If this year showed me anything it's that it's all about talent and matchups. I have to guess whose turning pro and will stay pro, this is so important. I have no idea will turn pro besides Beasly, Rose and Gordon. If the big three stay and no one transfers, I think we will still have largely the same team and we will still not be overly quick. But we will be an extraordinarily good rebounding team, maybe the best in history. It will be important to have an excellent shooter like Drew. I also think Ed Davis will help on defense being quick and strong as will Tyler Zeller. Deon and Alex will still play when we want a huge rebounding advantage. We need a horse like Alex as backup center. I see us being improved yes. Having Bobby the whole year would really help out defense.
Ty Lawson is probably gone.
Alex Stepheson might transfer.
The Heels have to improve on defense, I think (assuming Wayne Ellington and Tyler Hansbrough both return) should still have plenty of offense. And of course, Roy Williams needs to learn how to use timeouts .
It's really upto the tarheels. it seems like they have an ego and think they can just win the game. Why the hell is it that they were down by 40-12 and then they come back by 4? Why the hell can't you get fired up before you are losing....Why do they have to get in a deficit before they realize they need to come to play.
Although I do think with Tyeler Z., we won't have the matchup problem anymore with both tyler's hanging around inside.
if lawson does not return, it is questionable. we wont be able to run the break as effectively, but honestly, did anyone notice how much better our half court defense was than our up tempo defense? our point guard situation wont be as good, but well still be a deeper team, and everyone else will be a year older. bringing in 3 good recruits, and losing likely 2 players max.
i think well be a better team, even if we dont have as good talent, with lawson gone.
Its all going to depend on who leaves and stays.. We'll be a good team, even if all three leave, but we wont win as many games and we definitely wont be preseason #1. Bobby is coming back and thats a plus, cause he can play either point position. With the remaining players and the recruits coming in, we'll be very solid. If all three decide to stay, then we'll improve by leaps and bounds. As long as Roy used his timeouts wisely and his substitutions like he should......
Hey, tyellington, since you seem to have more than a fair share of common sense...
Do you see Danny Green having an even better year in 08-09? With all the hype about the "big three" I think people are overlooking what Green did this year and where he could potentially help the Heels improve. If someone does leave, I think he would really have a breakout season. That, plus the incoming class, might make the Heels even more likely to get back to the FF and win it all.
I hope all of them return, for obviously selfish reasons. Also, I think with the recent announcements by other players leaving early, it might sway our people to stay. Hansbrough could go, but I don't get the feeling he will. His stock will be no lower next year. Ellington isn't really ready; he's not NBA prototype for 2G, but might improve his standing with another year at UNC. Lawson has great potential, but he played rather poorly in that last game, so NBA folks might not like him as much right now.
Another thing. Lawson REALLY needs to learn how to control a team in a half-court situation. We know what he can do when he's on his game at full throttle, but maybe even Roy would like to be able to control tempo in a few crucial situations (like when we're falling into a 40-12 hole...). He won't be able to run up and down the court on every possession in the NBA, and recognizing that will be critical if he's going to thrive beyond Chapel Hill.
The best teams (or even a motivated Maryland) are going to do everything possible to contain our break. When it works, we need a better plan "B" than going one-on-one every time. As a disciple of Dean Smith, Roy needs to work on the half court game just a bit harder.
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