Cameron Fens won't be on the court Friday night as UNC opens exhibition play against USC.
While Michael Malone and his staff would love to get Fens some action (especially with his new teammates), his current eligibility status is still very much in the air. At the moment, Fens, a fifth-year senior, is considered to be ineligible, as Michael Malone told the media at ACC Tipoff that the transfer big man will not play until there's further clarity on the situation.
With Fens out of the equation, does that change UNC's starting lineup a bit (or even at all)?
UNC's projected starting lineup for USC exhibition game
Regardless of how it plays out with Fens, the likelihood is that four of UNC's five starter spots are already secured.
Terrence Brown and Matt Able were two highly sought-after transfer guards and factors in the starting unit. Neo Avdalas, a transfer from Virginia Tech who is 6-foot-9 but essentially a bigger guard, will likely slide in at wing, with the versatility to run the offense while defending multiple positions.
Jarin Stevenson, one of three returners from last year's squad, is likely to resume playing the "4," a spot he played often down the stretch when Caleb Wilson was sidelined with an injury. That leaves one spot open, one that should be a competition between Fens and freshman Sayon Keita.
Now, it's essentially a lock that Keita will be that fifth starter when the Tar Heels take the court in Greensboro.
Here's the lineup you should expect to see on Friday night to start the game:
Terrence Brown
Matt Able
Neo Avdalas
Jarin Stevenson
Sayon Keita
Fens' eligibility is a key factor for this year's team, as he provides veteran presence and muscle in the post. Keita, who is still filling out his frame, could use a complement like Fens who can take some of the burden off him while he adjusts to the college game.
Sure, Michael Malone could toy with wildcard lineups, but for the exhibition opener, expect a more traditional lineup like the one above.
The Tar Heels have options, which is a good thing. However, Fens gives them more flexibility (and size), since the other frontcourt options aren't as bulky and don't create the same matchup problems that Fens does. If he's not eligible, expect this year's team to run "smaller" lineups, with the likes of Stevenson or Alex Samodurov serving as the "5" in certain scenarios.
For now, we won't worry about the eligibility stuff; we'll let the grown-ups (if you can even call them that at this rate) handle it. What we can worry about is which lineup will start the exhibition game, one that we're pretty confident will be the five players we mentioned earlier.
Don't worry; if the guys you want to see aren't in that lineup, expect to see them get some burn throughout the Tar Heels' three upcoming preseason contests.
Add us as a preferred source on Google