Thank God Roy was not on the same "Paige" w/his team defensively (Brice playing rim protector as opposed to JENKINS heads-up) final possession...
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Justin Jackson Returning to UNC
- Thread starter dukiejay
- Start date
I agree with your top contenders. Not sold on Oregon, Wisconsin and the other teams you have 'below' UNC on that list. I'd put them on tier 1B or 2A...if that makes sense.
For the record, I really like your posts on the national board and here. Hope you continue to post more often.
What is he like 44? Much like perry Ellis, he will be able to play on the same team as his grandkids
I think the consensus among our fans is that Berry will be the go to guy. He was our most consistent outside shooter last season and I don't think that's going to change. I think our biggest issue is going to be if Hicks can stay on the court. He can't get through warm ups without committing a foul.
unc, where top prospects go to kill nba aspirations. as mentioned earlier there are 2 of 15 top ranked RSCI final 2014 ranking prospects still in college, justin jackson and theo pinson. again, imo, this is what is hurting unc recruiting more so than the scandal. im sure the scandal played a role, but the lack of development for top prospects that go to unc is becoming more and more obvious every year.
I'd think being an upperclassman he'll get more of a benefit of the doubt and thus won't foul as much in the eyes of the refs. It always happens that way. Jeter, as soon as he stepped on the court they had the whistle ready to give the freshman big man a foul. And that is a very THR statement, but there is definitely more leeway when it comes to upperclassmen bigs and freshmen (non studs)
I hope you are right, but I want it to be because he actually played good D instead of getting the benefit of the doubt. Brice did a good job this year of reducing the fouls, so hopefully Hicks can make that leap too.
The big questions for UNC are
1. Can anybody shoot the three. Berry was their top shooter from outside last year at 38% Will be interesting to see how that changes with him being the main guy to defend now without Paige. Nobody else put up higher than low 30s percentages from outside and that won't cut it.
2. Neither of their returning bigs has every played much more than low 20s in minutes per game. Hicks fouls about as much as Jeter for us and while he may improve that rate, does it happen at the expense of the defense. Will Bradley come in and immediately make a difference? They could have a number of games where they struggle to keep their three bigs on the court and no matter how much he's a fan favorite I don't see Luke Maye being the guy that makes a huge difference.
3. How much can they improve. For the most part, the biggest jump in improvement IMO happens between freshman and sophomore year. Coaches have all summer to condition and work with players. UNCs guys for the most part are past this phase. Yes there are times where guys like Brice Johnson make a bigger leap than expected... Experience to me is more valuable early because they obviously have been playing together for a while, but the ceiling for improvement throughout the year may not be as high. If teams like Duke or UK who will rely more on younger guys start to gel as the season goes they may pass UNC.
1. Can anybody shoot the three. Berry was their top shooter from outside last year at 38% Will be interesting to see how that changes with him being the main guy to defend now without Paige. Nobody else put up higher than low 30s percentages from outside and that won't cut it.
2. Neither of their returning bigs has every played much more than low 20s in minutes per game. Hicks fouls about as much as Jeter for us and while he may improve that rate, does it happen at the expense of the defense. Will Bradley come in and immediately make a difference? They could have a number of games where they struggle to keep their three bigs on the court and no matter how much he's a fan favorite I don't see Luke Maye being the guy that makes a huge difference.
3. How much can they improve. For the most part, the biggest jump in improvement IMO happens between freshman and sophomore year. Coaches have all summer to condition and work with players. UNCs guys for the most part are past this phase. Yes there are times where guys like Brice Johnson make a bigger leap than expected... Experience to me is more valuable early because they obviously have been playing together for a while, but the ceiling for improvement throughout the year may not be as high. If teams like Duke or UK who will rely more on younger guys start to gel as the season goes they may pass UNC.
Roy's strength of will more often molds his players into what he wants, but I wonder if their apparent development issues in recent years has been the result of his wanting players to fit his vision, as opposed to his vision for each player fitting their natural abilities. Recruiting hasn't been like it was from '04-'10, either.
Seems like a lot of people are expecting a substantial jump from Kenny Williams. I haven't seen enough of him to even evaluate his game - but there are several people talking about him.
Towards the end of the year teams started to put more focus on Berry, so I don't think that is going to affect him much. Definitely have to have someone else that can at least be respectable behind the line though. I actually think Kenny Williams can be that guy if he can get some confidence.
Meeks saw around 30 minutes earlier in the season, but once he forgot how to play basketball his minutes were given to Hicks. I actually think that had Hicks learned how to play good D without fouling he would have gotten the start. Bradley is going to be a big key as far as depth goes. Hopefully he can at least give us 15-20 minutes a game. If that doesn't happen Roy is going to have to play some small ball. I don't think Maye is going to be a factor that much. I've never really understood why people are so high on him. He seems like a nice kid, but I don't seem him ever becoming anything more than a bench player.
