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North Carolina Tar Heels: Final Four Bracket Game 4

ByJohn Woodcock|
Jan 14, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels assistant coach Hubert Davis reacts during the JV game at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels assistant coach Hubert Davis reacts during the JV game at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The North Carolina Tar Heels Final Four Bracket continues with the last game of the first round between 1967 and 1991 Tar Heels.

The final play-in game of the North Carolina Tar Heels Final Four Bracket includes the 1967 Tar Heels and the 1991 Tar Heels. The bad news here is that once again there will be no using of convenient simulation tools to decide this matchup. It will be all on me and how I see this game.

Having just looked at the 1969 Tar Heels in the last game, I can see immediately the inclusion of players who were seniors on that team but only sophomores on this one. That would beRusty Clark,Dick Grubar, andBill Bunting. However they were clearly not the stars of this pre-Charlie Scottroster. That role would belong to the combo ofLarry MillerandBob Lewis. This team navigated their way to the Final Four before losing to Dayton.

Like the 1967 team, the 1991 team was made of players who would make their own marks later on mixed with a few holdovers from the previous era. The mid to late eighties were something of a desert for Final Four appearances. 1991 marked the influx of new talent that the team would ride to the national title in 1993, but those players were not starting as freshmen and would have to earn their keep. Instead 1991 was the last hurrah ofRick Fox,Pete Chilcutt, andKing Rice.

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1967 Rotation

Starters

C Rusty Clark

F Bill Bunting

F Larry Miller

G Bob Lewis

G Dick Grubar

Key Reserves

GGerald Tuttle

GTom Gauntlett

FJoe Brown

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1991 Rotation

Starters

C Pete Chilcutt

FGeorge Lynch

F Rick Fox

GHubert Davis

G King Rice

Key Reserves

CEric Montross

FBrian Reese

GHenrik Rodl

FClifford Rozier

GDerrick Phelps

Comments

In terms of sheer depth, the 1991 team has a better balanced roster. The ability to bring Montross off the bench particularly looks good here against the lack of deep size on the 1967 team. Other key matchups would include Grubar on Davis and Fox on Miller. The same sorts of modern versus pre-three point line problems exist here as they have with other matchups.

In the end there would be too many horses on the 1991 squad. Even if Lewis and Miller delivered their season averages, Clark and Bunting simply don’t have the experience yet to deal with senior Chilcutt down low. They would also find it hard to outplay Lynch for rebounds if he if did get into foul trouble.

Result

Next: Final Four Bracket Game 3

The 1991 Tar Heels advance to face the 1957 Tar Heels in the second round. We actually get to start second round action next time and see some really intriguing matchups…and 2008 vs 2009 (facepalm).

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