Reggie Bullock has been Mr. Dependable all season long. He’s been the model of consistency, and his steadying influence is the major reason why the Tar Heels are still in the hunt for an NCAA tournament bid. Bullock was instrumental in keeping the team afloat while waiting on Roy Williams to put P.J. Hairston in the lineup. Now that Hairston has been “discovered,” Reggie can fall back to the supporting role he should have been playing all along.

Reggie does whatever the team needs, whether it’s scoring, rebounding, or distributing to his teammates. He’s also capable of locking down his opponent, something he did extremely well against Duke’s Seth Curry. He’s taken incredible care of the ball this season, and he’s been the leader while waiting for Hairston to get the minutes to assume that role.

Bullock has shot the ball extremely well this season, especially from three-point range. If he has a bad scoring game, he usually makes up for it in other areas. Reggie hasn’t been the same since tearing his meniscus in 2011, but he’s adapted his game to compensate for the loss of explosiveness.

Reggie is a great sidekick, and he’ll be even more effective playing alongside Hairston. His numbers might take a hit, but the Tar Heels will be a much better all-around team. Carolina should be a factor this postseason, but Bullock should have a realistic chance of going out on top with a national title in his senior season next year.

You can follow Josh on Twitter @HoopVisions

image via todd melet