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UNC Basketball: How Tony Bradley’s decision affects UNC

By Brandon Griffin

Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Tony Bradley (5) goes for a loose ball against Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Nigel Williams-Goss (5) during the second half in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Tony Bradley (5) goes for a loose ball against Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Nigel Williams-Goss (5) during the second half in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) is interviewed by CBS announcer Jim Nantz after the win in the championship game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) is interviewed by CBS announcer Jim Nantz after the win in the championship game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Questions

What will UNC’s team look like next season?

A lot of this will have to do with two factors. The first is if Roy Williams relents as I mentioned earlier. If he does, the team will not look like the rebounding team of seasons past. It will be smaller, faster, and shoot a whole lot more threes.

The other factor, and the one that would really allow Williams to go smaller, would be if Cam Johnson gets to play for UNC. Johnson wants to. UNC wants him to. All that is holding things up is the University of Pittsburgh.

Now, I won’t spill anymore ink over how big of a joke that situation is, but let’s just say that we all hope that the NCAA does the right thing and reverses Pitt’s decision.

If the decision is reversed, Williams will have his small ball four. Combine Johnson with Maye, Theo Pinson, Joel Berry II, and Kenny Williams and UNC will have five players who can shoot the three and stretch the defense of most college teams.

Again this does not make UNC a favorite to win it all, but it would make them one of the favorites.

If the NCAA doesn’t do the right thing, look for small ball to be a smaller part of the UNC picture and we’ll see a lot of minutes for Brooks and Huffman. Berry will be enough to get that team to the NCAA, but a first round exit might be more likely than anyone wants to admit.

Did Tony Bradley make the right decision?

Jan 28, 2017; Coral Gables, FL, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Tony Bradley (5) reacts during the second half against the Miami Hurricanes at Watsco Center. Miami won 77-62. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2017; Coral Gables, FL, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Tony Bradley (5) reacts during the second half against the Miami Hurricanes at Watsco Center. Miami won 77-62. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Was Tony wise in staying in the draft? It’s an interesting question and one that probably won’t really be answered until draft day.

If he goes in the first round, it will probably be viewed as the right decision. If he falls to the second, it will probably be seen as a bad move on his part.

He could’ve come back and been part of another national title run, an ACC Player of the Year candidate, and shown off his three-point range.

He could also be a first round pick, get paid lots of money, and maybe win Rookie of the Year.

In the end, it’s the decision he chose to make. He will have to live with it. So many of us can sit here and speak to whether it was smart or not but at the end of the day Tony Bradley did what he felt was best for Tony Bradley and that’s all he can really do.

All in all, that leaves UNC with just one last question.

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