UNC Basketball: 3 reasons Tar Heels will be better than Duke in 2020-21

Frontcourt Excellence

As UNC’s apparent lone bright spot amidst their cataclysmic season, forward Garrison Brooks proved himself as both a capable scorer and defender down on the block, averaging 16.8 PPG and 8.5 RPG. Now set to return for his senior year, Brooks appears destined to absolutely wreak havoc especially if he continues to develop at the astonishing rate responsible for his drastically increased scoring, rebounding, and assists totals from his sophomore to junior year.

While Brooks might appear like a tough task for Duke to deal with alone, those playing beside him within the paint makes the team’s play around the rim seem almost unbeatable. Playing beside Brooks for another season comes Armando Bacot, who as a freshman last year played big minutes for the Tar Heels while averaging 9.6 PPG, 8.3 RPG, while also displaying an ability to send shots back averaging at least one block per contest.

Joining these forwards comes five-star Monteverde Academy product Day’Ron Sharpe, who appears certain to ascend to stardom once he hits the hardwood. Stretching out to 6’11 while weighing 255 pounds, Sharpe’s size paired with his naturally physical playstyle should help the Tar Heels substantially, especially when considering the team’s commitment to a Roy Williams‘s fast-paced offensive scheme. By his side comes seven-footer Walker Kessler who was invited to the USA Basketball Men’s Junior Team last year.

Walker already owns a modern basketball skillset, bringing an exceptional jump shot that stays true from even beyond the arc alongside his height to the table. Also adding some extra fuel to the fire, the Blue Devils know Kessler all too well, as most expected him to commit to Duke after visiting there last fall before he abruptly switched things up and instead signed with UNC just a few weeks later.

While Duke will surely put up a good fight inside with four-star center Mark Williams and forwards Jaemyn Brakefield and Henry Colemen set to join the team, UNC wields just too much firepower. Although these new Blue Devils still round out as an undeniably talented group, UNC’s players’ plethora of players seemingly more skilled than Duke’s lead by Brooks will threaten as perhaps the country’s best frontcourt assembly next year.

UNC owns not just one wrecking ball, but four primed to slam through Cameron next year. Put simply, all who face the Tar Heels, including Duke, will struggle to contain their quadrant of bigs.