UNC Basketball: Lineup options for Tar Heels in 2019-20

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ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 27: Cole Anthony #50 of Oak Hill Academy in Virginia drives to the basket during the 2019 McDonald’s High School Boys All-American Game on March 27, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

The optimal lineup (a.k.a. the starting lineup)

G – Cole Anthony
G – Christian Keeling
G/F – Justin Pierce
F – Garrison Brooks
C – Armando Bacot

When the 2019-20 college basketball season rolls around in early November, a fair amount of North Carolina fans will want to see a senior Brandon Robinson and a second-year Leaky Black in the Tar Heels’ starting lineup. And while I understand their desire for Robinson and Black to be among the team’s starters this season, it’s just not likely to happen.

Graduate transfers Christian Keeling and Justin Pierce are simply too good and too productive to leave out of the UNC starting five.

Keeling averaged 18.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.3 steals in 34 games last season. He had career-highs in shooting percentage (46.5) and three-point percentage (38), and connected on nearly 78 percent of his free throw attempts. Keeling did turn the ball over 91 times last season, but he played better than 32 minutes per game and maintained a positive assist-to-turnover ratio.

Pierce scored 14.9 points and pulled down 8.9 rebounds in 34.3 minutes per game as a junior. His size allows him to play multiple positions on the court. So, too, does his ability with the ball in his hands, evidenced by the 4.1 assists he averaged last season. His field goal percentage (46.4) and three-point percentage (32.4) took a step back from the prior season when he connected on 50.2 and 41.6 percent, respectively. He also struggles from the free throw line, where he made just 68.4 percent in three seasons at William & Mary.

Still, there are those who will want to leave the two newcomers out of the starting lineup in favor of the widely-liked Robinson and Black. And as far as the other three positions, there’s very little up for debate.

Cole Anthony is likely to be the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, and his position in the starting rotation is a no-brainer. Garrison Brooks has easily earned his place among the team’s starters, and freshman big man Armando Bacot has the size and talent to give Roy Williams’ squad the formidable front court duo it’s been missing the past few years.

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