North Carolina is ready for March Madness!
As the Tar Heels lock in for postseason action, there are still some questions about how far this group can go. Without Caleb Wilson, who will now be sidelined for the remainder of the season after suffering another injury while working his way back onto the court, Hubert Davis will need some steady contributions from some unsung heroes.
Fortunately, this year's team features guys who are more than capable of contributing at a high level, and these three reserves need to be at the top of their game for the Tar Heels to reach their goals this postseason.
Jonathan Powell
Powell's minutes have essentially fluctuated throughout his first season in Carolina Blue, but he has grown to be a guy who plays double-digit minutes per contest.
Based on this team's current needs, Powell excels in two key areas: three-point shooting and rebounding.
When Powell gets in a rhythm, the shots tend to fall at ease. He's knocked down 38.5% of his attempts from beyond-the-arc, having 10 games in which he knocked down two or more shots from deep.
In case you were curious, North Carolina is 10-0 in those games.
A steady defender, Powell also has shown the ability to rebound at a high level, especially for a guard. He's not afraid to get physical in the post, helping his team secure crucial rebounds, an area that the Tar Heels have struggled with as of late.
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Powell is a guy who we could see a lot of this postseason, especially if he gets going offensively.
Zayden High
High has been a pleasant surprise for the Tar Heels down the stretch, especially since Wilson has been out of the lineup.
While he did start some games, High has been a sparkplug off the bench, providing quality minutes and full effort throughout. The Tar Heels need more of his energy, rebounding ability and occasional scoring output off the bench, as his success on the court has provided a major boost that North Carolina hopes he can continue to provide.
Kyan Evans
Let's face it: this season hasn't gone as planned for Kyan Evans.
North Carolina brought him in via the transfer portal to take over the point guard position, but everyone knew that he was a better off-ball guard. However, his scoring ability and play style compliments Seth Trimble very well, which led to him taking over as the starting point guard to begin the season.
This major accolade proves UNC struck gold in the transfer portal with Henri Veesaar
However, Derek Dixon's emergence has demoted Evans to the bench, but there is still a role for Evans to carve out in postseason play.
UNC could use a boost offensively, especially off the bench, and Evans can definitely provide that spark. If he can knock down a couple of shots, his role could definitely increase, as we saw what he was able to accomplish last season during the NCAA Tournament at Colorado State.
North Carolina hopes that this March is just as good of a month for Evans.