College Hoops Countdown |#4 North Carolina

Leading up to the 2009 NIT Season Tip Off on November 16th, Pickin’ Splinters will be counting down the top 25 of the college hardwood nation.

’08 – ’09 Results: 34 -4 (13 – 3 ACC) Beat Michigan State to win NCAA Tournament, 89 – 72.

Coach: Roy Williams 176 – 37 (6 seasons at UNC) 594- 138 overall

Key Returners:

Ed Davis – 6.7ppg,6.6rpg

Deon Thompson – 10.6ppg, 5.7rpg

Will Graves – 4.0ppg, 2.6rpg

Larry Drew II – 1.4ppg, 1.1rpg

Marcus Ginyard – 1.3ppg, 2.7rpg

Tyler Zeller – 3.1ppg, 2.0rpg

Notable Non-Conference Tilts: 11/19 vs. Ohio State, 11/20 vs. California or Syracuse, 11/29 vs. Nevada, 12/1 vs. Michigan State, 12/5 at Kentucky, 12/19 vs. Texas

Stat of Identity: 1.45 Assist to Turnover ratio – 4th in the country.

By Paul Gotham

Few programs could lose 64+ points and 20 rebounds per game yet still find themselves ranked in the top five. Welcome to life in Chapel Hill where the Tar Heels never rebuild.  Instead, Roy Williams simply reloads. Don’t forget the Tar Heels are God’s team. Why else is the sky Carolina Blue?

Twelve months ago, some might have suggested that Williams could not win a title with his own guys. After a decade toiling in Lawrence, Kansas, the former UNC assistant came home and delivered a title. Then the Tar Heels found life in March difficult despite having more than enough talent. Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, and Danny Green left no doubt. The quartet romped to the NCAA title and promptly moved on to the NBA.

Carolina’s current roster may not appear as sexy as Tar Heel lineups of the past, but the ’09-’10 version has talent aplenty. Which means Carolina will run over, under, and completely past less talented teams early in the season. This prospect could doom the young Heels to an early exit next March.

Marcus Ginyard is really the lone holdover from the previous regime. Ginyard remembers the Heels frustrating showings against Georgetown and Kansas in ’07 and ’08.  Last year, Ginyard watched from the sidelines as the Heels ascended the hill. Now, the senior has a chance to lead.

Ed Davis won’t replace Hansbrough in the paint. Coach Williams won’t need him to. Davis needs to fill a role rebounding and finishing.

Davis is joined in the front court by the lone returning starter, Deon Thompson. The athletic forward is a ball-getter. Of his 216 rebounds, 70 came on the offensive glass. Thompson will need to fill the void in this department.

Will Graves and Larry Drew II round out the starting five.

With Drew running the point, can the Heels get out and run? If not, can UNC settle into an efficient half-court offense?

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