UNC Basketball: Biggest Focal Point for Each Tar Heels Rotation Player

North Carolina has high expectations for the rest of the season, but it will take each person on the roster doing his job in order to reach the goals.

The Tar Heels had a major setback this past week with a home loss to Duke—a result that will likely sting for quite a bit. However, they bounced back with a dominant performance against Miami, and once again, this looks like a team that can bring home a title.

Still, everyone has a role to play to help the team win. While no one is perfect, focusing on one aspect and doing it well will go a long way. Here is a major focal point for each rotation player to work on for the remainder of the 2015-16 season.

Marcus Paige

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Finding His Stroke

Marcus Paige is not short on confidence. He has taken at least five three-point attempts in 18 of the 21 games he has played in this year, including 13 games in a row. The problem comes from missing a lot of these shots.

It seemed like Paige was finally coming out of his slump while shooting 11-of-20 from deep during a three-game stretch against Notre Dame, Boston College and Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, he fell right back into another skid by going 1-of-11 in two games against Duke and Miami.

The senior can be a dangerous weapon for UNC when he is shooting well, but for much of conference play, he has held the team back, making just 28.6 percent of his shots from downtown.

If he can't turn things around on a longer basis, the Tar Heels will be in trouble.

Joel Berry

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Energy

One of the most frustrating things while watching North Carolina this season is the listlessness on the floor. At times, the Tar Heels play with no emotion and no intensity on either end of the court.

Joel Berry has been a welcome breath of fresh air in this department as someone who at least plays with energy. He plays aggressive defense and is unafraid to take a big shot when needed. Obviously, not all of his looks go in, but at least his effort is there.

Berry has to keep playing with the same intensity for the rest of the year, and hopefully he can energize those around him to perform at their highest levels possible.

Justin Jackson

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Attacking the Basket 

The outside shot is starting to fall for Justin Jackson, but it's clear he is at his best when going to the rim. At 6'8" with great athleticism, he is a matchup nightmare for just about anyone trying to defend him.

Unfortunately, he has settled for too many jump shots this season.

According to Hoop-Math, Jackson makes an impressive 76.5 percent of his shots at the rim but only takes 24.5 percent of his field-goal attempts from there. He needs to be more aggressive with the ball and drive into the paint where no one can stop him.

Even though there is a lot of congestion in the paint, Jackson can be much more efficient if he attacks the rim.

Brice Johnson

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Demand the Ball

Brice Johnson was dominant against Duke, finishing with 29 points and 19 rebounds, and yet those watching were left wanting something.

As ESPN's Jeff Borzello noted, just two points of those 29 came in the final 12 minutes of the game. Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports summed up the late effort, saying, "As well as he played, Brice Johnson wanted no part of taking a shot or even making a move with the ball in the last few possessions."

A lot of this was good defense, and some of it was bad coaching, but the reality is Johnson needs to get the ball and make an impact no matter what. He has become the team's star and a legitimate All-American candidate, which means putting up big numbers not only in the first half, but also making big plays in clutch situations.

Even on a loaded roster, Johnson should be taking at least 15 shots every game while getting the majority of touches down the stretch in close games.

Isaiah Hicks

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Defense 

Isaiah Hicks earned the start against Miami and could easily remain in the lineup for the rest of the year. He is a more versatile scorer than Kennedy Meeks and seems to be more compatible with Johnson in the frontcourt.

However, if he is going to be a full-time player, he will need to step up on the defensive end.

Hicks does a good job defending ball screens and pick-and-rolls, but he also needs to be as good in the post. Although he has never been much of a shot-blocker, he still can help out by using his strength and length to make opposing shots difficult.

While Hicks has earned a starting role going forward, he could lose it if the defense doesn't stack up down the stretch.

Notable Bench Players

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CHAPEL HILL, NC - JANUARY 16: Kennedy Meeks #3 of the North Carolina Tar Heels dunks against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during their game at the Dean Smith Center on January 16, 2016 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 67-55. (Phot

Kennedy Meeks: Consistency

Meeks might have to come off the bench, but he will still have a major role with this team. The key for him will be to improve his consistency—something we haven't seen since he returned from injury.

In the last 11 games, the center has reached double-digit points just twice. He had one 23-point showing against North Carolina State on Jan. 16, but he also had just two points against Boston College on Feb. 9. The Tar Heels will need more games like the first one from Meeks in order to beat elite teams this year.

Theo Pinson: Distributing

While Theo Pinson has been a great defender this year, not many have noticed his contributions as a passer. According to KenPom.com, Pinson leads the team with a 21.6 percent assist rate, creating a deadly lineup when put alongside Paige and Berry. 

UNC is at its best when the team is passing the ball and creating for others, and Pinson has been a major part of this success. Although he has obvious value as a scorer himself, his ability to pass the ball from the wing makes this a great offense.

Nate Britt: Steadiness

People often overlook him, but Nate Britt has been an ideal backup point guard for North Carolina this season. He comes in, makes plays with few mistakes and gives the starters some much-needed rest. In his last 10 games, he hasn't turned the ball over more than twice.

Britt isn't going to make many headlines, and that is a good thing for his role.

Joel James: Rebounding

Joel James has gotten some starts along the way, but if he wants to get more playing time, it will have to come from his rebounding. The Tar Heels have given up too many offensive rebounds in recent games, and it could come back to haunt them unless guys like James take care of business on the boards.