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UNC Basketball: Nate Britt 2016-2017 Season Review

By Zack Pearson

Feb 25, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Nate Britt (0) dribbles the ball against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second half at the Petersen Events Center. The Tar Heels won 85-67. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Nate Britt (0) dribbles the ball against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second half at the Petersen Events Center. The Tar Heels won 85-67. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nate Britt provided valuable minutes off the bench, spelling point guard Joel Berry in key times for the Tar Heels this season

Brandon Robinson | Shea Rush | Tony Bradley Jr. | Seventh Woods | Luke Maye | Kenny Williams | Joel Berry | Theo Pinson | Justin Jackson | Isaiah Hicks

Arguably no one on the 2016-17 North Carolina Tar Heels national championship team was more scrutinized than senior point guard Nate Britt.

It seemed like every game fans on social media would criticize Britt’s play during a game. At times he struggled and the frustration of fans settled in. But overall, Britt did a good job of backing up Joel Berry at the position.

Whether you like him or not, it’s tough to question Britt’s work ethic. The Daily Tar Heel wrote a fantastic piece on Britt and how he prepares for games during the season, using his thoughts as an escape.

In the article, it mentions how Britt goes to the gym to shoot around in difficult times like he did after his grandfather passed away. For Britt, the gym is an escape. It’s a place to collect his thoughts about something bigger than basketball — life.

Britt averaged 4.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game for the Tar Heels last season and his career average has floated around 5 in his four years at Chapel Hill.

He never really developed into a scorer but Britt did play the point guard position well.

When he was on the court this season, he brought leadership. Sure, there was a little bit of a drop off when Berry wasn’t in the game but it wasn’t like the Tar Heels had an inexperienced guard in Britt.

He did all of this while splitting backup time with freshman Seventh Woods.

Britt played in every game this season for the Tar Heels and scored in double-digits in 7 of those games.

The knock on the point guard was consistency.

There was times where Britt really struggled on the floor and it hurt the Tar Heels. He struggled to be consistent with his shot from the outside and never really got going at times.

But at other times, Britt hit some clutch shots that UNC needed on the offensive end.

Britt was a good defender on the perimeter for the Tar Heels and filled a void when junior Theo Pinson missed the first two months of the year.

His defensive presence helped him earn more time on the floor and against Tennessee early on, he finished with 5 steals:

During the Tar Heels tournament run, Britt provided value minutes in the Final Four. Britt played 22 minutes against Oregon as Berry was not 100 percent with two hurt ankles. Britt finished the game with 5 points.

While Britt won’t be drafted in the upcoming 2017 NBA Draft, he can leave UNC as a national champion.

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