Below are 2 lists of North Carolina starters...
2008-09 Starters:
- F Tyler Hansbrough
- F Deon Thompson
- F Danny Green
- G Wayne Ellington
- G Ty Lawson
Projected 2009-10 Starters:
- F Tyler Zeller*
- F Deon Thompson
- F Ed Davis
- G Marcus Ginyard
- G Dexter Strickland
*Freshman McDonald's All American John Henson may start at this position if Tyler Zeller does not develop quickly enough into the season. (Rated #5 on Rivals.com)
PG: Dexter Strickland will add more size to the starting lineup in place of Ty Lawson who is expected to enter the NBA Draft - 4 inches more. But this is still a major downgrade even though Rivals.com lists him #34 of the TOP 150 prospect rankings list. Larry Drew II might become the starting PG but his 1.4 ppg- 1.1 rpg and 1.9 apg will have to improve. PG Bobby Frasor will graduate this year also.
SG: Marcus Ginyard has played PG-SG and SF but he is expected to play SG this upcoming season after missing all but 3 games this past redshirted season - He is now a senior. Ginyard is the Tar Heels' best perimeter defender as well. Leslie McDonald who is a Top 65 Prospect according to Rivals.com can help Marcus Ginyard out too.
F: Ed Davis will start full time this year as a feared shot blocker and solid rebounder. Danny Green will be missed but Ed Davis will certainly fill his shoes defensively and offensively for the most part. McDonald's All Americans David Wear and Travis Wear will also add even more depth at this position.
F: Deon Thompson will be returning this year but the Wear brothers could help Deon Thompson is his senior year.
F: Tyler Zeller will (in my opinion) be the starter at the beginning of the season but if he can not perform well enough to make Carolina fans feel comfortable even with the absence of Tyler Hansbrough at this position the Tar Heels have to consider using McDonald's All American John Henson.
This recruiting class is stacked with (5) Top 40 recruits according to ESPNU Top 100 list and (5) Top 65 recruits according to Rivals.com. The main position that will raise concern is PG because the depth is not as strong considering Bobby Frasor will graduate - Ty Lawson will not return and Dexter Strickland is expected to play at the SG position as well but at each other position the Tar Heels have enough depth to reach possibly another Final Four.
Here is how this recruiting class ranks with the others in recent Tar Heel history under Coach Roy Williams:
1. 2005: PG Bobby Frasor - F Tyler Hansbrough - SG Marcus Ginyard - SG/F Danny Green
2. 2006: PG Ty Lawson - F Deon Thompson - F Brandan Wright - SG Wayne Ellington
3. 2009: PG/SG Dexter Strickland - SG Leslie McDonald - F David Wear - F Travis Wear - F John Henson
Anne V
Brooklyn Decker
College Football Top 25 Review.jpg)
Best NFL Single-Season Streaks
Comments (13) Add A Comment
good blog!
Kinardian
Fort Collins, CO
Total Comments (803)
Thanks!
Southern Discomfort
Charlotte, NC
Total Comments (4878)
did you see that one TD about whos better between unc and duke?
Kinardian
Fort Collins, CO
Total Comments (803)
Yup. I had to go right on that one with Carolina even though both arguments sucked.
Southern Discomfort
Charlotte, NC
Total Comments (4878)
Good Blog!
I see it this way for the depth chart next year:
PG: Drew/Strickland
SG: Ginyard/Strickland/McDonald/Watts
SF: Henson/Graves
PF: Thompson/Zeller/Wear/Wear (Henson if Needed)
C: Davis/Zeller
And all of this could Change, if Carolina lands John Wall. Start him at PG, and give Strickland more time at his natural position which is combo-guard (Jeff Teague).
Bourbon:TheAnswer
Titletown, NC
Total Comments (576)
Oh boy. If he got John Wall we would be set but I don't think Carolina will get him.
Davis would be more of a PF than C and I think Henson could play either PF or C but you you do have the hang of the depth chart.
Southern Discomfort
Charlotte, NC
Total Comments (4878)
Yes, our weakest point (coming from a Tarheel perspective) would be at the point guard position by far. Our best point returning (Larry Drew) has to be more effective and communicate as a team leader on the court. That being said, I'm not saying he has to be the leader but, he has to at least play with that mentality as a point guard for the Tarheels. Our program always has and will need a strong point to run the show, and guide the team on fast breaks and setting up the offense. With confidence comes the respect. And, when the point for our Tarheel Nation has the respect and trust from the the team, we go far.
Duane Fortune
Northridge , CA
Total Comments (1)
Southern Discomfort.
I put Ed at Center no doubt. His post skills limit his range, he will be positioned just a couple feet from the basket. Being a legit 6'10 with Long Arms, he is a true center at the college game. Deon will benefit from having Davis playing down low and staying there, because his game is more finess with his turnaround jumpers. Defensively Davis is a beast and he again on that end of the floor will be in the middle, with the likes of Ginyard, Henson, Wears, Zeller coming to help for a weak side block.
Again I don't think we will land Wall, and I don't even think we'll offer after his run-in with Police. Drew showed some clips of great passing in the ACC tourney while Lawson was out those two games, also in the blowout against Radford. He's a great 3-point shooter but all year it looked like he was nervous to shoot the open 3.
We will be alot stronger than people think. We'll be young, but by ACC time our diaper dandies should have a firm grip on our system. We will be a VERY VERY strong defensive team this year.
It will be good starting the season without a target on our backs.
Bourbon:TheAnswer
Titletown, NC
Total Comments (576)
I personally believe that it will be a very good year despite our youth. Carolina will be a top 5 team and will surprise many. The year after will be quite unbelieveable in my estimation. Roy will bring in even more talent. If we can keep most of those guys we should win another championship by year three from now.
Carolina Fan 17
Mcallen , TX
Total Comments (1)
Agreed.
Southern Discomfort
Charlotte, NC
Total Comments (4878)
Give the coach some credit. He knew he was losing his point guard to the NBA this year. He didn't panic. Drew will improve drastically this summer mostly by gaining confidence and his year of experience. He will have more than adequate backup with Ginyard and Strickland. This team will focus on getting the ball to the front court players for points, and when the defense drops back to double team, Drew, Stricland, Graves, and McDonald will have uncontested open threes. And all 4 can shoot the ball. Our forte for the fall of 2009 will be team defense and front court scoring. UNC will be the pick to lead the ACC, followed by Duke, then a fantastic battle for the next three spots. By ACC tourney time, with the experience of one full season for the incoming frosh, UNC will be a legitimate contender for the NCAA Final Four once again. With some luck (as always), great coaching, good matchups, and limited injuries, we will be ready for the post season. Sit back and enjoy another 25 game win season. Respectfully, RES21Jr
Ed70
Lewisville , NC
Total Comments (2)
25 at least.
Southern Discomfort
Charlotte, NC
Total Comments (4878)
Hey SD thanks for the blog from the NC perspective. Agree another great year for the Heels, but I can feel some letdowns on the way. Some big, tough, hard nosed senior-led teams could push these kids around and shake their confidence, rattle 'em. It's going to be an exciting, nerve-wracking cardiac-heels type of season. About the cardiac cats, should we trade Peppers for a QB/WR? Especially since our young DE's seem to be stepping up?
Hammercat
Monroe, NC
Total Comments (11)
Comment
Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.