Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Basketball: Five Takeaways from the Tar Heels in November

By Alec Lasley

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 19: (L-R) Leaky Black #1, Cameron Johnson #13, Kenny Williams #24 and Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels react during the second half of their game against the St. Francis Red Flash at the Dean Smith Center on November 19, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 101-76. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 19: (L-R) Leaky Black #1, Cameron Johnson #13, Kenny Williams #24 and Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels react during the second half of their game against the St. Francis Red Flash at the Dean Smith Center on November 19, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 101-76. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 23: Nassir Little #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels dunks against Kris Wilkes #13 of the UCLA Bruins during the 2018 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 23, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 23: Nassir Little #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels dunks against Kris Wilkes #13 of the UCLA Bruins during the 2018 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 23, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

Freshmen need to see extended minutes

Duke isn’t the only team in the country with a group of talented freshmen playing big roles for their respective teams.

The trio of freshman at Carolina may very well be the most relied on freshmen class in Roy Williams’ North Carolina era by the end of the year.

We all knew about Nassir Little’s ability to affect the game on both ends, and so far he is my early candidate for ACC Sixth Man of the Year.

Though Little struggled in the game against Michigan, he is still averaging 11.8 points, 4.8  rebounds and shooting 53 percent from the field, Little’s motor is something a lot of other freshmen don’t have around the country. With an offensive rating of 131.5,  Little has produced time and time again on the offensive end.

Playing only 20 minutes a game, Little has scored in double-digits in five games, with 15+ points three times.

It is time for Little to see the majority of his minutes at the 4, allowing for his athleticism to overmatch opponents, whereas he may not have as much of a mismatch if he plays more on the wing against a quicker defender.

As for the leader in the backcourt, Coby White is one of the most underrated PLAYERS in the country averaging 15.3 points while shooting 42 percent from three.

Ranked fifth in the ACC in points per game amongst freshman, it is even more impressive doing this in only 22 minutes a game, five-plus minutes less than all others.

Last but not least, Leaky Black stepped into a much larger role over the holiday week playing major minutes as the backup point guard with Seventh Woods out.

With averages of 4.1 points 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game this year, Black has provided Carolina with great defensive effort every game and versatility to play all five positions on the floor.

In two games, Black played 32 minutes at the lead guard position and committed only one turnover. Though he only had 2 assists in those two games, it was the growth and confidence that Black showed as the games went on that will prove to be critical as the season goes on.

Home/UNC Basketball