There still isn’t a full definitive schedule released yet, but college basketball season is now just a month away.
UNC has already begun practices and held its annual preseason media day on Wednesday via Zoom — with the main focus being getting the program back on track after posting its first losing record since Roy Williams took over as head coach prior to the 2003-04 season.
Injuries, inexperience and a lack of top-level talent all played into that 14-19 record, while the COVID-19 pandemic is the only thing that kept UNC fans from having to watch their rivals compete in the NCAA Tournament without them.
For all the aging Williams went through on the bench last season, he has made it a point to not beat a dead horse when it comes to talking about those struggles.
“We’re the ones that screwed it up,” Williams said. “If one of those guys was involved in a no box out and they get the ball and score, you ought to remember that the rest of your life. I remember it every day, so I’m not against bringing those things up if it’s because of mistakes.
“I don’t walk out on practice and say, ‘Ok guys, we stunk last year so let’s get better today,’” he added. “That’s not what happens. But, if we have the same type of behavior that hurt us last year, you’re darn right I’m gonna bring it up to them. And, if I see them when they’re 78 years old, I may still remind them of one of those box outs they missed.”
With senior forward Garrison Brooks coming off of an All-ACC campaign and six freshmen who comprised the nation’s No. 2 ranked recruiting class, the Tar Heels are expected to bring more talent into this season than they did a year ago.
In addition, UNC should be back to having a distinct advantage on the backboards with Brooks and Armando Bacot returning and a pair of McDonald’s All-Americans in 7-foot-1 Walker Kessler and 6-foot-9 Day’Ron Sharpe joining them in the frontcourt.
Williams singled out Brooks as the team’s definitive leader, but noted the Bacot will have to show marked improvement this year if he wants to keep Kessler and Sharpe from taking some of that playing time.
“I think he’s better and he needs to be better,” Williams said. “When you go from freshman to sophomore, a lot of times that’s a big-time jump and we need Armando to do that. And it’s competitive around that rim right now, unlike what we’ve had the last couple years.”
Guards Caleb Love and R.J. Davis — like Kessler and Sharpe — also arrive on campus with high school All-American status. Their production alongside junior wing Leaky Black will also be critical for a Tar Heel team that struggled mightily last season with perimeter shooting and attacking the basket from the outside.
The young guards have also recently gotten the benefit of playing with former UNC star point guard Coby White, who was recently named a Second Team All-Rookie performer after an outstanding NBA debut campaign with the Chicago Bulls.
White has been working out with the team at practice recently, which has been critical since the normal workouts with former players that happen during the spring and summer were put to a halt because of COVID-19.
“It was an eye opener for them about how hard he attacked the basket,” Williams said. “And I told them, that’s what I wanted those guys to learn, Caleb and R.J. particularly. It’s hard to guard Coby, so that’s what I want the feeling the other team has about you two guys is how hard you attack the basket.
“Coby’s been tested, just like our guys have been tested, and it’s been fantastic to have him working out in practice,” the head coach added. “We’ve had that in the past with some of our veteran guys coming back and it’s been fantastic for us.”
Armed with a fresh infusion of talent and motivated by the horrors of last season, this group of Tar Heels are doing everything they can to avoid a repeat.
Having taken on the responsibility as the team’s vocal leader, Brooks didn’t waste words when asked what the team learned that it can bring into this season.
“What didn’t we learn?” Brooks responded. “Throughout losing all those games, I think the thing that stood out to me the most was like, when things aren’t going right, you come in and try to work even harder than the day before so you can try and really change those things.”
Photo via Todd Melet
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines