North Carolina Tar Heels: Theo Pinson Out Indefinitely
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a rotation member short as they start the 2016 season in basketball.
The North Carolina Tar Heels were ranked number six in the recent Preseason Coaches Poll for men’s basketball. Unfortunately they have already suffered a blow to their season. Guard Theo Pinson reinjured his foot and his return is listed as indefinite according to reports by ESPN’s C.L. Brown. Pinson was a key member of last year’s team that got within a shot of the national title.
Losing Pinson means the loss of a key role player. He was a swingman in the mold of some of those other defensive minded swingmen that the Tar Heels have had in the past. That list includes Jackie Manuel and Marcus Ginyard. He was good passer and potentially have spent time at four different positions.
It was already understood that the Tar Heels were going to have to replace the production of Brice Johnson and Marcus Paige. That was going to require Joel Berry, Kennedy Meeks, and Isaiah Hicks to step up their games. Now there is a hole in the wing defense to consider.
More from North Carolina Tar Heels
- NC Colleges Provide Coronavirus Results from Athletic Departments
- UNC Football gets Commitment from Top Cornerback
- Four North Carolina players selected in first round of MLB Draft
- UNC Destroyed by Coach Duggs and Tennessee in NCAA Football 14
- UNC Basketball: Former Tar Heel star calls out Roy Williams
Pinson offered some size at the two spot. His minutes will likely be absorbed by the two talented freshmen Seventh Woods, Brandon Robinson, and sophomore Kenny Williams. Williams was used to harass opposing shooters in his limited minutes on the court last season. That translates to a lot of legs, but not a lot of proven commodities.
For Pinson the road back could look one of two ways. He could be brought back to be ready for the spring playoff season if his injury has that kind of timeline. He could be redshirted this year and brought back next year. The Tar Heels will be losing Meeks, Hicks, probably Justin Jackson, and maybe Joel Berry and will need guys to replace them with.
The Tar Heels have lost role players like this without suffering too bad before. Ginyard was hurt during the 2009 championship season.