Keeping It Heel
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This UNC Basketball Legend says 2023 team must commit to defense

By Jordan Falls

Nov 29, 2023; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Jordan Gainey (2) dribbles as North Carolina Tar Heels guard Seth Trimble (7) defends in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2023; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Jordan Gainey (2) dribbles as North Carolina Tar Heels guard Seth Trimble (7) defends in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Through seven games, the 2023 UNC Basketball program has shown one glaring weakness that legend Tyler Hansbrough says must be improved.

The 2023 UNC Basketball team has begun the season 6-1 overall, including high-quality wins over Arkansas and Tennessee. The offense has reached a completely new level than we have previously seen under head coach Hubert Davis, including scoring 100 points against the Tennessee Volunteers, who were No. 1 in defensive efficiency per KenPom at the time of the matchup.

However, there is one glaring weakness that this team has shown, specifically over the last three games, that could become a problem.

Defense.

Former UNC Basketball legend Tyler Hansbrough knows what it takes to win a National Championship and compete in March and points out in a recent podcast on the Field of 68 that the 2023 Tar Heels need to make a commitment defensively.

The biggest defensive issue is opposing players having career-type nights. In the Battle 4 Atlantis, Villanova’s Eric Dixon and Arkansas’ Tramon Mark each had 34 points against the Tar Heels. When the team returned home to face the Volunteers, it happened again, as Dalton Knecht tied the scoring record by an opposing player in the Smith Center (and would’ve likely broken it had he not gotten injured).

Right now, the Tar Heels are missing that lockdown defender they had in Leaky Black for the last several years. Who will become this year’s guy who draws the opposing team’s best scorer on a nightly basis? And will they be able to limit the scoring?

The UNC Basketball program currently ranks 37th in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom and will face some talented offenses coming up as they play UConn (No. 6 in adjusted offensive efficiency) and Kentucky (No. 3 in adjusted offensive efficiency) over the next 16 days.

Defense leads to offense, and the Tar Heel offense has shown us that they can be one of the best across all of college basketball. Now, as Hansbrough tells us, they just need to commit to playing defense more consistently.

UNC Basketball legend gives praise to Harrison Ingram. dark. Next

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