UNC ONLY BASKETBALL 2024-25 SEASON

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There's no way of knowing, but I sometimes wonder if NIL money takes some of the drive and need to prove themselves away from some of the players....not just on our team but around the country.
 
87 pts per game.
It ain’t scoring or offense that’s the problem.
It’s overall defense and no post presence, not enough board coverage.
It ain’t RJ not scoring enough.
It may be Elliot turning it over too much but it ain’t RJ and his 18+ ppg.
It’s the defense or lack thereof and not dominating the boards like we always do, especially on the offensive glass.

I think we will be fine in ACC play. (Think we will, but who knows?)
It would be nice if Jwash and Cade would play better. And Elliot cutting down in TO’s. 40 is way too many for only 12 games played from your starting point guard.
 
Centerpiece said:
87 pts per game.
It ain’t scoring or offense that’s the problem.
It’s overall defense and no post presence, not enough board coverage.
It ain’t RJ not scoring enough.
It may be Elliot turning it over too much but it ain’t RJ and his 18+ ppg.
It’s the defense or lack thereof and not dominating the boards like we always do, especially on the offensive glass.

I think we will be fine in ACC play. (Think we will, but who knows?)
It would be nice if Jwash and Cade would play better. And Elliot cutting down in TO’s. 40 is way too many for only 12 games played from your starting point guard.
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Defense, rebounding, and turnovers are issues, but why are we trying so hard to pretend that Carolina's best 3FG shooter making 25.5% isn't a problem?
 
BillOfRights said:
Compare his numbers to last season, or his Jr season, or his Soph season, or his career numbers. Show me what the numbers tell you.
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The numbers tell me that not everyone knows how to read the numbers. But almost everyone is convinced that they do.

It’s a team game, with different teammates, different opponents, different circumstances. Season-over-season comparisons are hardly worthless, but they can only take you so far. You are convinced that “something ain’t right” with RJ, and your interpretation of the numbers is going to fit into that story no matter what. So have at it.

My take is that something ain’t right with RJ, his teammates, and the staff. But I put it more on his teammates and HD and staff to unlock him. Developing more offensive weapons and ways to use those weapons is what will boost RJ’s productivity and efficiency. That’s what “ain’t right.”
 
BillOfRights said:
If it were Bacot related, I would expect it to impact the whole team. If it were bad offense, I would expect the team's numbers to be down. The team, even with Davis shooting 25.5%, is hitting a higher percentage than last season, while also taking them at a slightly higher rate. Everything points to this being a player performance issue and not a low post presence or bad offense problem. Here's to hoping he goes off on Campbell and 2025 is much better.
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Good points. Team wise, spot on. I was responding to others talking about RJ specifically. But I agree, it ain’t about the offense. It’s defense and rebounding…. And having a point guard turn the ball over 40 times in 12 games.
 
BillOfRights said:
Defense, rebounding, and turnovers are issues, but why are we trying so hard to pretend that Carolina's best 3FG shooter making 25.5% isn't a problem?
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That low % from a usually reliable shooter seems odd, to be sure. However, scoring 87 pts per game is enough to win games, regardless. But scoring that many points every game and losing 5 of them? Means only one thing. We can’t stop them from scoring more than us.
 
Centerpiece said:
That low % from a usually reliable shooter seems odd, to be sure. However, scoring 87 pts per game is enough to win games, regardless. But scoring that many points every game and losing 5 of them? Means only one thing. We can’t stop them from scoring more than us.
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Defense is my biggest concern as well, but I do believe that is probably the most fixable.
 
BillOfRights said:
Defense, rebounding, and turnovers are issues, but why are we trying so hard to pretend that Carolina's best 3FG shooter making 25.5% isn't a problem?
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I'd like to see a breakdown of his 3FG% when he's wide open versus closely guarded versus off the dribble and compare it to last year. If anyone has Synergy they might be able to get that info easily. That would be the best breakdown vs last year. Is he being guarded closer with no Bacot? He is definitely number 1 on the scouting report this year. strictly from eye test, it feels like he's missed more open 3s this year.
 
