UNC Basketball: Why the Tar Heels have been so disappointing in 2019-20
By Karl Heiser
North Carolina’s injury situation has been unfortunate to say the least
While recruiting may be something mostly within the Tar Heels’ control, I would be remiss not to mention a major factor in this season’s failures that certainly isn’t their fault. Injuries have plagued UNC Basketball this season from top to bottom. It’s understandably difficult for Roy Williams to develop a cohesive team or game plan when the roster of available players changes from week to week.
Altogether, Cole Anthony, Brandon Robinson, Sterling Manley, Anthony Harris, and Jeremiah Francis have missed a fair amount of games due to injury. Anthony, the Tar Heels’ most dynamic scorer and play-maker, has seen his draft stock start to slip as he struggles to get back into form coming off knee surgery that sidelined him for half the season.
Thoughts on the Tar Heels: injuries. That’s been the biggest problem, by far. But also: incompatible parts; manifestation of dry spells (relatively) in recruiting; snowballing lack of confidence. When it goes wrong, speaks to how difficult it is for it to go right long as it has.
— Andrew Carter (@_andrewcarter) February 12, 2020
Of course, there isn’t anyone to blame for these injuries. If I needed to assign blame to someone, I personally don’t think Roy Williams should have let Cole Anthony overload on minutes once other players went down. I get that you’re trying to salvage a season, but that doesn’t necessitate your best player averaging 34 minutes a night (which he is still doing off knee surgery) while also having him be the main facilitator. So no, the injuries themselves aren’t anyone’s fault, but the management of Cole Anthony seems questionable.