It’s just two games into this year’s college basketball season, but in that time the No. 5 Tar Heels have already offered a big glimpse into what the rest of the year may look like.

For all the worries about how UNC would replace the production of Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson, other players have stepped into those roles seamlessly.

Junior point guard Joel Berry has asserted himself as the unquestioned leader of the squad with his consistency on both ends of the court–taking over for Paige in that regard.

Head coach Roy Williams has a number of weapons at his disposal, as the Tar Heels possess one of the deeper teams in the country this year. (Todd Melet)

Head coach Roy Williams has a number of weapons at his disposal, as the Tar Heels possess one of the deeper teams in the country this year. (Todd Melet)

Looking at the statistics–Berry’s averaging 20 points, five rebounds and nearly five assists per game–it’s easy to see how much of an impact he’s already having. What doesn’t show up in the stat sheet, however, are things like Berry diving on the floor for loose balls against Chattanooga late in the second half with his team already up by 30 points.

That team-first mentality has trickled down to the rest of the locker room, which is perhaps best displayed by the fact that 72 percent of the Tar Heels’ made baskets so far have come off of assists.

Of course,  another big development–no pun intended–has come from freshman forward Tony Bradley.

The 6-foot-10 Bradley has captured the imagination of UNC fans everywhere with his size, which includes a 7-foot-5-inch wingspan, and a preternatural ability to run the floor.

This skill set makes him a near perfect replacement for the departed Johnson.

In just 16 minutes per game over the Tar Heels’ first two contests, Bradley has averaged 11 points and 6.5 rebounds per outing. With sophomore Luke Maye sidelined during the win over Chattanooga with a sprained ankle, Bradley should see more playing time on Tuesday.

Long Beach State–UNC’s next opponent–will come into the Smith Center having lost its last game to Wichita State by a score of 92-55.

With the Tar Heels coming off of a 40-point blowout win over a Chattanooga team that is expected to contend for an NCAA Tournament berth, Tuesday should provide ample opportunity for UNC head coach Roy Williams to keep spreading the playing time around.

Whether it’s Berry, Bradley, Justin Jackson or even sophomore guard Kenny Williams, the Tar Heels are feeling confident knowing they have a handful of players who appear ready to make the leap this season.

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