy and hustled his ass off. I wish he’d come back and get 25-30 minutes a game and see what would happen.

 

[DaveChapelle]

He’s just as good as anyone in the portal at the 3 and with his familiarity and energy he showed flashes. I know you’ll say he can’t stay healthy and didn’t make his 3’s but he did bring energy and hustled his ass off. I wish he’d come back and get 25-30 minutes a game and see what would happen.

He's a senior. He definitely wants to start. Unfortunately he has been injured every season he's been at UNC, and he shoots 24% from 3pt range. So the staff can't promise him anything. They have to recruit others to play the 3 and 4, because they never know what they'll get from Puff from game to game. I think a big part of him leaving is he's looking for a guarantee that he'll play a lot.

 

[gary-7]

He’s just as good as anyone in the portal at the 3 and with his familiarity and energy he showed flashes. I know you’ll say he can’t stay healthy and didn’t make his 3’s but he did bring energy and hustled his ass off. I wish he’d come back and get 25-30 minutes a game and see what would happen.

With hesitation to resort to a cliche, "the best ability is availability".

 

[al would]

"the best ability is availability".

Sad but true. His health history is and has been an issue since day one but his (lack of) consistently reliable availability has become problematic. Puff has a really sweet stroke and I hope he gets well and can make $$ at a higher level but he can't get the development he needs in his final year at UNC .. and maybe not at another school. Wish him well though.

 

[DaveChapelle]

Puff has a really sweet stroke

Say what now?

 

[pittsburghheel]

@al would -
I would say Puff has awkward mechanics and an inconsistent shot…disappointed he looks like the same player since his first year in terms of appearance and skill set.
He is a Pittsburgh kid so I was sad to see him leave.
The Pittsburgh kids that come to mind who played at UNC - Puff, Cam, Dante, and Salvadori.

 

[ACokeForRoy]

I'm not sure HD knew what to do with Puff. Is he a 4? Is he a 3? I think HD should have settles on either from the beginning and let him develop there instead of playing him at multiple positions. Puff looked lost at times in the offense.

 

[UNC Blue Hup]

He’s still a better option than most in the portal, we know the effort and he never got a legit chance to show it boys. I wish he would reconsider. Tell me who’s still out there that could be a better 3?

 

[superstar57]

Puff transferring is still a heads scratcher to me. He has gotten every chance, and done well. He just never stayed consistently healthy.

Thought he would have a good year next year had he stayed. I hope we get him back to be honest, that would be a win.

 

[DSouthr]

I am of the belief that once you enter the portal you should go. My exception to that would be if there was a coaching change because I would give the new coach a shot at the kid. I did not want to see any of those kids leave that entered the portal but now that they have entered the portal they need to go.

 

[DaveChapelle]

he never got a legit chance to show it boys

That's completely untrue.

 

[gauchoheel]

He’s just as good as anyone in the portal at the 3 and with his familiarity and energy he showed flashes. I know you’ll say he can’t stay healthy and didn’t make his 3’s but he did bring energy and hustled his ass off. I wish he’d come back and get 25-30 minutes a game and see what would happen.

We're hoping to upgrade, simple as that really. More players will enter the portal.

 

[gauchoheel]

He’s still a better option than most in the portal, we know the effort and he never got a legit chance to show it boys. I wish he would reconsider. Tell me who’s still out there that could be a better 3?

Knecht, Lundy, Trey Alexander, Ingram, etc. We really need to upgrade from starting someone like Puff if we want UNC to be a top team again. He's just not good enough.

 

[ACokeForRoy]

I miss having a wing that could light it up for a 3 from deep in the corner from a kick out on a Carolina break. Cam,Ellington,JJ,

 

[Mrs.Jeans15]

We can find just as good or better.

He hasnt improved his game not one bit.

 

[roadmaster]

Once you enter the portal don’t you lose your scholarship if you return?

 

[RP12]

Once you enter the portal don’t you lose your scholarship if you return?

No. Scholarships are year to year anyway.

 

[RHFD]

Puff was said to be a better shooter than his brother Cam.

 

[DaveChapelle]

Puff was said to be a better shooter than his brother Cam.

