After nearly 30 practices–and a blowout exhibition win last week over UNC-Pembroke–the No. 6 UNC men’s basketball team is ready for the real games to begin.

As the Tar Heels prepare to travel to New Orleans for their season opener at Tulane on Friday night, head coach Roy Williams told reporters at his press conference on Thursday that his team is still searching for new leaders to step up.

Player leadership may be even more of a necessity during UNC’s early season road trips–both to New Orleans and later to Hawaii–as Williams announced that longtime assistant coach Steve Robinson will not fly with the team due to a blood clot in his leg.

Doctors treating Robinson made the decision after determining it was in the coach’s best interest not to fly. He will, however, continue to assume his role on the bench during home games at the Smith Center.

Senior guard Nate Britt has been singled out as one of the team's biggest vocal leaders early in the season. (Todd Melet)

Senior guard Nate Britt has been singled out as one of the team’s biggest vocal leaders early in the season. (Todd Melet)

With Robinson sidelined, the spotlight will intensify on experienced players like junior wing Justin Jackson–who said Thursday he views himself, junior point guard Joel Berry and senior guard Nate Britt as the team’s main leaders.

Departed seniors Brice Johnson and Marcus Paige–players who combined for over 30 percent of the Tar Heels’ points and rebounds last season–have created an obvious void that needs to be filled.

Berry and Jackson are the most likely candidates to lead the team forward, with senior forward Isaiah Hicks also expected to put up bigger numbers on the court in the role Johnson used to occupy.

A broken foot derailed Theo Pinson’s chances to take over as the starting shooting guard here in the early part of the year, but the injury has given life to a competition between Britt and sophomore Kenny Williams–a player who impressed with his performance in the exhibition last week.

Roy Williams said Thursday he’s not sure if Britt would get the start against Tulane, but also said he has not come to a conclusion on his final starting lineup.

Tulane finished the 2015-16 season with a 12-22 record under former head coach Ed Conroy, including a 96-72 loss to UNC in Chapel Hill. This year, the Green Wave has just one returning player–guard Malik Morgan–that averaged double figures in scoring last season.

New head coach Mike Dunleavy Sr. has loads of NBA coaching experience, but realistically he won’t have anywhere near enough talent at his disposal to take out the Tar Heels.

This game–more than anything else–will be the first glimpse of what the next era of UNC basketball may look like.

Not having Robinson on the bench likely won’t have much of an impact on the final score, but it could definitely help the team figure out who its leaders will truly be moving forward.

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