North Carolina Tar Heels: Tony Bradley returns from Concussion

Jan 8, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Tony Bradley (5) on the court in the second half. The Tar Heels defeated the Wolfpack 107-56 at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Tony Bradley (5) on the court in the second half. The Tar Heels defeated the Wolfpack 107-56 at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The North Carolina Tar Heels have cleared freshman Tony Bradley for action against Boston College.

The North Carolina Tar Heels will finally be at full strength when they play the Boston College Eagles later today. That is because freshman forward Tony Bradley has finally been cleared to play after his concussion against Wake Forest.

Bradley’s return means more normalcy for the Tar Heels. Their team will be back into the more regimented pattern it had before he was out. There will be less Luke Maye on the court as he moves back into his fourth big man spot. There will likely be two bigs on the court at all times. Isaiah Hicks and Kennedy Meeks can be a little more aggressive on defense since foul trouble would become less crippling.

The Tar Heels should wonder if perhaps they should save some of the ideas that they used when Bradley was out. The freeing up of minutes meant more time for Maye and Theo Pinson. Pinson’s ability as conduit was used to full advantage since they needed bodies on the court. Bradley’s absence slowed own the need to figure out what happened to minutes for the wing players.

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Now those choices get the limelight. Coach Roy Williams has shown his hand a little. Nate Britt saw some more time at the one last game. Brandon Robinson has seen his time severely reduced. Will the Heels continue to start Kenny Williams as Pinson gets better? There is no more putting them off with the oddities of five guard lineups.

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Bradley will brought back slowly and easily. Boston College is not Notre Dame or Duke. There is no huge need for him in that game. With that in mind the small lineups might make a reappearance today. The Heels have benefitted from having Pinson on the court. The ball movement is better and it goes inside more.

Regardless what the lineups look like, the Tar Heels will be a stronger team with Bradley back in the fold. Depth is important come March and the Tar Heels are showing that they have the horses to be involved in those discussions.