Will UNC basketball make the NCAA Tournament? Breaking down the Tar Heels entering 2025

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The season hasn’t gone according to plan for UNC basketball, which is off to its worst start since the 2019-20 season.

But the Tar Heels (7-5, 1-0 ACC) had one of the toughest nonconference schedules in the nation, which included five games against ranked opponents. Coming off a comeback victory against No. 18 UCLA, UNC is hopeful the battle-tested stretch will lead to better results for the rest of the season.

Fourth-year coach Hubert Davis has seen consistent fight from his club, which is led by fifth-year guard RJ Davis, but the Heels have to win more big games to feel comfortable about their NCAA Tournament chances on Selection Sunday.

Here’s a breakdown of UNC’s offense and defense as 2024 comes to a close, along with a look ahead at the bulk of the Tar Heels’ ACC schedule and their current NCAA Tournament resume.

RJ Davis, UNC basketball’s four-guard lineup and Tar Heels’ post players

There’s seemingly no solution for the Tar Heels’ frontcourt problems, but UNC’s four-guard lineup has consistently proven to be the best path to victory. With a big-man-by-committee approach, UNC’s top five players include four guards — RJ Davis, Seth Trimble, Elliot Cadeau and Ian Jackson — and wing Drake Powell. UNC is averaging 85.6 points per game, with 56.5 points coming from its top four guards.

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The Tar Heels haven’t had issues putting up points, but they need to get better from 3-point range. UNC is currently 247th nationally with a 3-point shooting percentage of 31.6%. The Heels are getting to the free-throw line and scoring in transition, but they have to be more consistent from the perimeter to maximize their potential.

Hubert Davis needs better rebounding, defense from Tar Heels

The Tar Heels’ tough schedule and uptempo pace play a role in their defensive struggles, but the numbers don’t lie. Through 12 games, UNC is 326th nationally in scoring defense (79.2…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/unc-basketball-ncaa-tournament-breaking-090240403.html

Author : The Fayetteville Observer

Publish date : 2024-12-24 09:02:00

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