June UNC Hoops news, NBA Draft, Finals, and World Cup Talk! ep.- #33

A lot of quick hitters in the June edition of UNC Hoops Talk Podcast. I go through a lot of stuff such as the freshmen being on campus, visitors to campus, and an August trip quite quickly.

I also hit on the NBA Finals and congratulated Danny Green on his championship, the NBA Draft talking about PJ Hairston and James Michael McAdoo, and then end it with a little rant on the whole McCants mess.

The last little bit of the video I dedicate to the World Cup and team USA in honor of them getting out of group play, nonetheless the group of death and into the knockout stage!

Would love to have you support the show, sharing the blog, the videos, liking the videos, leaving comments and questions, and definitely Subscribing to the youtube channel. That is a lot, but any and all of that really helps out a lot and greatly appreciate it!

Please contact me in any of these places to ask questions, leave suggestions or comments, give ideas, be interviewed or come on the podcast, write for the blog, or just plan connect and chat with me.

Email: UNCHoopsTalk@gmail.com
Twitter: @AllTarHeelDan
Google+: +Dan DeWitt
Subscribe Here: YouTube.com/UNCHoopsTalk

Please Watch, Enjoy, and Share the Video!



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PJ- decision and Davidson Recap

I discuss the finality of PJ Hairston at UNC. Then I recap the Davidson game and take a look forward to the week ahead for the Tar Heels. Answer some viewers questions and announce the Live Blog during games! (Join us) Also, willing to take people who would like to write about UNC Hoops.

Enjoy and pass along!

Get your UNC gear at The Honour Society

Connect at:
Google+: +Dan DeWitt
Twitter: @AllTarHeelDan
Email: UNCHoopsTalk@gmail.com




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Roy and JP Press Conferences- PJ gone!

If you have followed anyone connected or up on UNC Hoops you know now that PJ will not be back. UNC did not even try to reinstate him. Here is Roy's press conference discussing PJ and all that goes along with the situation.

There is also a JP press conference again discussing mostly PJ stuff and some Free Throw and game stuff as well.

Time to Grind!





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UNC Hoops vs. Kentucky Wildcast Preview

This week on UNC Hoops Talk Podcast I quickly go over the UNCG win, then spend most of the time previewing the UNC Hoops vs. Kentucky Wildcats game this Saturday. To do so I brought on +John Martin, a UK fan I met on G+, to take a look at UNC from their side and to get a little inside on the UK team. Still no news on PJ and Leslie. Also, a brief look ahead for UNC Hoops.

Enjoy and spread the word!

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Can download it on Soundcloud




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UNC takes down #1 Michigan St!

This week on UNC Hoops Talk I of course talk in-depth about the win over #1 Michigan St. and go thoroughly through the stats of the game.  Before that though we talk about the UAB loss on the road, what can we take away from that game, what went wrong, and did it help with the MSU win?

I briefly update on the ongoing PJ and Leslie saga before plugging the Google+ College Basketball Community weekly Hangout and give you all the places to possible connect with me.

Enjoy!






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UNC Hoops vs. Louisville Recap!

Here is this weeks epidsode of the UNC Hoops Talk Podcast!

This week I talk about the Richmond win and the huge Louisville upset of course! I hit on the latest PJ and Leslie rumors (again). Then I scope out the next week for the Tar Heels Hoops squad and what is to come.

Enjoy and let me know what you think.

twitter- @AllTarHeelDan
GooglePlus- +Dan DeWitt
YouTube- UNCHoopsTalk
Email- UNCHoopsTalk@gmail.com

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Belmont at home?!

This week I talk about the first 3 games of the season. 

Wins over Oakland and Holy Cross, and of course our loss at home vs. Belmont. Yes, Belmont. 

Then we take a look forward to the weekend games with a little PJ/Leslie talk mixed in. 

I finish off inviting you to connect with me somewhere and to catch the Google+ College Basketball Community Hangout each Thursday at 4 pm EST.

Go Heels!

Connect with me if you are not already!

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Twitter: @AllTarHeelDan

College Basketball Preview Hangout

In the first ever College Basketball Community Hangout we mostly discuss conference realignment. What does it mean for midmajors, how will style of plays change or be affected, and who actually is in the AAC and Big East?

Join +John Martin, +Jesse Wojdylo, and myself in the preparations for college basketball and hear our conference champion picks along with our Final Four picks.

Hope you enjoy and come back each week!



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Season Preview- October Podcast

In this episode of the UNC Hoops Talk Podcast we talk about:
-Late Night with Roy on Oct. 25th
-In-depth look at schedule and predictions
-Update on PJ situation
-New Rules and how they affect us (& dook)
-Look ahead at 2014 Battle 4 Atlantic field including UNC

Hope you enjoy, spread the word and come back for more!

Go Heels!

August Podcast (a little hoops talk on a football day)

On the day college football starts and a big one for UNC football, I take a little time out to talk North Carolina Hoops.

In the August Podcast I hit on:
-football
-PJ's ongoing "stuff", how much will he miss?
-Freshmen expectations
-Schedule is out, Early Predictions
-Is the ACC the SEC of basketball?
-Google+

Please enjoy and leave feedback, it always helps!

Go Heels!

Roy Williams

I literally think I could listen to him talk basketball all day long!

Added plus that on this video he doesn't have to talk about PJ at all.  Hope you enjoy as much as I did.

