The University of North Carolina Men’s Basketball team is no stranger to success. They’ve won five national titles, 17 ACC tournament titles, and 29 regular season ACC titles. They are #3 on the all-time Division I wins list and boast a distinguished roll of alumni that includes Michael Jordan, James Worthy, and Antawn Jamison. So maybe it shouldn’t come as any surprise as the 2015-16 season’s first USA coaches poll comes out, the UNC Tar Heels are seated at #1.
Roy Williams’ team will start the season sharing the top spot with the University of Kentucky, who now have opened three consecutive seasons ranked #1. For UNC, this is the fourth time they have started a season at #1. After finished last season 26-12 before bowing out in the Sweet Sixteen, earning the top spot to start the season is an indicator that expectations are even higher.
On Friday, October 23rd, the Tar Heels met their fans and kickoff their season with the annual “Late Night with Roy” event at the Smith Center. TNT analyst and former NBA player, Kenny Smith was on hand to host. Like everyone else in the arena, he was very aware of what is expected of this year’s team. “The last time I did this we won the national championship,” Smith said. The Tar Heels defeated Illinois to win the NCAA championship in 2005.
The former Tar Heel wasn’t just trying to get the packed crowd excited. UNC fans everywhere are expecting nothing less than another run like 2005. Roy Williams hopes some of the team’s painful losses from last year forged scars the year’s team won’t soon forget.
“I think what will motivate them is the losses last year to Wisconsin in the Sweet Sixteen, to Notre Dame in the (ACC) finals or to Duke, they played very very well,” Williams said. “I think those things will motivate them more than the (NCAA) stuff going on.
In the same exchange with the media, Williams noted the “he likes what he sees” from his team in practice so far. He noted a good attitude and work ethic in this year’s squad. A bit of “coach speak” for sure, but positive indicators nonetheless. Another big positive signal for this year’s Tar Heels is the health of senior point guard Marcus Paige.
Paige seemed to take a step back during his junior season as his points per game and shooting percentage both dropped from his sophomore season. What many didn’t know was how severe a nagging ankle injury was, or how it was affecting his game.
“I was in quite a bit of pain,” Paige told the USA Today. “It was hard, because there was a lot of pressure on me anyway, and then I’d have to hear people talking about, ‘Why isn’t he performing that well?’ I’m like, I wanted to be out there doing things everyone knows I’m capable of doing …”
Even with the injury, the Cedar Rapids native never attempted to limit himself. He still averaged 33 minutes per game (leading the team) and had his share of highlight games including:
- 1/10/15 vs. NC State = 23 points including 5/5 from 3-pt range
- 1/26/15 vs Syracuse = 22 points and 8 assists
- 3rd round of NCAA tourney vs. Arkansas = 22 points and 6 rebounds
Now what the team needs from Paige is more consistency. Having him back at 100% to guide the offense should make a huge difference. Williams appreciates the grit his PG showed last season, but is eager to have him playing at full speed.
“He played nice basketball, but he played hurt the entire year,” notes Williams. “So you love that toughness.”
All signs from Tar Heel nation indicate that Paige’s rehab and recovery of his ankle was a success. He claims he’s ready to go full tilt. Even his cautious coach is acknowledging the difference. “He does appear to be — I’m knocking on wood and I’m hitting myself in the head when I’m saying this because I want it to stay that way — but he appears to be pain-free,” Williams says. “It’s given him more pep in his step.”
Paige isn’t the only Tar Heel getting talked about. There’s more than a little buzz right now about junior Isaiah Hicks. The 6-10 native of Oxford, NC has been giving his teammates all they can handle in practice. And at last Friday’s scrimmage, Hicks led all scorers with 14 points on 6 for 9 shooting. Fans, coaches and even his teammates are anxious to see what Hicks will do once the season starts.
“I see a guy who is hungry to prove to everyone what he can do,” senior Joel James explained. “He had limited minutes freshman year, limited minutes sophomore year. He’s kind of the sleeper in that junior class, so I feel like he’s going to break out and do a lot of big things.”
It’s not clear if Hicks will get to start or come off the bench. Williams has an abundance of talent on his front court with James, Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks. Johnson and Meeks averaged double digits scoring last year (12.9 PPG and 11.4 PPG respectively). James is the most likely candidate to split the minutes with Hicks and also the most likely to see his role diminished if Hicks sneaks into the starting five.
Another Tar Heel to watch this season is freshman Kenny Williams III. The 6″3 kid from Virginia will try to add some needed range to the UNC game. Last season, the Tar Heels struggled to consistently score from outside. Williams is a sharpshooter who made 153 3-point baskets during his high school career. That’s the kind of weapon UNC sorely missed last year.
But if the freshman is to get any significant minutes, it’ll be because his game has matured already in a short period of time. That growth hasn’t gone unnoticed by his coach.
“What I’ve told him all along is, ‘You are a young man who can really shoot but you are a basketball player,” Roy Williams said. “So that’s what I promoted to him, which I think he embraces that idea because he is a basketball player, he’s very unselfish, he makes the right play — the simple play — and the doesn’t mind guarding somebody and taking the charge.”
In the end, the young guard is another reason why this year’s UNC team is deeper and stronger than last year’s squad. It’s a long season and the ACC will be a tough conference again this year. However, Roy Williams has himself a squad just might be playing some meaningful basketball in the late spring of 2016.