North Carolina Basketball: 5 Bold Changes Tar Heels Need to Make Right Now

The North Carolina Tar Heels are a few key changes away from becoming one of the teams to beat in the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

The Heels are the No. 6 team in the country, but have hit a few speed bumps on their journey to the program's sixth championship.

An injury to Dexter Strickland and a 33-point loss at Florida State have been the low-lights of the season, but there is still plenty of time erase those memories and make highlights. 

Here are five changes Roy Williams and the coaching staff can make to get this team moving in the right direction. 

Give James Michael McAdoo Another Chance

James Michael McAdoo caused a lot of buzz when he came to Chapel Hill, but he has failed to live up to expectations during the 2012 season.

McAdoo had an incredibly successful high school career. During his junior year at Norfolk Chirstian (VA), he averaged 22.5 points and 9.9 rebounds, while shooting 44 percent from three-point range. That same summer, he won a gold medal at the U17 FIBA World Championships. He graduated in 2011 as the No. 4 ranked recruit in the country by Scouts.com.

While with the Tar Heels, McAdoo has been a major disappointment. The forward is averaging just 5.0 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Due to the lack of production, Roy Williams has been sparse with his minutes.

But the freshman just needs some confidence, and a few good points against a quality opponent could give him the spark he needs to unleash his considerable talent.

If McAdoo is given an opportunity to play meaningful minutes in a postseason game, he could give UNC the edge they need to make a run at a title. 

Get the Ball to Tyler Zeller More

North Carolina is a top-five team in points, rebounds and assists per game, but ranks 66th in the nation in field goal percentage.

The team needs to get the ball to their most efficient scorers, and no Tar Heel has sunk more of his shots than Tyler Zeller (55 percent).

The senior is taking 10.4 shots a night while teammate Harrison Barnes is shooting the ball 13.6 times each game. Barnes is shooting 46 percent from the field, and if he deferred more to Zeller, the team would benefit.

If UNC goes to its center earlier and more often, the team's field goal percentage will improve. Zeller's presence inside will also open up space for Barnes on the perimeter, and the Tar Heels will be in good shape come tournament-time.

Get John Henson More Involved

John Henson has had an excellent season on the glass.

The power forward pulled down 17 rebounds in a one-point loss to Duke, and since then, has grabbed double-digit boards in four of his last five games.

His 14-point average gives the Tar Heels solid offensive production, and like Tyler Zeller, he is also an efficient shooter (50 percent).

The two form one of the most dominant frontcourt duos in the nation.

Henson takes the second most shots on the team behind Harrison Barnes. If Barnes looked to feed Zeller and Henson more, the Tar Heels' frontcourt duo would control the paint and open up the game for the other players on the court.

Have Harrison Barnes Shoot More Threes

Harrison Barnes should take fewer field goals each game, but would also benefit from stepping behind the arc more often.

Barnes has been the most successful distance-shooter for the Tar Heels, making 41 percent of his attempts.

If UNC can establish Tyler Zeller and John Henson early, defenses will start to collapse in on the two big men. The perimeter plays would be able to get quality looks from three-point range if they space the floor. 

Barnes has proven to be a reliable long-range threat and should start pulling up from downtown more than 3.3 times per game.

Get P.J. Hairston out His Shooting Slump

Many people believe that P.J. Hairston is an elite three-point shooter, and no one believes that more than Hairston himself.

About 73 percent of the freshman's shots were taken from behind the arc. Unfortunately, he's made just 29 percent of those long-range attempts.

Hairston is another top-level recruit who has been a disappointment for North Carolina this year, but could be a huge boost to the team if he can find his shooting stroke.

Kendall Marshall is a decent three-point shooter, while Harrison Barnes and Reggie Bullock are deadly from distance. Hairston would give the Tar Heels a fourth guard who can stretch the floor to go along with two dominant big men.

A resurgent Hairston could be the final piece to UNC's championship puzzle.