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Will there be lineup changes in the must-have game versus Oklahoma?
Against the two Quad 1 opponents that have beaten the Tar Heels, UConn and Kentucky, match-up problems in the backcourt and lack of rebounding on both ends have hurt Carolina immensely.
Hubert Davis has control over the first and can only urge whoever is in there to hit the boards harder on both ends of the floor. Davis could make some rotation changes, which most coaches will only do very carefully.
For example, he can start 6-9 Jae’Lyn Withers at power forward and demand that he plays relentlessly to take the pressure off Armando Bacot, who missed his once-automatic double-doubles in two of UNC’s three losses and for the second straight season is being pushed farther from the basket. Bacot has a great nose for the ball when he can get close to the rim, but he doesn’t have the superior strength and balance to get and keep defenders on his backside.
Withers, who had only nine total rebounds in his three starts, has done some other things well enough to be a plus-points player when on the court. Basketball has become a far more of a contact game than during the Dean Smith days, and Davis must figure out how to compensate for his team so far showing average speed and physicality.
The third-year coach raved about his remade roster after watching them for most of the summer. So far, his one major change has been making Elliot Cadeau a starter after five games, inviting teams with solid size advantage to back down him and R.J. Davis. Of the five guards who play at least 18 minutes a game for Oklahoma, only one is smaller than 6-4.
The Sooners are 10-0 and ranked ninth in the country, but their strength of schedule is only 48th compared to the Tar Heels’ 11th hardest. That and playing in Charlotte Wednesday night are why UNC is slightly favored. But, clearly, the Heels must improve on what they did versus UConn and Kentucky. If Hubert starts a bigger front court, that means moving Harrison Ingram to small forward and Cormac Ryan to shooting guard. Cadeau easily leads in assists with 40 and has only 14 turnovers, easily best on the team.
Coaches generally don’t make lineup changes on a whim. The fact that Davis has used five different starting lineups already should mean that he can still do anything at this early stage. But where to make the change – back court or front court – is a dilemma unto itself.
Getting off to a good start seems essential with this team.
Looking at the again-mediocre ACC this season, there aren’t that many quality wins on the schedule moving forward. That’s why this is a must game.
Featured image via Dakota Moyer
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