For the second time now in two years, we have been reminded of how North Carolina and Duke are fortunate to be – well, North Carolina and Duke.
The Tar Heels seemed to be in rough shape in the low post for next season after twins David and Travis Wear surprised coach Roy Williams earlier this month with their decision to transfer. Williams himself said there weren’t a lot of options for replacements available to North Carolina at such a late date.
But when you’re North Carolina, you can usually find a solution, and the Tar Heels did. Justin Knox, a forward who’s transferring after playing three seasons at Alabama, committed Monday night to the Tar Heels. He’s 6-foot-9 and 240 pounds and averaged 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds last season, and will add much-needed depth in the low post.
He is expected to graduate this summer and be eligible to play immediately under the NCAA’s graduate student waiver.
The Tar Heels’ successful scramble to acquire Knox is reminiscent of Duke’s fortunate personnel move last summer. Elliot Williams decided to transfer to Memphis, leaving the Blue Devils dangerously thin in the backcourt.
But Duke created some depth when Andre Dawkins graduated from high school early and enrolled as a freshman whose 3-point shooting prowess particularly helped the team early in the season, and the Blue Devils won the NCAA title.
In consecutive summers, Knox and Dawkins have demonstrated how elite programs can withstand personnel losses better than most of their competitors. As Williams said, at this time of year there aren’t many quality players available. But if there are just a few players available, Duke and North Carolina can rocket to the top of their lists in a hurry.
Meanwhile, Clemson for example never was able to find quality perimeter shooting lost last summer when 3-point ace Terrence Oglesby unexpectedly chose to turn pro overseas.
In college basketball, the rich find ways to stay rich even when they’re dealing with losses that weren’t anticipated.
Ken Tysiac
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
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11 comments:
It is not exactly a major pick up for the Heels. This guy was an afterthought for Bama and will be a starter in the ACC as soon as Zeller goes down again with his next injury.
Blah blah blah, haters. The writer never said he was the second coming of Antawn Jamison! He's going to fill in for the loss of the Wear brother (singular because the two together equalled one total) next year. And if you ask a Bama fan, the guy wasn't exactly "an afterthought". His totals are better than the Wears' combined, plus he's bigger and more physical in the post. Sheesh, grow up and get some perspective instead of spouting hate all the time...
Bashing Clemson again? Noticed you had to throw that in there when the article is about UNC and Duke. Let's just see how good UNC is next year (will be lucky to make NCAA tourney).
Actually, Clemson was able to get Noel Johnson very late in the process, sometime early to mid June last year, to help fill the gap of Oglesby. He was freed up from his Southern Cal commitment after Time Floyd left the team.
Is that you Roy? Ok Ok you win. One Bama has been = 2 wear twins.
Please do not have me kicked off of the observer's web site? Pretty Please?
Who were "Wear Twins" will be one of those trivia questions for future generation tarheel fans. We can only Knox's will become the best "one and done" players in UNC history! This was a great move for the Heels and let's hope for Justin too!
Awwww listen to the ABC'ers whine (as usual). Get a life. Better yet, get a team.
More UNC-CH arrogance and failure. Ol Roy might stroke out if the benchwarmer from Alabama doesn't pan out.
Delusion and DENIAL...what the TAR HOLES have perfected in 2010....
The C & PF positions are going to be manned by a "Pipe cleaner" and a guy that spends more time in the Infirmary than on the court. Now for one year, they have added a BFD body to fill an otherwise empty seat on the TAR HOLES bench......
The Wear Bros. sure did tick off the baby blue faithful by leaving Hole heaven. How dare they? This is too good. The slide to Roy's demise is being propped up by a former Alabama benchwarmer.
That "slide to Roy's demise" includes two national titles. I'm sure many coaches would like their demise to go that way.
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