By who?

Because every single recruiting analysis I saw said he was nowhere near as good of a shooter as Cam; that he was a better interior player. But you're welcome to prove me wrong with a link.

 

[RHFD]

I know what I read & I think that Cam was the one that said it

 

[imajericho]

He didn't return to start at whatever position because he probably reasonably expected to be Portaled over.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I'd welcome Puff back but because of his erratic health and shooting Hubert would have to recruit over him from the portal or whatever.

If he did come back, and if HD did recruit another SF or 3/4, Puff would still have a shot at being our starter - assuming HD would give him good PT early on.

That said, he may do better at a school where he can play more minutes against perhaps easier competition, so he has a better chance to turn the corner.

 

[superstar57]

I want Puff back, but your going to have to bring in insurance if he comes back.

I think RJ, Puff, and Bacot would be a nice core to start with. I like Washington too.

 

[DaveChapelle]

I know what I read & I think that Cam was the one that said it

Then provide the link.

 

[RHFD]

It had to be on one of the message boards don't let this worry you there are more important things to worry about. I read it & that is it

 

[tcb22]

I vaguely recall comments that Puff was a better shooter in high school than Cam. But he has not shown much growth if any. Injuries have certainly been a big factor in his lack of growth.

 

[RHFD]

Thank you tcb22

 

[DSouthr]

Thank you tcb22

Yes, those were Cam's words FYI, if someone demands you give them a link to Cam's words, tell them to do their own research, you do not work for them.

 

[JimmyinVA]

i have a feeling puff is a big loss for our team. not something you can argue, because nobody can predict the future, just a gut feeling...

 

[DaveChapelle]

i have a feeling puff is a big loss for our team. not something you can argue, because nobody can predict the future, just a gut feeling...

He hasn't played a healthy full season yet. He's a 24% shooter from 3pt range.

We all wanted Puff to succeed. But he very rarely played at a level where we would miss his loss.

 

[FlaTarHeel]

His parents body language during the road game at Pitt was a preview of things to come. And I can't blame them.

 

[2DDIMOND]

His parents body language during the road game at Pitt was a preview of things to come. And I can't blame them.

Dude played 48 of 60 possible minutes against Alabama, I can’t imagine why his minutes decreased so drastically after that.

 

[Geth]

Say what now?

Yep- I'm not trying to drag the kid down but Puff's shot and mechanics are the least "sweet" I have seen from a purported shooter in many years,

 

[gunslingerdick]

I like Puff and would love to have him back if he is ok with a bench role. He's too limited to be a starter. Great hustle guy and teammate but not a Carolina starter.

 

[ChiShankCity]

Wow, people want more dudes back from teams that lost double-digit games the last few season. Why?

We haven't been really good in like 5 years. You know what I don't want? A bunch of dudes who were part of those 5 crappy years minus a fluky March run.

 

[gauchoheel]

Wow, people want more dudes back from teams that lost double-digit games the last few season. Why?

We haven't been really good in like 5 years. You know what I don't want? A bunch of dudes who were part of those 5 crappy years minus a fluky March run.

Yeah. Withers put up much better numbers than Puff too. I think it's a reasonable upgrade for backup wing/big.

 

[gunslingerdick]

Yeah. Withers put up much better numbers than Puff too. I think it's a reasonable upgrade for backup wing/big.

I keep reading that Withers is a back up.
I keep reading that Wojcik is a back up.

Those two guys are only back ups if we get starters to start in front of them. Where are the starters?

 

[gauchoheel]

I keep reading that Withers is a back up.
I keep reading that Wojcik is a back up.

Those two guys are only back ups if we get starters to start in front of them. Where are the starters?

Certainly hoping we don't have to wait too long to find out!

My guess would be Bacot, Davis, Cadeau, a forward like Ingram/Mgbako, and then a transfer that can shoot.

 

[DaveChapelle]

People keep pulling out of the portal. Kentucky had a player do it today.

I keep hoping Puff will pull out of the portal too.

 

[FlaTarHeel]

I keep hoping Puff will pull out of the portal too.

But he's only 24% shooter from 3. 😏