My eyes tell me that RJ shoots mostly contested 3s. Last season you had two other serious threats from three so teams couldn’t focus on RJ. We need to get Cade rolling.
 
Centerpiece said:
That low % from a usually reliable shooter seems odd, to be sure. However, scoring 87 pts per game is enough to win games, regardless. But scoring that many points every game and losing 5 of them? Means only one thing. We can’t stop them from scoring more than us.
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Two of the things it means is that RJ started off in a slump, purely and simply, because he missed a whole lot of wide open shots even before he started forcing bad ones and that we've lost to four teams capable of being in the Final Four and another that might do well. RJ is showing signs of getting back to form. I suspect when the ball starts going through the basketball, you'll see more concentration in every other aspect of the game.
 
Who cares if we win a bunch of games in a weak conf if we cant compete for a natty title? Is that a moral victory for a blue blood?

Amazing just how much of mediocrity we have started to accept .
 
OGtruthhurts said:
Who cares if we win a bunch of games in a weak conf if we cant compete for a natty title? Is that a moral victory for a blue blood?

Amazing just how much of mediocrity we have started to accept .
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Actually, I've been a fan of UNC since the time we couldn't always expect to make it to post season. I was a fan of the program then just like I am now. I've had a hell of a lot of happiness with the run they've had since the mid 60s when I started watching them. I am still, first and foremost, a fan of UNC and the basketball program. The Championships have been a great reward for that. If that is not enough for you, don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
 
finesse said:
Two of the things it means is that RJ started off in a slump, purely and simply, because he missed a whole lot of wide open shots even before he started forcing bad ones and that we've lost to four teams capable of being in the Final Four and another that might do well. RJ is showing signs of getting back to form. I suspect when the ball starts going through the basketball, you'll see more concentration in every other aspect of the game.
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Agree 100%. But it's also true we simply can't keep top teams off the scoreboard. We can score against the best teams in the Nation (at least after halftime we can) but we can't keep them from scoring more than us.

We will do better than just "OK" in the ACC because few of those teams are "top teams - best in the Nation". I think we make the NCAAT as a 6 to 8 seed (maybe ranked in the top 32-40). If we get a good draw we can possibly make round of 16. Where we will lose to one of those top teams which we simply can't keep from outscoring us. We lose a tough, hard-fought game 88-82.
 
OGtruthhurts said:
Who cares if we win a bunch of games in a weak conf if we cant compete for a natty title? Is that a moral victory for a blue blood?

Amazing just how much of mediocrity we have started to accept .
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Dean Smith, the GOAT, went to 11 F4s in 36 years, with 8 #1 seeds in 18 years.
Roy Williams was #1 seed 8x and went to 9 F4s in 33 years, averaged 12 losses/season in last 4 seasons, with 3 total NCAA wins.
Hubert Davis was #1 seed 1x and 1 F4 in 3 years with 7 NCAA wins.

Perspective.
 
BillOfRights said:
Dean Smith, the GOAT, went to 11 F4s in 36 years, with 8 #1 seeds in 18 years.
Roy Williams was #1 seed 8x and went to 9 F4s in 33 years, averaged 12 losses/season in last 4 seasons, with 3 total NCAA wins.
Hubert Davis was #1 seed 1x and 1 F4 in 3 years with 7 NCAA wins.

Perspective.
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How did Dean do his first 4 years
 
Centerpiece said:
But it's also true we simply can't keep top teams off the scoreboard. We can score against the best teams in the Nation (at least after halftime we can) but we can't keep them from scoring more than us.
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Fair to say neither side of the ball has been as good as needed. Getting to where they need on the defensive end should allow them to cruise through the ACC, even if they continue as a below average shooting team
 
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