UNC Basketball: Picking Tar Heels' Best Crunch-Time Lineup

The North Carolina Tar Heels had a lot of trouble during a three-game road trip, and we learned a lot about how this team reacts to close games.

The Tar Heels came up short in tough matchups at Louisville and Notre Dame and then needed to rally to survive a trip to Boston College, a team still winless in league play. While UNC gets to return home for three games, there are still major questions about this squad's ability to contend at a high level.

One of the keys going forward will be the ability to win close games with strong performances in the final minutes. This hasn't been great this year with the squad currently just 2-4 in games decided by six points or less, the wins coming against Virginia Tech and now Boston College.

The coaching staff might need to create some adjustments in the late-game strategy in order to pull out more wins, starting with the lineup on the floor. This isn't necessarily the team's best starting lineup but instead what it should look like at the end of the game.

Marcus Paige

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Marcus Paige hasn't been himself this year while struggling to find any consistency in ACC play. He will have some games where he seems like he can't miss and then go weeks without making a jump shot.

The good news is his three-point shooting appears to be back on track after going 8-of-14 in his last two games and 42.9 percent in his last four. If this continues, North Carolina will be in much better shape moving forward.

No matter how he is shooting, Paige will still have the confidence to want the ball in the closing minutes, something you simply can't substitute. He can create a look as well as anyone on the team, and he is most likely to take an outside shot with the game on the line.

Meanwhile, the senior has also been an excellent free-throw shooter throughout his career and rarely lets the pressure get to him in big moments. Although Joel Berry has been better at the line this year (81.5 percent to 73.2 percent, respectively), Paige is among the best free-throw shooters in ACC history at 84.5 percent for his career and can be trusted to make shots when needed.

Even with the struggles, you won't be able to take the former All-ACC performer off the court in the closing minutes of a game.

Theo Pinson

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Berry has been a big part of the team's success this season. The sophomore guard has taken a big jump from a year ago and is playing aggressive offensively while still remaining poised on the court.

Having two point guards on the court between Berry and Paige helps maintain the dynamic offense this program enjoys so much. When it comes to crunch time, however, Theo Pinson will be a better person to have on the floor.

Pinson hasn't done much offensively this season, averaging just 5.2 points per game. He only had six points in 24 minutes after getting the start on Tuesday, so you shouldn't expect his scoring to go up too much. Still, the final few possessions of a close game usually feature only a couple of scoring options anyway as teams try to get the ball in the hands of their best players.

Instead, what Pinson will bring is great defense on likely an opponent's best perimeter player. His length and athleticism at 6'6" is simply much more than anything Berry, at 6'0", would be able to provide in these moments, and he could only get better with time on the floor.

Although North Carolina will lose Berry's shooting both at the line and beyond the arc, Pinson can help as a passer while being a major force defensively and on the glass, two things that are extremely important in crunch time.

Justin Jackson

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Three starters were benched before the Boston College game Tuesday, but it seemed Justin Jackson was the only one who got the message. He eventually stepped onto the floor and produced his best outing in more than two months.

Jackson finished with 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting, including 2-of-3 from three-point range. The deep balls were a nice bonus, but the wing has to learn he is at his best when he is driving to the basket and finishing near the rim.

If he is aggressive with the ball, he is nearly unstoppable offensively at this level.

There are still questions about his defense and rebounding, but adding Pinson to the lineup will help in key moments. Jackson just has to worry about making shots when he gets the chance, and he will stay on the floor.

Brice Johnson

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Brice Johnson was not himself against BC, but North Carolina is still a much better team when he is on the floor.

The All-American candidate is averaging a double-double with an impressive 16.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. He has become a force on both ends of the court, finishing baskets either by running the floor or creating on his own with his back to the basket. Head coach Roy Williams might have problems with his defense, but he is still contributing with his rebounding as well as more than one block and one steal per game.

If it comes down to making a play in the closing seconds, the coaching staff would love to get the ball to Johnson in the post where he can score with ease. He clearly is someone you want on the floor in key situations.

Isaiah Hicks

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Kennedy Meeks likely isn't going to leave the starting lineup on a permanent basis, but the team might be better with Isaiah Hicks on the floor.

The junior has definitely taken advantage of his chances this year with 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in just 18.4 minutes per game this year. Although he isn't quite a shot-blocker like Meeks, he still plays strong defense and is often in the right spot at the right time.

According to Sports Reference, Hicks is ahead of Meeks and second on the team in win shares per 40 minutes, trailing only Johnson. This takes into account both offensive and defensive contributions, and the numbers say Hicks does more for the team.

Beyond the stats, Hicks seems to bring the toughness and intensity that the squad otherwise lacks. He could provide a boost to the team when needed in the closing minutes. Adding this to his improved free-throw shooting, and he certainly needs to play when the Tar Heels are trying to close out a win.

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