UNC Basketball: 5 reasons why Tar Heels have fallen apart this season

3. UNC Basketball misses Brady Manek

The Tar Heels brought back four starters but the one that had to move on is Brady Manek, who averaged 15.1 ppg and 6.1 apg last year while shooting 40% from three-point range. He played a key role in the team’s Final Four run, including 26 points against Marquette and 28 versus Baylor in the First Weekend.

His replacement was Pete Nance, who averaged 14.5 ppg at Northwestern last season, all while shooting 45% from three-point range. At 6’11, he can play both the four and five-spots and give the Tar Heels a lethal frontcourt.

To this point, he’s been… okay. Nance is averaging 10.6 ppg and 6.0 rpg and shooting just 31% from deep. It’s even lower in ACC play, at just 9.7 ppg and 29% from deep. Part of the issue is the lack of a true fit with Bacot and the ball-dominant guards, as Manek’s strength was his pure shooting when having the ball without affecting the offense. When Nance gets it, he has to make some moves and create, which he’s capable of. But that takes away from Bacot at the same time.

A case can be made that Puff Johnson warrants more minutes off the bench in place of Nance. The senior forward hasn’t been bad enough to lose minutes but compared to Manek a year ago, has been much more inconsistent on offense.