UNC Basketball: Biggest Question for Each Tar Heels Starter in 2016

North Carolina has had some big-time performances already this season, but that doesn't mean there aren't any lingering question marks regarding the team going forward. Each player still has a lot to prove in order for UNC to reach its team goals at the end of the year.

After an up-and-down nonconference season, the Tar Heels are off to a 3-0 start in the ACC. The preseason favorites remain a top contender, thanks to elite talent throughout the roster and an offense that can light up the scoreboard against any opponent. At their best, there aren't many teams, if any, that can beat them.

Despite the upside, there are no certainties in college basketball. North Carolina has already proven this fact with a pair of disappointing losses.

In order to really trust this team going forward, there are doubts that need to be squashed in the coming months. Here is a look at the biggest question for each starter for the rest of the 2015-16 season.

Joel Berry II: Can He Stay Aggressive?

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It's understandable for a sophomore new to a starting lineup that returned four players from last year to be hesitant about his role. Joel Berry II might be the point guard officially, but Marcus Paige is the team leader, and others are more established starters.

With that said, Berry has learned recently how valuable he is to the team. He is averaging 15.7 points during three ACC games while being aggressive with the ball, unafraid to take it himself and drive into the lane. Turnovers were a bit of an issue against Georgia Tech, but the team will certainly tolerate an assist-to-turnover ratio of over 2.0 for the season.

The problems this year have actually come when the guard tries to take a backseat to others on the team. Berry has three games with single-digit point totals this year, coming against Northern Iowa, Texas and Kansas State. Two of those were losses, and the other was a close win over a mediocre squad.

If he plays at the level he has shown over the past couple of weeks, UNC will be in great shape.

Marcus Paige: Will Defense Remain a Problem?

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After his 30-point outburst against Florida State, there are few issues with Marcus Paige offensively. He is averaging more points per game than last year (16.3 to 14.1) while shooting a higher percentage both from three-point range and from the field overall.

North Carolina's problems have come on the defensive end.

While Paige wasn't responsible for Xavier Rathan-Mayes lighting up the Tar Heels, he has allowed some big games against him already this season. According to Sports-Reference.com, the senior has a below-average defensive rating of 104.2 (below 100 is best). Only Nate Britt is worse among rotation players. Advanced stats have Paige contributing 9.8 points offensively per 100 possessions but only 0.4 defensively.

Head coach Roy Williams has elected to go with a smaller backcourt this season to be more dynamic offensively, but defensive issues might make him reconsider this decision.

Justin Jackson: Can He Shoot Threes?

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Obviously, Justin Jackson has the ability to hit three-point shots in practice. If he didn't, he would have stopped shooting a long time ago and the coaching staff would give him the red light. Unfortunately, this hasn't translated to success in games.

After making just 30.4 percent of his shots from beyond the arc as a freshman, Jackson is down to 23.5 percent as a sophomore. Over the last five games, the wing is just 1-of-13 from deep.

There is no denying Jackson is at his best when he is driving to the basket and scoring in the paint. He has become a great finisher around the net with a wide repertoire of shots extending to 10-15 feet. If he can add a consistent three-point shot, he will be an extremely dangerous scorer at both the college and NBA levels.

The problem is the shots just aren't falling. Either he has to start making these attempts more consistently or stop taking them altogether.

Brice Johnson: Is Recent Streak for Real?

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Buddy Hield might have stolen the show late Monday night, but Brice Johnson still put together one of the best individual games you will see all season with his 39 points and 23 rebounds against Florida State. This has continued a dominant stretch for the senior since Kennedy Meeks has been on the sidelines.

In seven games without Meeks, Johnson is averaging 21 points and 12.4 rebounds per game with four double-doubles. While it always seemed the forward had this ability in him, this is by far the most dominant stretch of his collegiate career.

The most encouraging part of the recent streak is none of it is a fluke. He isn't a guard who is making a bunch of three before likely regressing to the mean. Instead, he is just working hard and playing with a high motor around the net. This has led to tons of offensive boards and easy points in transition.

While he might not ever replicate his performance against the Seminoles, Johnson should continue putting up big numbers even when the team is at full strength. The question is whether he can keep up the intensity throughout the season.

Kennedy Meeks: How Long Until He's Full Strength

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After seeing what Brice Johnson can do without him, fans might not be calling for Kennedy Meeks to rush back from his knee injury. Of course, the center still is a big part of this team when healthy and will certainly be of value when he returns to full strength.

The problem is after missing seven games in a row, the question is how effective he will be when he does return.

When healthy, Meeks provides excellent defense in the post and adds elite rebounding ability to an already-solid unit. As the schedule gets tougher in the coming weeks and months, UNC will need him to be at his best. If it takes some time to get back into the swing of things, the Tar Heels could suffer.

North Carolina has only played three games this season with its projected starting lineup. Hopefully, there will be more chances to play at full strength before opposing teams in the conference take advantage.

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