UNC Basketball: 5 Things We Learned During Tar Heels' Nonconference Play

North Carolina is just over a week away from the start of ACC play in men's basketball, but we have already learned quite a bit about this team from the nonconference season.

The Tar Heels are off to a 9-2 start to the year, a relatively disappointing mark considering their standing as the preseason No. 1 team in the nation. Still, there is a lot of good to go with the bad from the first couple of months. The losses to Northern Iowa and Texas are countered with impressive wins over Maryland, UCLA, Northwestern and others.

Besides just wins and losses, the first 11 games have taught us a lot about what to expect going forward. With just two relatively easy nonconference games remaining, here is a look at what we have learned so far.

This Team Can Really Score

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Rule changes have led to increased scoring throughout college basketball, but North Carolina has been especially impressive with its 85.6 points per game this season. The squad has scored at least 80 points in seven straight games and can make an argument as one of the best units in the country.

While UNC usually racks up the points due to a high pace, the group is as efficient as ever this season, ranking No. 2 in total offense on KenPom.com. After some early struggles shooting the ball, the team has been solid from the outside while creating open looks in the paint. The players bring down rebounds and they don't turn the ball over, all of which add to a dominant offensive attack.

Perhaps the most impressive part of the Tar Heels' success is the balance. Five different players are averaging double-digit points while Isaiah Hicks, Nate Britt and Theo Pinson are all capable of coming off the bench and producing offensively. 

The team can score in a variety of ways, while Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson can always make a play when needed. This will continue to make things difficult for opposing teams throughout the season.

Brice Johnson Has Become a Star

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Brice Johnson has always had tons of talent but lacked the consistency of an elite player. Even his averages of 12.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game last season were worse considering what he was capable of accomplishing. He would disappear in games on both ends of the floor and kept the Tar Heels back.

That isn't the case anymore. Johnson has elevated his game his senior year and is becoming one of the top big men in the nation.

Through 11 games, Johnson is averaging 15.7 points and 9.2 rebounds while totaling six double-doubles and scoring at least 10 points in every single game. KenPom.com rates the forward one of the top 10 overall players in the nation based on efficiency.

With Kennedy Meeks on the sidelines with an injury, Johnson has stepped up his game even more with a combined 52 points and 19 rebounds in the last two contests. If he can continue to play at this level, North Carolina will be in great shape.

Defense Is Too Inconsistent

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This has been the biggest problem with North Carolina so far this season. A lack of defensive intensity has led to open shots on the perimeter, which opposing teams are knocking down at a high rate.

According to Sports Reference, opponents have hit 38 percent of three-point shots against the Tar Heels this season, good for 315th in the nation. This is a major problem for a team hoping to contend for a national championship.

Both of UNC's losses this season can be attributed to struggles defending the perimeter. Northern Iowa went 11-of-28 (39.3 percent) from beyond the arc, while Texas shot 12-of-24 (50 percent) in an upset win. It's tough to win games when your opponents are making this many shots.

The issue isn't a lack of talent but instead poor focus and intensity. North Carolina has had strong efforts defensively this year, especially in the win over hot-shooting Davidson. The challenge will be playing at that level in every game on the ACC schedule.

Road Games Are a Challenge

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It has been just two games, but so far the Tar Heels have not been great on the road. They have won all their contests at the Dean Dome and are 4-0 on neutral courts, but an 0-2 record in true road games is a bit of a concern at this stage.

There were certainly other factors in play in each loss. North Carolina was still figuring out how to play without Marcus Paige in the loss to Northern Iowa while struggling to hit any shots from deep. Against Texas, poor defense and even worse rebounding was a theme in a disappointing loss.

In any case, what we have is a veteran team that hasn't proven it can win games in a hostile environment. Considering all the tough arenas that await the Tar Heels in the ACC, this is not a trend they want to see continue for much longer.

North Carolina doesn't play another road game until a January battle against Florida State. While this will be a tough matchup on its own, a win could bring some much-needed confidence for future road games.

Depth and Resilience Are Key

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Things don't always go according to plan in sports. The Tar Heels were forced to play their first six games of the season without their best player in Marcus Paige but were able to survive with minimal damage. Now the team has to play without starting center Kennedy Meeks.

Although you never want players to be injured, these absences could actually make the team stronger in the long run.

Between Joel Berry and Theo Pinson stepping up earlier in the year to Brice Johnson moving to the next level over the past two games, this team is taking advantage of extra opportunities. All of a sudden, the squad doesn't have to rely on one player to carry the team. This was evident with a relatively quiet game from Paige in a win over UCLA.

North Carolina has a lot of balance this year, but it is also showing its resilience to keep playing despite adversity. This is a good mentality to have as the season progresses.

While the two losses are more than what the team wanted to see early in the year, the Tar Heels remain in great shape going forward.

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