North Carolina vs Iowa: 5 significant storylines in 2020-21 matchup
Iowa’s ability to guard the perimeter
Head Coach Roy Wiliams does not run a Dribble-Drive Offense with the Tar Heels, and guards Caleb Love, RJ Davis, and Leaky Black are more likely to attempt an entry pass into the post to Brooks or Sharpe or hit one of them at the free-throw line, while spread out beyond the arc looking for a three-point attempt when their man commits to the double down.
This is similar to what they did versus Texas. When not looking to play the high/low game, Garrison Brooks will set a screen beyond the three-point line for one of the guards, and this is the situation that could be Iowa’s undoing
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The threat is two-fold for Iowa, who are extremely lucky that Brooks and Sharpe have combined for zero three-point attempts over their four games, as quickness is not the calling card of the Iowa Hawkeyes. The few points Western Illinois was able to score on Iowa was by beating the guard up top and getting to the basket or hitting the mid-range before getting to Garza or Nunge in the paint.
Not only is Iowa vulnerable while playing on-ball defense, but their defensive rotation is also slow, which is why Western Illinois felt they could attempt 31 three-pointers as Iowa was falling over themselves looking like they needed to contact 514restorations to repair their shoes.
Unfortunately for Western Illinois, they could only connect on nine of thirty-one three-pointers despite many being uncontested. If Brooks or Sharpe were a threat from deep, it would be even more dangerous for Iowa, for Garza becomes incrementally vulnerable the further he is taken from the basket.
If Iowa has any hope of stopping Ayo Dosunmu or Rocket Watts in Big Ten play, they will have to go to a zone defense. Such will be the case versus North Carolina for if CJ Fredrick and Jordan Bohannon take away the shot, Love and Davis will drive by them, and if the play off of them to prevent the drive Love and Davis are more than happy with the mid-range jumper. Now is as good as a time as any for Coach McCaffery to work on his zone.