Hubert Davis may have the perfect roster to work with.

Since he’s become rookie head coach of the Tar Heels, Hubert has talked about “making decisions rather than suggestions.”

Heading into Friday night’s exhibition opener against Elizabeth City State in the Smith Center, Davis’ biggest decision will be how much a healthy nine-man rotation with experience will share the 200 minutes of playing time on the court.

Hubert called his roster “fluid” in terms of who starts and who plays, maybe depending on match-ups, who has the hot hand or who has earned playing time in the previous practices.

We know veteran junior Armando Bacot will start at one of the post positions. But the three transfers will vie for time as the other starting “big” and what the front court substitutions look like.

Bearded Brady Manek is a reputed shooter and has proven in preseason to be the top marksman on the team. Manek is also an excellent passer, particularly his catch-and-release ability. At 6-9 and 230 pounds, the former Oklahoma star will be a capable rebounder; only his defense keeps him from possibly being UNC’s best player.

Dawson Garcia, the sleek 6-11 sophomore transfer from Marquette, has known the Carolina coaches since he was recruited in high school. Hubert loves his work ethic and says he is capable of “dominating the game on both ends of the court.”

And muscular Justin McKoy, the 6-8 junior who can play big or small forward, transferred from Virginia and being trained by Tony Bennett qualifies him as among the best defenders on the team.

The perimeter has a range of experience, from lone scholly-senior Leaky Black to sophomores Kerwin Walton, Caleb Love, RJ Davis and Anthony Harris, all having to improve their total games to start or get the most time off the bench. Love and Davis must shoot better and turn the ball over less. Hubert has challenged Walton, who led the Tar Heels in outside shooting last year, to be a better defender.

That looks like the top nine for a program that loves to play as many as 10. Who that 10th man might be depends on the progress of freshmen Dontrez Styles and D’Marco Dunn and the health of sophomore Puff Johnson, but depth makes Hubert’s “decisions” a bit easier.

 

Photo via UNC Athletic Communications.

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