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North Carolina Tar Heels: The Identity Crisis of 2018

By John Woodcock

Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams and his team celebrate after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams and his team celebrate after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 26, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; McDonalds High School All-American forward Kevin Knox II (23) poses for a photo during the 2017 McDonalds All American Game Portrait Day at Chicago Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; McDonalds High School All-American forward Kevin Knox II (23) poses for a photo during the 2017 McDonalds All American Game Portrait Day at Chicago Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2017 team may have roster turnover like the 2009 team. We simply don’t know yet. They are losing three pieces for certain – Kennedy Meeks, Isaiah Hicks, and Nate Britt. They could lose up to three more in Joel Berry, Justin Jackson, and Tony Bradley, but I hold the optimistic view that Berry and Bradley will be back.

The message should be one of continuity rather than change. The team needs to reorganize itself around a Berry-Bradley inside out game, supported by good decision making if the team cannot replace Jackson’s shooting. We have waited for Kenny Williams to shoot, hoped Theo Pinson would not shoot, and seen that Luke Maye can shoot. The need for more perimeter offense may lead Coach Williams to start Maye over the two young posts coming in as freshmen.

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There are stilled unsigned prospects out there at this post McDonalds’ Game date. One of them is forward Kevin Knox, who has Jackson’s kind of frame if not his shot. Knox’s father is certain his son can play every position on the court well, but simply accepted the fact that he is a three point shooter. If true, Knox could give the Tar Heels the third offensive piece that they may lack at the moment.

Of course, Knox has not signed on the bottom line with anybody yet. The schools on his list are interesting though. Kentucky and Duke are clearly trying to do the freshman reload. Missouri is the site of Knox’s last visit and Cuonzo Martin is trying to form a freshman super team from scratch there. He already has Michael Porter, Jr. FSU is his father’s school and would love to showcase him with the departures of Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Dwayne Bacon, and Jonathan Isaac.

The only school on the list trying to integrate him into existing talent is North Carolina. That could the best or worst thing that Knox wants to hear, considering that he is probably a one-and-done kind of player. He wants a title chance and he wants to impress scouts. UNC has a lot of title winning experience on the roster, but it works through the old Roy Williams game plan.

Next: The North Carolina Final Four Bracket Challenge

Regardless of where Knox goes, the Heels need to focus on an identity. That plan gets so much clearer if Bradley returns. Then the old post-point guard model can return, whether it is Felton-May, Hansbrough-Lawson, or Marshall-Zeller, it has served the team well for other players to grab on to and things open up from there.

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