Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Should Nassir Little start?

By Davis Wallace

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 12: Nassir Little #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drives against Lukas Kisunas #32 of the Stanford Cardinal during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on November 12, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 90-72 (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 12: Nassir Little #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drives against Lukas Kisunas #32 of the Stanford Cardinal during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on November 12, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 90-72 (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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The North Carolina Tar Heels are currently 5-0 while having a winning margin of 30.6 points per game. But one big question regarding freshman Nassir Little is a hot topic

The Tar Heels consisted a starting five of Coby White, Kenny Williams, Cameron Johnson, Luke Maye, and Garrison Brooks. Even though they’ve won every game; the most common question seems to be “why isn’t Nassir Little in the starting lineup?”

There are many reasons why Little shouldn’t start. This Tar Heel team still has the talent and experience. Even though the Tar Heels lost Joel Berry and Theo Pinson they still have a lot of experience from their current upperclassmen.

Maye and Williams are now seniors who were on the 2017 National Championship team. Both of their games have grown each year while at Carolina. Not to mention, Johnson is in his second year with this system and is 100% healthy.

A team with dependable second unit will win many games. How many teams have a McDonald’s All-American as their sixth man? Little coming off the bench strengths the second unit, and takes less pressure off of him overall.

After all, he still is a freshman.

These days basketball is a faster pace with a lot more shooting and spacing. Traditionally, Coach Williams likes to play inside-out. Last year was an anomaly when he switched to a smaller lineup that included Berry, Pinson, Williams, Johnson, and Maye.

Ultimately, lack of size down-low created problems against Texas A&M in last year’s NCAA Tournament. This year, Coach Williams is committed to having a conventional lineup. If a lineup change were to happen right now, it could be Sterling Manley in for Brooks.

The best examples small forward freshmen coming off the bench for Coach Williams are Danny Green and Marvin Williams. Green didn’t get a nod into the starting lineup until his junior year. By the time he was a senior, he did not miss a start.

The last Tar Heel freshman that was projected to go top-5 in the NBA draft was Williams. He started zero games his lone season at Carolina. Williams was a crucial part of the 2005 National Championship team and was drafted second overall by the Atlanta Hawks later that June.

Fans know that Coach Williams loves experimenting with his teams early on in the season. This is part of their love/hate relationship with him. Coach Williams will “wacky” lineups in games right before conference play. Sometimes he’ll use 12 players, other times only seven. It’s still a feeling out period as this team forms their identity.

Next. UNC will be tested at Las Vegas Invitational. dark

After three National Championships in 16 years, there’s no need to question Coach Williams with his starting lineup. Come March Little will be more than ready to showcase his talents for the world to see.

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