Chansky's Notebook: Fans Chime In

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Questions and analysis of Carolina basketball seem unending.

All over social media and email chains, the debate wants to know what has happened to the Tar Heels. The comments run from statistics, to rotation, to recruiting, to style of play and, of course, to coaching. Here are a few samples.

STATS: Five of the 10 losses to date can be attributed to UNC’s very poor 3-point shooting, especially late in games.

Iowa State, lost by 5, 3-18 3FG
Alabama, lost by 2 in 4OT, (3-13 after halftime)
at Pittsburgh, lost by 2, (1-9 in second half)
vs. Pittsburgh, lost by 1, (1-14 in second half)
Duke, lost by 6, 7-27 3FG.

After the loss to Miami when they shot 5-31 from outside, the Tar Heels are last in the ACC, outside top 300 in the nation, close to their worst season ever in triples (.306)

DEPTH: Carolina’s starters have been set since Day 1 and only fluctuated due to injuries (Bacot, Nance). Seth Trimble has played in most games (26) of the second five and averages the second most minutes (11.3) behind Puff Johnson (15.7). Then D’Marco Dunn (11.2), Jalen Washington (6.6) and Tyler Nickel (6.4).

STYLE OF PLAY: Before the season, Hubert Davis said that “depth is really important for us, guys coming off the bench that give us consistent, great play, makes it even better for R.J. and Caleb and Leaky and Pete Nance and Armando to be the best they can be. And I think it’s going to make us better defensively, where we can change defenses, pick up full court, get more aggressive to create turnovers when we have more depth. It’s always a Carolina staple, wanting to be the fastest team in the country transitioning from defense to offense. Depth plays a part in being the best that you can be.”

Not much of that has happened.

Dean Smith used to say you build depth by playing depth, and Carolina is not hurting for projected talent with 11 players who were top-100 recruits; Duke is the only other ACC school with more than five. Why aren’t they playing more?

The Tar Heels change defenses rarely, full-court press occasionally, but are not creating turnovers that lead to transition baskets and have virtually no fast break because they do not throw outlet passes after rebounds, just give it to the guards.

Davis has been a basketball lifer from playing in college and the NBA for 16 years, watching dozens of other coaches while at ESPN and sitting next to Roy Williams for nine seasons. Some of the qualified feedback says all that doesn’t necessarily translate into head-coaching, at least not in the first two years.

Since defense has been inconsistent, Carolina’s success under Hubert comes down to scoring, and this team is neither hitting for high percentages nor doing much else to create easier baskets. “Post up Leaky!” one observer offered, “and surround him with the shooters.”

Yep, the fan base is really buzzing.

Featured image via Todd Melet

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Chansky’s Notebook: Fans Chime In

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