3 reasons to remain optimistic about the UNC basketball program's season

While there's a lot to worry about regarding this team, there is reason to be optimistic at this point in the season.

Alabama v North Carolina
Alabama v North Carolina | Grant Halverson/GettyImages
3 of 4
Ian Jackson
Alabama v North Carolina | Grant Halverson/GettyImages

The freshmen are settling in nicely

Ian Jackson and Drake Powell are looking more comfortable by the day, a major development for this UNC basketball squad.

Powell was inserted into the starting lineup against Alabama and should remain there given his defensive skillset and athleticism to make plays happen on the offensive side of the ball. Jackson will likely serve as the team's sixth man moving forward (given the amount of guard depth this team possesses), but he has the makings of being an impact scorer off the bench for a unit that can definitely benefit from production throughout.

Needless to say, both players are going to need to continue producing for this team to be successful, and based on their recent performances, it's safe to say that both are more than ready for the challenge.

Schedule

Schedule