UNC Tar Heels Mailbag

Editors Note: Keeping It Heel is reaching into it’s mailbag again answering questions from our loyal readers.  Thanks to everyone who submitted questions, see the bottom of this post for information on how you can reach us with your questions for the next edition of UNC Tar Heels Mailbag here on Keeping It Heel! 

How big will Isaiah Hicks be for us if we don’t get any other bigs in 2013?

Great question. The answer is 6’8, but he’s probably still growing. Mediocre jokes aside, we’ll need him to play big. Height helps you play big, but just because you’re tall doesn’t mean you play big. Conversely, just because you aren’t tall doesn’t mean you can’t play big. Recent examples of the latter are of course Charles Barkley, Jackie “gangle” Manuel and David Noel. The good news is that with the speed Carolina plays, and considering their defensive scheme, Hicks will be enough as long as he is willing to play big. Or we could accidentally stumble upon a seven footer who just so happens to have good speed and stamina as well as a serviceable jump hook and a range of about 15 feet. The former is WAY more likely than the latter. Next?

Hey! Thanks for taking my question. What do you think will be UNC’s toughest game next season in basketball?

Um. Well without having much time to break down the schedule, I’d say… oh wait! Duke. Always is. Even when it shouldn’t be. Next.

What happened to UNC against Wake Forest?

They lost. It’s a new defense and a new offense and Renner got knocked unconscious. Too many turnovers. Too many missed defensive assignments. Some games we will look unbeatable, some games we will look eminently beatable, some games we will lose. We will win some games we shouldn’t and we will lose some games we should win. Use this season to get familiar with the new defensive scheme which truly fascinates me, expect nothing and be pleasantly surprised with every wonderful play, success, win. That’s what I keep telling myself anyway. I’ll let you know how that goes.

What is the most fun you’ve ever had at a UNC sporting event?

There’s been a lot. For me, its a tie. 1998’s UNC vs Duke, where Jamison and Carter put on a show, Williams couldn’t miss a three, and I got to ride in an elevator with Carter after the game. Also up there was the 1997 UNC vs FSU in football. It was the most electric environment for a football game I’ve ever seen. UNC lost, but it was in my estimation the pinnacle of (maybe not so) recent UNC football. UNC’s 2003 or 04 NIT group play against Minnesota or some team from a similarly cold state. The snow game I wrote about previously. That’s the list.

Do you think ESPN really has a bias for Duke?

Yes and no. Duke is a very polarizing school. They get ratings, because people love them and hate them. They are usually good, and they bring ratings. So does UNC. I’d imagine that ESPN’s allegiance isn’t with either light blue or dark blue. Its with green. As it should be.

On a completely different note, I am extremely excited about both the mens and women’s soccer team this year. They both look to be high quality, and neither one has truly achieved form yet. They are well on pace. I’m excited to see what the future holds for them.

I’m also very excited to see what the future holds for one Gio Bernard. I remember seeing Steve Smith (the one that plays for the Panthers) early in his career and I get the same feeling when Gio gets the ball. Anything can happen. Now that I think about it, I still feel that way about Steve Smith.

Please tweet any questions to @strayUNC and I will likely include them on the next edition of the mailbag.