UNC Season Preview + 1H Reaction

Few things are better in life than waking up for a noon North Carolina tip-off. Even though they got off to a less than ideal start, something about morning hoops hits different when your team plays. UNC switched up their starting lineup in the Bahamas and went with the sophomore Seth Trimble. If you can guess who his brother is you would probably be wrong since it is not Maryland legend Melo Trimble. Seth’s brother is JP Tokoto and you were really able to see the resemblance when Seth threw down a monster fast break dunk last game.

This Tar Heel team is much improved from last year with the additions of transfers Cormac Ryan, Harrison Ingram, Paxson Wojick, Jae’Lyn Withers and the top recruit Elliot Cadeau. The age and expereince from Ryan (hes really 25 years old), Armando Bacot (5th year) and RJ Davis should prime UNC for a deep tournament run. Much different from last year, they are legitmately 10 deep and got rid of the one player that halted the offense (Caleb Love). The more Cadeau plays the better this team will be as he is the best true point guard this program has had since Kendall Marshall. It is going to take a few games for this rotation to be set and this team to gel but they need to get wins in Novemeber. Besides being meidocre all year last year, them losing in 4 OTs to Brandon Miller and Alabama was a huge reason they did not sneak into the tournament.

Northern Iowa always seems like a tough beat. They have a few of my favorite moments in March Madness history both when JESPERSON hit the half court buzzer beater against Texas and when Ali Farokhmanesh took over and beat #1 Kansas. I also have a little PTSD from when they beat the #1 ranked Tar Heels in 2015. Marcus Paige, my all time favorite Heel, is from Iowa and played AAU with that team that was headlined by Wes Washpun. Down at half, I hope UNC can turn around this abysmal shooting start and win this game.