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UNC Basketball: Roy Williams is “scared to death” about his frontcourt

By Zack Pearson

GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels speaks in a press conference after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Tar Heels defeated the Bulldogs 71-65. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels speaks in a press conference after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Tar Heels defeated the Bulldogs 71-65. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Roy Williams echoes how important frontcourt production for the Tar Heels will be this season

Tuesday was media day for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball program as the team met the media for the first time this season.

Head coach Roy Williams addressed the media, answering questions about his team that has a new look.

The Tar Heels will enter the 2017-18 season with a big need in the front court. They lost Isaiah Hicks, Tony Bradley Jr. and Kennedy Meeks, while returning only Luke Maye in the front court of a national championship team.

UNC’s 2017 recruiting class was good and has Garrison Brooks, Sterling Manley and Brandon Huffman looking to fill the void in the paint.

But as the Tar Heels continue to get ready for the upcoming season, Williams is a little scared.

“I’m scared to death about those big guys,” Williams said at Tuesday’s media day. “I don’t know which one but somebody’s got to be a player.”

Prior to that, Williams said he’s excited about his perimeter play with the return of Joel Berry, Theo Pinson, Seventh Woods, Kenny Williams and the addition of Cam Johnson. Williams even pointed out that Maye can act as a perimeter player because of how he shoots from the outside.

Williams will have an interesting decision when coming up with a lineup this year.

If he decides to use the small lineup of Berry, Pinson, Williams, Johnson and Maye, it would leave Maye as an undersized center.

If he goes big, Brooks is the favorite among the freshman to win the center job leaving Manley and Huffman coming off the bench.

UNC will have to replace a lot of production from Hicks, Bradley Jr. and Meeks, especially on the offensive glass.

One of the biggest strengths for UNC over the years has been their dominance on the glass. UNC ranked No. 1 in offensive rebounding rate at 41.7 percent last season, a big reason why they won it all.

Their inside game was fantastic, dominating in the paint and finished with post ups on 12.7 percent of their offensive possessions according to ACCSports.

But going into this season, it’s a concern for the Tar Heels.

“Thats the scary part. What’s going to happen up front,” Williams said. “I still believe the single most important factor whether win or lose is rebounding and we preach it all the time.”

Rebounding is going to take a big hit when you lose your top three frontcourt players and Williams knows his freshman will have to step up.

“Last year we led the nation in rebound margin, we led the nation in the percentage of offensive rebounds,” Williams said. “Isaiah is not here, Tony is not here, Kennedy is not here. None of those guys are coming back. And so the guys that are playing have to do an even better job of boxing out on the defensive board and getting on the offensive boards for us to have a chance.”

Next: Brandon Huffman season preview

It might take a little time but the development on the frontcourt will certainly be something to watch this season.

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