UNC Basketball: Impact on Tar Heels lineup if Tony Bradley leaves
What would the North Carolina starting lineup look like without Tony Bradley, and how would it impact the Tar Heels’ rotation?
It’s a scenario that every North Carolina fan hopes to avoid, but what happens to the Tar Heels’ starting lineup and rotation if first-year big man Tony Bradley opts to remain in the NBA Draft, forgoing the remainder of his college eligibility?
It’s certainly a possibility, though it’s one that few of us imagined before the 2016-17 season.
Sure, Bradley came out of high school as a five-star prospect and top-25 player in the nation, but few anticipated his possible departure after just one season in Chapel Hill.
However, that’s exactly how the situation has unfolded, leaving UNC fans hoping for the star freshman’s return, rather than his premature move from the amateur ranks to the pros.
And since fans are beginning to come to grips with the idea that Bradley may not return, it’s worth taking a look ahead at what the Tar Heels’ starting lineup and rotation will look like if the aforementioned comes to fruition.
The return of Joel Berry II and Theo Pinson, along with returning starter Kenny Williams and emerging star Luke Maye take most of the mystery out of what the starting lineup will be.
Undoubtedly, Berry and Pinson will resume their starting duties alongside Williams, who started in place of the injured Pinson last season before suffering a season-ending injury of his own. And without hesitation, we can all assume that Maye, with sporadic flashes of greatness during the season and his impressive play during the NCAA Tournament, will take over the vacancy left by the departed Isaiah Hicks.
The biggest question mark for the Tar Heels in 2017 is who will man the center position that Kennedy Meeks so adequately filled last season.
Will it be Bradley, who officially declared for the NBA Draft last month without hiring an agent? Or will one of the incoming freshman big men get an opportunity to step into a starting role if Bradley decides to keep his name in the draft.
Clearly, Bradley will have every opportunity to thrive for the Tar Heels should he return to Chapel Hill for his sophomore season. But if he opts to go pro, that’s where things get interesting.
North Carolina head coach Roy Williams isn’t accustomed to starting freshmen when he has other options, but it’s options that he’ll be short on if Bradley leaves earlier than initially anticipated.
Williams will likely give newly committed power forward Garrison Brooks the majority of his time at the power forward position, leaving freshmen bigs Brandon Huffman and Sterling Manley to man the five.
More than likely, it’ll be the 6-foot-9, 230-pound Huffman who will get the nod as the starter, with Manley backing him up. At least to begin the season.
Depending on individual performances and team cohesiveness, things could obviously change. Particularly with how Williams is prone to making lineup changes throughout the season, before tournament play.
But a lot can happen before the season begins, and nothing is set in stone.
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Stick with Keeping It Heel for future updates on Tony Bradley’s decision and the impact it has on the 2017-18 North Carolina Tar Heels.