There is a lot to unpack over Carolina’s first seven games.
Hubert Davis likes to say that film tells the truth, which it does. So do statistics, especially when they tell you the harder truth.
The Tar Heels are not shooting terribly overall, hitting 46.5 percent of their attempts. They are much worse from the 3-point line, draining only 31 percent. And the worst are the two guys who are supposed to be the best at that.
Neither Caleb Love nor RJ Davis is close to shooting 30 percent from the arc, combining to go 22 of 85. From the floor overall, they are averaging just over 40 percent. Both of those stats are way under their improved shooting of a year ago. It may have something to do with their shot selection, which often comes after some one-on-one dribbling or pulling up from way downtown. So far, not a lot of screens are being set to create open shots. Granted, opponents are switching on screens more than ever, which does make it harder to get good looks.
The playmaking is way below Carolina standards, with 86 assists and 84 turnovers. Heels aficionados would love to see that ratio at 2-1 or even 3-1 with the passing skills of Love, Davis and Pete Nance, and the size inside.
For a big, athletic team, UNC isn’t close to the vacuum cleaners under the boards that we are used to. Roy Williams’ Tar Heels were perennially among the best rebounding teams in the country. So far this season, they only average a plus-4 on the glass.
Armando Bacot is averaging a double-double as he did last season, but wing guard Leaky Black is easily the second-best rebounder on the team. Not the outside shooter Brady Manek was, Nance was supposed to be an upgrade on rebounding, and so far he is not.
The bench looked deeper than it was behind the Iron Five, but so far that hasn’t kept pace. Freshman guard Seth Trimble and, since his return, Puff Johnson are getting the most minutes. Next is the improved and athletic D’Marco Dunn. The minutes for Dontrez Styles and Tyler Nickel have gone down in recent games, and senior Justin McKoy, known for his hustle and defense, has barely scratched.
It’s too early to call the starters the Iron Five 2, but by the end of Sunday’s four overtime loss to Alabama, the regulars appeared understandably gassed.
Featured image via Associated Press/Rick Bowmer
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Is Nance a good passer, he really has not shown it at all in game. I have not seen much of what he was supposed to add to the team yet.