It's just about that time. Football starts back in the fall, then you get a glimpse of basketball starting in October. By November, we're in full swing with both sports. In some ways, it's a favorite time of the year for me, although I'd much prefer a milder climate in the winter. But if I moved to-- say Arizona or back to Florida-- I could still have my football and basketball, only I'd have to always watch on TV rather than in person.
Speaking of live sports, I do enjoy going to games. I'm hoping to go to both Panthers football and Tar Heels basketball games this year. It would be nice if a fellow sports fan and friend {I honestly do NOT have any one person in mind} would read this, and think of me when they are ordering their tickets. But either way, I still enjoy watching the games, even if it is on television, and as my dad used to say, "you've got the best seat in the house, without leaving yours."
BAD AND SAD MEMORIES
I find it quite ironic that Wisconsin beat the Tar Heels in the Sweet Sixteen earlier this year, and then the Charlotte Hornets selected their center Frank Kaminsky III in the NBA draft. It's sorta like watching Steve Kerr play with Michael Jordan on the Bulls' championship teams, or at one point, seeing Glen Rice play for the Hornets, after Kerr's Arizona and Rice's Michigan teams ousted the Tar Heels from the NCAA tournament in 1988-89. At least Rick Mount (Purdue) or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (UCLA) never played pro ball in Carolina after they devastated UNC in the tournament.
I'm thinking of writing an essay or article on all of the various "if's, and's, and but's" in Tar Heels' basketball history. These would obviously include the two aforementioned examples, as well as UNC point guards Phil Ford's (1977), Kenny Smith's (1984), and Kendall Marshall's (2012) key injuries on the road to potential championships.
SUBJECTIVE PROSPECTIVE
It looks as though the Tar Heels are looking fairly optimistic this year, with all but one (J.P. Tokoto) of their five starters returning. However, that does NOT mean that all four of the returners will be starting for the Heels. Remember several years ago, when UNC was forced, due to injuries, transfers, and personnel, to start three or even four guards in their lineup? Well, last year was like a flip-flop year, in which they had 6'9" Kennedy Meeks, 6'9" Brice Johnson, and 6'8" Justin Jackson all playing with 6'1" point guard Marcus Paige.
This year brings in two highly touted freshmen, local native (Huntersville, NC) Luke Haye, a 6'7" forward, and 6'4" shooting guard Kenny Williams (from Virginia). Ever since the advent of P.J. Hairston, the Tar Heels have lacked an accurate outside shooting threat, and Williams just may be the answer this year. In addition, Haye, while not a guard, also won a three-point shooting contest at a Florida high school all-star game. Look for the new freshman Williams to join senior Marcus Paige in UNC's backcourt this year, along with Meeks, Johnson, and Jackson in the frontcourt. Carolina's key reserves this year will be Joel Berry II, Isaiah Hicks, Theo Pinson, and Joel James.
JUST HOW GOOD ARE THE TAR HEELS?
How good will the 2015-16 UNC Tar Heels be? Well-- if you're asking the so-called experts, NBC Sports and USA Today both list Carolina as the #1 team in their Top 25 preseason poll, and ESPN rates them at #3.
I'm sure Duke and Virginia, as well as an improved NC State, will have something to say, both on and off the court, about this, but my overall impression is that with a team returning most of their upperclassmen, and adding two find recruits in Haye and Williams, the Tar Heels won't be hurting at all.
We may find out more about this year's potential for Carolina when they travel to play either Kansas State or Missouri on Nov. 24, and UCLA on Dec. 19.
Until next time, I am your 'Couch Potato' sports analyst, signing off.
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