North Carolina Tar Heels: Lose Kenny Williams for Season
The title hopes of the North Carolina Tar Heels took a slight hit with an injury to one of their starters.
The North Carolina Tar Heels cannot seem to get someone back without losing someone else. Theo Pinson came back and then went down again briefly. He came back again for Isaiah Hicks to go down. Hicks is back and now the Heels have lost another player.
This time the victim is Kenny Williams. Williams had developed into the team’s best perimeter defender although his shot still has not come around just yet. He also was the hustle man for the Heels and had kept a starting spot for most of the season. He will be undergoing knee surgery which keep him out the rest of the year.
The Tar Heels responded by starting junior Pinson against State. It was a change that perhaps would have occurred at the beginning of the season if Pinson had been healthy. Pinson’s elevation makes the starting lineup just that little bit bigger for teams trying to matchup.
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Behind Pinson will be Nate Britt and Brandon Robinson. Britt’s usage probably will not change much since he was also seeing some point guard minutes. Robinson, though, will have to step up for some important minutes. The freshman had been seeing less time as Coach Roy Williams tightened the rotation.
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The biggest concern has to be how the Heels will handle the loss of an athletic defender. They have had trouble enough with skilled guard play in the last few games. Pinson is no slouch, but having the option to keep a high level of defense was enviable. Depth is also hurt, but Williams is the one starter they could afford to lose. An injury of that sort to another one would be disastrous for any NCAA hopes.
The Tar Heels play the first of two games against the Virginia Cavaliers tomorrow night. They currently hold sole possession of first place in the ACC.