Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: 5 reasons to be excited about Tar Heels in 2021

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 08: "Ramses", mascot of the North Carolina Tar Heels, makes an entrance before a game against the Duke Blue Devils on February 08, 2018 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 82-78. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 08: "Ramses", mascot of the North Carolina Tar Heels, makes an entrance before a game against the Duke Blue Devils on February 08, 2018 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 82-78. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) /
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UNC Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, NC – DECEMBER 12: Caleb Love #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels plays dribbles the ball a game against the North Carolina Central Eagles on December 12, 2020 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 67-73. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) /

Caleb Love is back, and ready to lead

Caleb Love had a shaky freshman season for the Tar Heels, but there’s no doubt that he showed the kind of star-power and potential that we thought possible when he committed to the University of North Carolina in the fall of 2019.

That was incredibly evident in games against the Duke Blue Devils when Love averaged 21.5 points, seven assists and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 53.5 percent from the floor (15-for-28), 54.5 percent from three-point range (6-for-11) and 100 percent (7-for-7) at the free throw line. And it’s performances like those that North Carolina fans are hoping to see out of Love more frequently this season.

Even though he was inconsistent as a whole, Love still put together a solid first season in Chapel Hill that saw him average 10.5 points, 3.6 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game. Love’s main focus over the summer was to improve greatly as a shooter — he hit just 31.6 percent from the floor and 26.6 percent beyond the arc — and early indications this preseason suggest that he has. Now, it’ll just be a matter of whether or not his improvement translates to the games.

Another thing to consider is that Love may be playing less of the point guard position this season, and more of the shooting guard position. If the Tar Heels’ scrimmage against the Florida Gators last weekend is any indication at all of things to come, we could see a lot of R.J. Davis as the team’s lead guard with Love playing primarily off the ball. Either way, I expect to see a lot of Caleb Love highlight reels this season, featuring a more relaxed ball-handler and a more efficient shooter.

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