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

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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 26: (L-R) Sterling Manley #21, Brandon Huffman #42 and Andrew Platek #3 of the North Carolina Tar Heels cheer during their game against the Syracuse Orange at the Dean Smith Center on February 26, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

The Roy-gets-mad-and-subs-everyone lineup

G – Anthony Harris
G – Brandon Robinson
G – Andrew Platek
G/F – Leaky Black
F – Sterling Manley

We all know it’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of time until Roy Williams gets mad at his starting unit’s lack of effort or execution, and substitutes all five players at once. This is the lineup that makes the most sense for that occasion, because each is a capable player, but none will be in the starting lineup when the season rolls around in November.

Harris can play either guard position, so taking over the point on occasion to spell Anthony or to come in and give some much-needed energy off the bench shouldn’t be a problem. Sure, it’s a step down in a production from Anthony, and it’s obviously a few rungs down the ladder in explosiveness. But how many players in college basketball aren’t when compared to Anthony, a surefire preseason All-American?

Robinson in this lineup will be like having a starter at the shooting guard position. He’s a smart player with the kind of skill and experience that makes Williams feel comfortable when he’s on the court. We know Platek is a work in progress, but I expect him to make a jump from consistently inconsistent reserve to reliable spot-up shooter off the bench.

Leaky Black in this lineup plays like a stretch-four, helping the Tar Heels steal some speed and length from a natural guard. And although I trust him on the court, he might face some serious mismatches from the opposing team’s front court personnel if tasked with guarding a traditional big man for too long.

Manley, on the other hand, has proven to be an extremely serviceable big man off the bench when he’s healthy. The 6-foot-11, 235-pound power forward averaged 5.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in just 10 minutes per game as a freshman. He appeared in 37 games, and shot better than 56 percent for the 2017-18 Tar Heels before sustaining an injury that hampered much of his sophomore season. Expect a healthy Manley to return in 2019, and eat up some serious minutes off the UNC bench.

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