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Are you glass half-full or half-empty about Carolina basketball?
Those who have followed Hubert Davis’ roller-coaster ride as head coach are excited and concerned about the current offseason. To me, it doesn’t feel quite like the summer of 2022 after the Tar Heels’ surprising run to the NCAA championship game, and Carolina Nation was on fire.
With four starters back (losing Brady Manek), the expectations were bubbling about continuing their hot finish into 2022-23, especially when UNC was the consensus pre-season No. 1 pick. But after stumbling into some close losses, the Heels found themselves back on the bubble and eventually slid off.
They became the first pick to win the national championship failing to make the NCAA Tournament, an embarrassing and puzzling development that looked like both chemistry and coaching problems. After a roster overhaul, Davis assembled a team with three new starters and apparently the right stuff.
The high point was winning the outright ACC regular season title and earning a top seed in the Big Dance with R.J. Davis emerging as one of the best ballers in the country, ACC Player of the Year and Jerry West Award winner.
After losing old saw Armando Bacot and new sparks Cormac Ryan (for sure) and Harrison Ingram (who still has a path back), and the transfer portal and NIL inducements wide open, the debate over what Hubert will put on the floor this fall is a lot hotter than it was two years ago.
The only “good” transfer news so far is Seth Trimble, who entered the portal and – apparently not finding the right fit anywhere else – decided to return. Social media from his teammates welcomed the reversal. But it doesn’t necessarily solve the backcourt needs for more size and better shooting.
Even with R.J. Davis now expected back for a fifth season, Hubert Davis finds himself with the same undersized guard rotation. Incoming prep 5-star wings Ian Jackson and Drake Powell (both 6-5) are billed as so-so shooters. Thus far, there’s no answer for Ryan’s slingshot and savvy, or Ingram’s gritty grit.
The big woe for the glass-half-empty crowd is inside, where junior Jalen Washington and grad student Jae’Lyn Withers along with sophomore Zayden High are back to be joined by unknown 6-9 freshman recruit James Brown.
That foursome is not enough rebounding power to replace Bacot and still lacks a proven rim protector. Most of the big men Carolina went after are going elsewhere or leaning away from Chapel Hill. Schools with big reps and/or big money are making offers most kids can’t refuse. And like the season after outside threat Manek departed, the Tar Heels will be easier to defend with R.J. getting extra attention.
As the glass-half-full crowd reminds us, there is still some time to bring in new help and a lot of time to see what we have on the practice floor. So take a sip and hope for the best.
Featured image via Todd Melet
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
As far as shooting, small forward Cade Tyson from Belmont would be a great addition. Other top small forwards on the radar include: Adou Thiero (Kentucky) ,Andrej Stojakovic (Stanford) and Koby Brea (Dayton). Center Clifford Omoruyi (Rutgers) would be a shot blocking presence inside. What about adding depth at power forward? Any interest in Dillon Mitchell (Texas)? Norchad Omier (Miami)? Ezra Ausar (ECU)? Truth is , until someone commits, all fans can do is wait and yes, hope! Go Heels.