If Roy Williams wants to take the blame, he’s picking the wrong reasons.
After the Tar Heels’ historic home loss to Ohio State Wednesday night, Williams went back to his go-to response of calling himself a “sorry-ass coach.” That’s standard fare for bullet-proof Hall of Famers. But Ol’ Roy is using the rationale no one really believes. Most fans recognize he needs more good players, who are coming next year.
After losing four starters and its top five scorers, overrated Carolina is clearly caught short on ACC talent this season. You don’t often replace three veteran starters and two freshmen first-round draft picks – all of whom are either on NBA rosters or in the G League – with players of the same caliber, which is why Ol’ Roy took a flyer on two graduate transfers from mid-major programs.
The Tar Heels signed two of the best freshmen in the country in Cole Anthony and Armando Bacot, but after eight games it is crystal clear that they are also their most important players. Two other freshmen, Jeremiah Francis and Anthony Harris, are hurt and could be headed for red-shirt seasons.
Christian Keeling, from Charleston Southern, and Justin Pierce, from Williams & Mary, are role players who are still adjusting to big boy basketball. Carolina fans are counting on scrappy sixth-man-type Andrew Platek and athletic but offensively challenged Leaky Black, who are complementary reserves, but the Ohio State game dealt a dose of reality.
Junior Garrison Brooks is a steady, hard-working defensive ace and senior Brandon Robinson can knock down an open shot, but neither is a force on offense. It’s a little like when Deon Thompson, the fifth scoring option in 2009, became the primary inside target in 2010. After losing Hansbrough, Lawson, Ellington and Green, and then suffering injuries to Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller, the defending national champions wound up in the NIT.
When Bacot went out with what may be a severely sprained ankle in the first half, it was clear that the deep and defense-minded Buckeyes were way better than the already-thin home team. With Bacot matching his best games this season and Anthony not so pressured to score, maybe Carolina hangs in there and doesn’t give THE Ohio State University such a shot of confidence. The Heels hung for the first seven minutes of the second half then got blown out.
But, c’mon gang, when Williams yanked what was left of his struggling starters for K.J. Smith, Shea Rush, Brandon Huffman and Walker Miller, he was grasping at straws. Carolina’s second five would lose to Ohio State’s second five by 20. That’s how important Bacot and Anthony are to the team, and THEY need a lot of help.
After Virginia lost its second-best player and then lost at Purdue by 29 points, I was thinking the Heels might steal the next two games. Now, having to face the ‘Hoos defense in Charlottesville Sunday, it looks like two L’s. Hurry back, Bacot!
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