UNC Basketball: Breaking down Tar Heels’ 2019-20 rotation
By Trevor Marks
Point Guard
Minutes Breakdown: Cole Anthony (30), Anthony Harris (8), Jeremiah Francis (2)
First and foremost, one general trend that will be seen for every position: Roy Williams historically leans on the side of genuinely using his depth, at least throughout the regular season, which leads to even his top players barely cracking the 30 minutes-per-game threshold, if even. (For example, only two players last year cracked such a threshold: Kenny Williams at 30.0 per game exactly, and Luke Maye at 30.9 per game. Cameron Johnson barely missed, coming in at 29.9 per game.) As such, for these projections, we’ll keep things under 30 minutes, although it’s well within the realm of possibilities that some players may crack that threshold, depending on how good (or bad) the reserves play.
Cole Anthony is no exception, although he definitely has the best case for receiving as many minutes as possible given just how talented he his. The top point guard of the 2019 high school class and projected by many as a top-five prospect in the 2020 NBA Draft class, Anthony is a dynamite offensive guard with a special package of scoring moves as a pull-up shooter and downhill driver. Although his defense and decision-making could use some polishing, he’s shown time and time again — be it in high school, Nike EYBL, or FIBA — that he can put the team on his back when the situation demands it. He can get a bucket for himself no matter the circumstance, and he demands significant defensive attention, which subsequently creates better looks for his teammates.
He’s firmly locked in as the Day One starter, as he’s a perfect fit for a high-octane, breakneck offense such as Carolina’s.
Both Anthony Harris and Jeremiah Francis, the other two freshman guards, should expect to see spot minutes as the backup as well. Given Francis’ health concerns (he missed both his junior and senior seasons after a pair of knee surgeries), it’s unlikely that he’ll receive many minutes as a freshman, although it’s possible that he’ll see some run during garbage time, which would be meaningful for his development and confidence. Hence, the aforementioned Harris — a strong two-way combo guard — will likely presume backup duties, although it’s not a certainty.