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UNC Basketball: Former Tar Heel will get first NBA start on Tuesday

By Blake Cockrum

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 08: Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls handles the ball on offense against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half at Barclays Center on March 08, 2020 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 08: Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls handles the ball on offense against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half at Barclays Center on March 08, 2020 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
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Former UNC basketball star Coby White will make his first career NBA start on Tuesday

Former University of North Carolina standout and current Chicago Bulls rookie Coby White will make his first career start against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.

“I think he’s earned it,” Chicago head coach Jim Boylen said on Monday afternoon.

White will replace Tomas Satoransky in the Bulls’ starting lineup. Satoransky, the Bulls’ third-year shooting guard out of the Czech Republic, has started all 64 game for Chicago this season. The only other Chicago player to do that this season is, you guessed it, Coby White.

And honestly, it’s about time. White has been the hottest rookie in the league over the past few weeks, scoring no less than 19 points in each of his last eight games. He’s scored at least 26 points in five of those games, including totals of 33 (twice) and a career-high 35. He’s averaging 25.2 points per game since the All-Star break, a league-high among rookies (tied with New Orleans’ Zion Williamson), while shooting nearly 42 percent from three-point range, and 91 percent from the free throw line.

The decision to insert White into the Bulls’ starting lineup is a surprise to no one, except for those shocked that Boylen finally made the move. And that’s no slight to Satoransky, but he simply doesn’t appear to have the same kind of star-power and upside as White, who had 21 points, eight assists, six rebounds and no turnovers in the Bulls’ 110-107 loss to Brooklyn on Sunday.

White has scored more points in his last eight games than Satoransky has over the previous 22. Maybe equally as important, White is beginning to facilitate the ball like the Bulls need him to, one of the reasons that Satoransky had remained in the starting lineup to this point.

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White and the Bulls tip-off with the Cavs at 7:00 p.m. CST in Chicago’s United Center. Stick with Keeping It Heel for real-time updates throughout the game, and post-game analysis of White’s first career start.

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