UNC Basketball Off to a Great Defensive Start

Last year’s Tar Heel men’s basketball team was small. How small? My son’s 2A high school started a larger line-up at every position. No, they weren’t nearly as skilled — although the big man does play professionally over in Europe now in one of the lower-level leagues. Reportedly, UNC’s NIL budget for this team grew from $4 million last season to $14 million. Guess what also grew? UNC’s size. As it turns out, being able to afford bigger basketball players who are just as fast and skilled as smaller basketball players creates a much better basketball team.

If nothing else, Belichick’s demands for a competitive NIL fund for football, combined with UNC basketball getting abused in the paint last season, may have forced UNC’s boosters and athletic department to an important realization. Jerseys in the rafters can get a discount on a basketball player or two, but not an entire roster, and especially not the positions in shorter supply and high demand, like quality big men. Players like Henry Veesaar and Caleb Wilson.

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Yes, the schedule to start this season has been less challenging than last season’s, although it hasn’t been a cake walk by any means. Still…

Through 13 games last season, UNC allowed 79.4 points per game. Kansas, Michigan State, Alabama, and Florida all netted 90 or more, although one of those included an overtime. Auburn scored 85. So did Campbell. Elon put up 75. By game 13, UNC clearly wasn’t going to be much of a defensive challenge, especially against P4 competition.

Through 13 games this season, UNC has allowed 63.5 points per game. No team has scored better than 75 against the Tar Heels. The last time a UNC team started a season allowing 75 points or fewer to its first 13 opponents, George Michael, Madonna, Wham!, and Chaka Khan were topping the musical charts. Out of Africa and Prizzi’s Honor were dominating the Academy Awards. I was nervously waiting to hear back from UNC Admissions. That would be Dean Smith’s…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/unc-basketball-off-great-defensive-160000474.html

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Publish date : 2025-12-27 16:00:00

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