UNC Basketball: 5 Takeaways from Tar Heels' Opening Games

Although three games against mediocre competition doesn't always tell you a lot about a team, we have already learned a lot about the North Carolina Tar Heels this season.

The No. 1 team in the nation has earned three wins in relatively easy fashion. The squad defeated Temple on a neutral floor to begin the year and followed it up with home victories over Fairfield and Wofford, with all three wins coming by at least 20-point margins.

Even without being truly tested, the Tar Heels already look the part of a national title contender.

With that said, there have been positives and negatives to take away from the early play. Here is a breakdown of what we have learned through the first three games of the year for North Carolina.

Frontcourt Is as Good as Advertised

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Kennedy Meeks

The Tar Heels came into the season with one of the best frontcourts in the nation on paper, and that mindset hasn't changed after the first three games.

Brice Johnson—who had big games but lacked consistency last season—has a double-double in each of the three games and is averaging 16 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. Kennedy Meeks has been just as good with 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Even Isaiah Hicks has played at a high level with averages of 8.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in just 15.7 minutes per game.

Even after putting up good numbers the first two games, head coach Roy Williams still wasn't satisfied and remained tough on the starting duo in film sessions. 

"He told us that we’re mediocre," Meeks said after the latest win, per Andrew Carter of the News and Observer, "and (that) we’re going to be one-arm swingers—trash men—if we don’t get ourselves together."

Johnson and Meeks responded by being even better, especially on the defensive end. If this continues throughout the year, North Carolina's frontcourt alone will be enough to overpower most of the schedule.

Bench Not as Deep Without Paige

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Nate Britt

After returning nine main rotational players from last season and adding two freshmen, North Carolina was expected to be one of the deepest teams in the nation. With 11 players and this pace, you could simply run an opponent out of the gym.

This has not been the case with Marcus Paige sidelined. So far, the bench has consisted mostly of Nate Britt and Hicks making big contributions, with Joel James coming in for short bursts to spell the big men. Freshmen Kenny Williams and Luke Maye have barely played more than the walk-ons.

It is not necessarily a bad thing to play only 7-8 men in a game, especially when the starters are so good you don't want to take them off the floor. With Hicks and Britt both playing extremely well, no one else has really been needed.

However, it is a long season, and you don't want your key players wearing down before the ACC schedule begins. This balance will be key for the coaching staff to figure out in the coming weeks.

Joel Berry Can Easily Handle Full-Time Role

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After averaging just 4.2 points and 1.5 assists in 13.2 minutes per game last season, Joel Berry II has taken his game to the next level to replace Paige, and he looks just fine handling this role.

The former McDonald's All-American has been impressive on both ends of the court, filling up the stat sheet against Wofford. He ended the day with 16 points, four assists, four steals and two rebounds. He doesn't look like someone simply holding a starting job for a few weeks and trying not to mess up. Instead, he has been aggressive with the ball, driving into the lane and finishing himself or finding teammates for easy buckets.

One negative has been the turnovers, as he posted exactly four assists and three turnovers in each of the three games this year. If he can cut down a bit on the mistakes, he could become an elite point guard at this level.

Even when Paige does return, Berry might have played well enough to keep his starting job and force the team to go small with the lineup.

Late-Game Defense Has Been Great, Rest Has Been Questionable

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Justin Jackson

All three games this season have followed the same trend. The opposing team has stuck with the Tar Heels for about 30 minutes of game time thanks to good offense and open shots before the better team pulls away late and makes the score into a blowout.

With 9:53 remaining in the second half, Temple was within nine points but only scored 11 points the rest of the game. Fairfield was within 11 at the 9:37 mark but only managed 12 points going forward. The stand started earlier against Wofford, which was down only three with 13:36 left, but a 28-11 finish for North Carolina sealed an easy win.

This shutdown ability late is certainly a positive with the team showing both intensity and discipline in key moments. Championship teams get better as the game progresses, and they are capable of making stops in the final minutes.

Of course, this isn't the NBA, and you can bet the coaching staff doesn't enjoy watching the lazy effort in the first half. Against better opponents, UNC will have to play at that same level for 40 minutes.

Offense Could Potentially Beat Anyone

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Brice Johnson

When you take away a team's best player and All-American candidate, that team is supposed to struggle, especially when that player is a point guard. That has not been the case for North Carolina and its offense.

Not only is the team averaging 87 points per game, but the efficiency has been remarkable. The Tar Heels have shot over 50 percent from the field in each contest, including against Wofford when they shot just 1-of-9 from three-point range. The players are working to get better shots close to the basket, and they are taking advantage of their opportunities.

This has helped North Carolina rank No. 4 on KenPom in offensive efficiency.

Once Paige returns, this group could be even better. The team will add a player who can create looks for himself and others while also spreading the floor with his three-point shooting. Even with questions about defense, this is an offense that can outscore just about anyone in the nation this season.

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