That's definitely true. I think Duke should win the ACC this year and should make the final four. I'm not entirely sold on Kentucky yet. They are going to be extremely talented, but not the type of experience you guys will have. I think our ceiling this year is the elite 8, but stranger things have happened.
I thought that Justin Jackson was UNCheats best player by the end of the year or at least a very close 2nd. He has a ton of upside. His outside game has really improved and he played more aggressive the last 1/3rd of the season. He will be a big time factor next year for UNCheat and could be the difference in them being a top 5 team. Without him they had the potential to stay outside the top 10 most of the year.
I did too and was wishing he had stayed in the draft. I wonder if jackson* has the nature in him to be the next one in line to do the "hulk down and stare down " following in the line of such great at it as pj hairston* and brice johnson* did. OFC
Funny stuff Sky!!! I would think Jackson isnt quite that boastful...Looks like he just goes out and plays...Do not see him doing postgame sitdown either...
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^^^^ dont forget john henson. losing by 30 but still man enough to stare down defeat after a dunk.
They are working on it. stillman white* might be able to take that role. Maybe one of those cheerleaders that are allowed to sit on unc's* bench and we don't know what those incoming freshman can add. OFC
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According to one of the Heels beat writers, "Big Luke" us quite the dancer in the team...Perhaps Luke will entertain us next year from the pine??!!
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I don't think Maye is going to be a factor that much. I've never really understood why people are so high on him.
Who the hell was ever "high" on Luke Maye? Other than delusional unx fans , I mean .
I wonder if their apparent development issues in recent years has been the result of his wanting players to fit his vision, as opposed to his vision for each player fitting their natural abilities.
THIS^^^. Would help explain the lack of player development that plagues Roy's teams. Roy's a "system" coach. He's successful when he has the absolute best players in the country who are suited to running his system. Molding raw talent and adaptability aren't his strong suits.
Recruiting hasn't been like it was from '04-'10,
Indeed. It's not nearly as easy to admit those reading at grade-school levels and shove 'em into fraudulent no-show classes when people are payin' attention.
Who the hell was ever "high" on Luke Maye? Other than delusional unx fans , I mean .
I wonder if their apparent development issues in recent years has been the result of his wanting players to fit his vision, as opposed to his vision for each player fitting their natural abilities.
THIS^^^. Would help explain the lack of player development that plagues Roy's teams. Roy's a "system" coach. He's successful when he has the absolute best players in the country who are suited to running his system. Molding raw talent and adaptability aren't his strong suits.
Recruiting hasn't been like it was from '04-'10,
Indeed. It's not nearly as easy to admit those reading at grade-school levels and shove 'em into fraudulent no-show classes when people are payin' attention.
I object to the entire premise that ,"Jackson's return makes unx formidable." He's not returning from anywhere. He had nowhere to go. There was never any doubt. It wasn't a real possibility that the NBA was an option. He's not good enough. Did he return from some post-season work-outs? Yeah. I guess. But did he return from a soul-searching decision about his immediate future? No. Is what it is. unx fans are acting as if they're ADDING someone. They're not. He's gonna be there 4 years at which time odds are that he will be the only player of his initial ranking that's STILL IN SCHOOL. Sucks for him and sucks for Roy. You guys DID read his reviews , right? Basically , he had no business there and he actually did himself a disservice by going. Here's the deal. NBA scouts don't waste time seriously evaluating those "testing the waters." This was supposed to help players. It doesn't. Now , because he participated , scouts took a cursory glance at Justin and surmised what anybody not totally blind would...4-year college player who may ( or just as likely ) may not ever even get to the league. He actually has more pressure on 'im NOW because he went. He's gotta surmount the negative reviews...."reviews" , lest we forget , that didn't require a great deal of analysis to begin with. "Isn't this that same Jackson kid from unx who came out here for 15 minutes a year ago? The skinny one with no neck and no game? Next." Look , he's a fine college player. Good. But he hasn't shown anywhere near what he'll have to show to make unx a tough out....especially against a Duke team flush with better athletes , better players , a deeper bench and , as always , a better coach.
If he is that good he would have kept himself in the draft. He may indeed develop into a big time college player but he wouldn't start at Duke this up coming season. OFC
Honestly I don't know about UK though. There are some questions that remain like if Briscoe and Lee are coming back. If Briscoe does not come back they are lacking depth and skill at the guard position and Lee is and extra body at the 5 that they may not have. Honestly I think Duke and Kansas are top 2 in my opinion which will make that matchup in the champions classic extremely fun to watch. After Giles and Tatum, josh Jackson will be fun to watch throughout the season.
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Tatum will be as good or better than Jackson. Unlike Jackson though, Tatum won't have to be our best player.