UNC Basketball: Keys to Success for the 2014-2015 Season
North Carolina has its most well rounded team since 2011-2012 with Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller, Kendall Marshall, John Henson and Reggie Bullock. The Tar Heels were recently picked as #6 in the preseason poll. With the high ranking comes high expectations. While the expectations are welcomed by the Tar Heels there are still some big questions facing the 2014-2015 team. Here are the keys for this upcoming season.
1) Tempo:
Playing at Roy Williams’ preferred tempo has been an issue since the departure of Kendall Marshall, whether it be being young or a lack of depth at the point guard position. In the past, the tempo at which North Carolina plays at usually plays a big part in their success. Taking a look at the past seasons will show that.
2013-2014- 77ppg- Lost in 3rd Round of NCAA Tournament
2012-2013- 77ppg- Lost in 3rd Round of NCAA Tournament
2011-2012- 81ppg- Lost in Elite 8 of NCAA Tournament
2010-2011- 78ppg- Lost in Elite 8 of NCAA Tournament
2009-2010- 75ppg- Lost in NIT Championship
2008-2009- 90ppg- Won National Championship
2007-2008- 89ppg- Lost in Final Four of NCAA Tournament
2006-2007- 86ppg- Lost in Elite 8 of NCAA Tournament
2005-2006 79ppg- Lost in 3rd Round of NCAA Tournament
2004-2005-88ppg-Won National Championship
2003-2004-82ppg- Lost in 3rd Round of NCAA Tournament
As you can see, with exceptions in 2003-2004 and 2010-2011, North Carolina needs to score above 80 points to be successful. Usually the higher the Tar Heels score per game the higher the success rate is for the team. This season Marcus Paige and the rest of the point guards need to push the ball more. There is plenty of depth at the point guard, wing, and front court positions so there is no reason for the tempo to not be higher.
2) Consistency:
Being a consistent team will be very important this season, as it is every season. But in season’s past there has not been much of that, whether it be to being young or eligibility issues. The 2013-2014 Tar Heels were not a consistent bunch. The lows were very low, but the highs were very high. Losing to Belmont at home and on the road at UAB cannot happen again this season. When North Carolina steps on the court they need to take care of business. The great Tar Heel teams of 2004-2005 and 2008-2009 did not lose to anyone they absolutely should not have lost to, except Santa Clara in 2004-2005. This 2014-2015 team is not young. They are rather experienced now.
SR: Desmond Hubert, Luke Davis, Jackson Simmons
JR: Joel James, Marcus Paige, Brice Johnson, JP Tokoto
SO: Isaiah Hicks, Kennedy Meeks, Nate Britt
FR: Justin Jackson, Theo Pinson, Joel Berry
Eligibility issues will not be an issue for this team. They are not young and inexperienced. They have a legitimate leader They have the ACC Preseason Player of the Year and Preseason 1st Team All-American point guard Marcus Paige. It is time to become a big time team.
3) Freshmen Contributions:
2004-2005 had Marvin Williams as a big time freshman contributor. 2008-2009 had Ed Davis as a big time freshman contributor. 2014-2015 will need all three freshmen to heavily contribute. Freshmen wings Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson will be crucial to the success of the Tar Heels this season. They will be counted on to play big minutes, score, and play good defense. They will not have time to be a freshman. They have to play like upperclassmen and grow up fast. This freshman class seems very likely to do that.
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If the Tar Heels play up to Roy Williams’ standard for tempo, are consistent, and the freshmen heavily contribute this North Carolina team will be dangerous come March and could make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. The high expectations are back in Chapel Hill, and that is usually a very good sign.