Is McAdoo The Key Piece For The Heels Next National Championship?
Yes. He absolutely is a key piece for UNC heading into the NCAA Tournament.
James Michael McAdoo is more than a key piece for the Heels to win another National Championship
McAdoo is in the same role we have seen played by similar Lottery Pick talent coming off of the bench for Roy Williams and eventually cutting down the nets. We all remember Marvin Williams and Ed Davis. Both of whom went on to be NBA Top 15 Picks after coming off the bench on loaded title teams.
Flashback first to 2005 and Marvin Williams. Though Marvin may be the one who averaged more points(11.3 ppg) and minutes overall(22.2 mpg) out of the three being compared, to me he may not turn out to be the most valuable of the bunch. His role coming off the bench for that ’05 team was exactly what was needed for the Heels to win it all.
Williams would go on to be the second overall selection his class heading into the NBA(’05), but if you ask me in that aspect he has yet to reach his NBA potential. (Not taking away from the fact he was and is a talented professional basketball player) He was a very versatile player for coach Williams playing both forward positions and shooting just over 43 percent from behind the arc.
Flashback again.
Now we go back to 2009. A key piece coming off of the bench for the Heels fifth NCAA Tournament Championship was Ed Davis.
Davis averaged 6.7 points per game and 6.6 rebounds as a Freshman on that team. He played great defense while on the court averaging just shy of 2 blocks forcing Roy Williams to give him decent minutes in 38 games in his first game out of High School.
Ed would play another season following their National Championship win in 2009, and eventually be the number thirteen overall selection by the Toronto Raptors in 2010. Similar to Williams, both now in the NBA have not lived up to the high expectations or Draft selections they were.
Now fast forward to today and the 2012 UNC Tar Heels that have another potential NBA Lottery Pick coming off the bench in James Michael McAdoo.
McAdoo doesn’t have any numbers that will astound you. He is currently averaging just over 5 points and 3 rebounds a game coming off the bench.
Yet to me, those numbers are deceiving and after the regular season finaly at Cameron Indoor McAdoo was primed to make people remember his name. Now heading into the ACC tournament, as well as the NCAA tournament, I continue to see this UNC team similar to the previous two Title teams under Roy Williams.
Every Championship team has different focal points that get them to that pinnacle, with all having the same type of principles and foundation for success. Lately, for UNC to win National Championships under Roy Williams depth and a talented roster are key.
The overall depth has been tested time and time again throughout the season thus far, but that has not slowed them down. In any case it has made McAdoo realize his importance even more.
Its impossible to ignore the similarities in the recent UNC Tar Heel teams who have won a Final Four with this 2012 roster. The final outcome with this team is yet to be determined obviously but all signs point to another Final Four. And in order for that to happen James Michael McAdoo will have to play a major role.
James may not have to overachieve or have some amazing 30 point game for the Heels to win it all.
Yet, in a few of the upcoming Conference, then NCAA Tournament games, Michael McAdoo will have to make his presence felt on the court in order for his team to have success throughout. He will have to impact games similar to how Ed Davis and Marvin Williams did while they were on the court. If McAdoo shows up like that in the Tourney, well lets just say us UNC fans know how that ends.
Bottom line no team wants to see Carolina come March. Top to bottom, the Heels are arguably the most talented roster in the country.
Combined that with the excitement Heels fans are now starting to feel in anticipation of the Tourney. This makes for another remarkable run.
A run that will only be disappointing if UNC does not outlast the rest.
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