Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: This year’s Tar Heels compared to last year’s team

By Horran Cameron

Mar 26, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; The North Carolina Tar Heels lift the South Regional champions trophy after defeating the Kentucky Wildcats in the finals of the South Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum. North Carolina won 75-73. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; The North Carolina Tar Heels lift the South Regional champions trophy after defeating the Kentucky Wildcats in the finals of the South Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum. North Carolina won 75-73. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 26, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels bench reacts after defeating the Kentucky Wildcats in the finals of the South Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum. North Carolina won 75-73. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels bench reacts after defeating the Kentucky Wildcats in the finals of the South Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum. North Carolina won 75-73. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

2016-17 Tar Heels: Deeper bench compared to last season’s bench

During the 2015-16 season, North Carolina’s bench consisted of Nate Britt, Isaiah Hicks, Theo Pinson, Kenny Williams and Luke Maye.

Stilman White, Kanler Coker and several others were bench players, but they did not log a lot of playing time throughout the season. UNC started Joel Berry II, Marcus Paige, Justin Jackson, Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks last season.

The 2015-16 rotation was good, though there were a few holes left unfilled. Pinson missed many games last season due to an injury. He did not come back to the team until late in the season.

Hicks started coming into his own halfway through the season. Williams and Maye were new to the Tar Heels, so they did not play a great deal.

Thus, neither Williams or Maye knew their role on the team.

This season, the projected started lineup was Berry, Pinson, Jackson, Hicks and Meeks. Williams started instead of Pinson due to a broken bone in his right foot.

This foot injury caused Pinson to miss the first 16 games this season. Although he experienced an ankle injury a few months ago, Pinson seems to be fully healthy now.

For the past month, Pinson has started at the shooting guard position. Williams incurred a season-ending knee injury in February.

The 2016-17 Tar Heels added the incoming freshmen Seventh Woods, Tony Bradley, Brandon Robinson and Shea Rush. AlthoughWhite is not part of the regular rotation, he has played significant minutes in a few games this season.

In the Elite Eight matchup against Kentucky, North Carolina’s bench was crucial in the 75-73 victory over the Wildcats.

Maye hit the game-winning shot. Woods and White held down the point guard position when Berry left the game due to an injury. Bradley provided good minutes in the low post to give Meeks and Hicks a rest.

The year’s bench is the same as last year’s bench for the most part. They have grown up a great deal throughout this season, which is evident in their progress throughout the season.

Last weekend’s matchup against Kentucky proved that UNC head coach Roy Williams trusts his team, no matter who comes off the bench.

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