Depth a Concern for UNC's Williams

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Depth a Concern for UNC's Williams

UNC-Chapel Hill head coach Roy Williams is all smiles before the Tar Heels game against Iona College on November 18, 2007.

By Ken Medlin

Jan 4, 2008

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North Carolina's depth issues are becoming deep-seeded.

Injuries to point guards Bobby Frasor and Quentin Thomas and forward Alex Stepheson's absence due to a family illness have reduced coach Roy Williams' playing rotation from nine to six.

“I can go through Danny [Green] and feel very, very confident. I feel I have six starters anyway,” Williams said. “After that, it is a little bit of a reach.”

So now, Williams has to reach a lot a lot farther down his bench. Players like William Graves and Michael Copeland have seen their minutes increase as Williams tries to get back to the nine-man rotation he prefers.

“I’m really comfortable playing nine. Seven is OK as long as they never get in foul trouble, sprain an ankle or catch the flu, or something,” Williams said. "If the eighth or ninth player is better than one through seven when you're a little winded, then I think you are better off playing nine."

Sunday's game against Clemson will severely test Carolina's depleted numbers. Williams expects Thomas will play against Clemson but he doesn't expect to have Stepheson.

It's hard to describe an undefeated team as having many weaknesses, but this week, depth is an issue for Carolina. Just how the Tar Heels' bench responds could make all the difference Sunday.

Most Recent Comments

I guess ol' Roy was paying attention all those years Dean Smith played the low expectations game. I like Carolina, but I'm having a hard time feeling sorry for their current situation. There isn't another coach in the country who wouldn't love to have UNC's bench, depleted or otherwise.

i don't think duke's lone goal is to beat state or clemson..have you watched ACC basketball at all?

Carolina.......love it or bye bye

dookies and wolfies... Ole Roy's concerns about depth are justified when you're goal is the NATIONAL TITLE! Granted, its not as serious when you're goal is to beat state or clemson.

Duke1,

WHY ARE YOU YELLING?

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