Go Heels!

Freshmen Expectations

Here is my take on what is reasonable to expect from the incoming freshmen this year!

Nate Britt @NateBritt0

Nate will mostly be in a back-up role behind Marcus Paige obviously.  Even in a back-up role he plays a very important part.  As we have seen in past years how important the back-up PG can be!  He will come in and give Paige some much needed rest and sometimes even push Paige over to SG giving us two guys on the court that can really handle the ball well.

If Nate catches on to the offense and the entire scheme of how Roy wants things run, I see him really surprising people this year.  He slipped in the ranking (that don't really matter) and we didn't hear much about him his senior year because he battled a couple injuries, but he is definitely a much needed part of the upcoming season.

Realistically, we will see Nate get anywhere from 8-15 minutes per game (MPG) depending on the opponent, foul trouble and just how people are playing.  I do think Nate will be affected the most out of the freshmen on what happens with the PJ Hairston situation.  If (and no I don't wish this to happen) PJ is off the team it will open up more time for Paige at SG and then more time for Nate.  If PJ is still with us he will get a lot of minutes obviously and it will take a few from Nate.

I hope people don't judge Nate just by his offense and points per game (PPG).  Not saying he can't score or is poor offensively, he just isn't going to look for his shot as much as Paige does.  He should still be able to contribute 5-9 PPG and with his basketball IQ I see him handing out around 4-5 assists per game(APG) as well.  I believe people will be surprised by his defense as well, he is a smart player and I see him getting a couple steals a game just by being in the right position.

Isaiah Hicks @IDHicks

Hicks, I believe, has the most potential of the three incoming freshmen.  He probably has the ability to contribute the most right away, however that will be hindered by being a PF behind James Michael McAdoo and sophomore Brice Johnson.  He will have to find his place to make his mark for at least a year before he can really blow up next year.  That may be at the SF spot some his freshman year or either at the C position or moving JMM back to the C position, which neither him nor Roy wants to do.

Hick exploded this past year in the State Championship game with 30+ points and rebounds!  That's right over 30 rebounds in a game, thats like all of them in a high school game.  That's when people started to really get excited about him, but he was doing it way before that game.  He has a high motor and that is what will be hard for Roy to keep him off the court.  Hicks won't put up points quite as quick as Brice does, but his is a more rounded player and well to put it blunt, not as thin.  He capped off his high school career being named a McDonald's High School All-American and having a fair showing there.

Hicks is the hardest one to predict as far as minutes goes because your just not sure what position he gets them at and of course that will affect points and rebounds.  Although, not as much as Nate, he will be affected some by what happens with PJ also, especially at the SF position.  It is reasonable to expect Hicks to see around 15-18 MPG and in that time he should average around 8-10 PPG and 6-8 RPG.  With his motor he will be fun to watch and should quickly become a fan favorite.  Also, don't be surprised if he does not absolutely blow up in his sophomore season.

Kennedy Meeks @tarheel_01  

To me Meeks is the most excited of the three to be a Tar Heel and that really excites me about a player when you can just tell they are pumped to put on the Carolina jersey!  That is not to say the other two are not, I think this class is full of that and that is one thing that makes this one special.  

Everyone has been harping on Meeks about his body and how he needs to lose all this weight and I am not arguing that fact, but we have already seen articles and heard reports that it is happening.  Let this guy get to the first practice before we attack him too much.  Personally, I am glad to see a little meat back in the post for us.  Between him and Joel James we can really bruise some people up!  Not that watching John Henson and Brice Johnson wasn't/isn't fun I am sure Roy also likes seeing those big guys back.  If we can manage to run as we always do and get some easy points that way and at the same time have someone who is going to clear the lane, establish and hold position in the paint, catch the ball and finish then we are right back in Roy's wheelhouse.  Meeks does have the body and hands to do it as well, should show flashes at least to remind everyone of Sean May and those hands! We all know how that turned out.  Meeks also ended his high school career in Chicago at the McDonalds All-American game.

Unlike last year we do have some competition for playing time down in the post.  Joel and Brice have the experience from last year and Desmond Hubert can still be a help on the defense end and has been working on his offense.  So a lot will depend on who takes hold or breaks away from the pack to start and get the playing time at the C position.  Meeks could be on the outside get around 5 minutes a game or he could be starting and playing around 20 minutes a game.  Realistically we can expect somewhere in the middle of that around 12 MPG, chipping in around 8-10 PPG and pulling down somewhere around 7 RPG.  

Another one of the great things about this class is I think we will get to see them all play at UNC for at least 3 years and really get to know them.  None of them will be a superstar from day one, but in the end I think everyone will be glad they chose to represent UNC and I see all of them doing it in a way that will make all of Tar Heel Nation proud!

To wrap up these are all my opinions, feel free to disagree and of course it really is all up to the young men working hard, showing what they have, and Roy.  But all in all I am okay with that.

It is building up to be an interesting, but fun year for the Tar Heels and I simply cannot wait for it to get here!

Go Heels!

July Podcast

In this month's offseason podcast we hit on Reggie getting drafted, Danny Green's finish to the Finals, PJ "stuff", preseason tourney/playing Louisville, and Google+.

Enjoy and Go Heels!

3rd Edition- Reggie, PJ, and DG

In this 3rd episode of the UNC Hoops Talk Podcast we chat about Reggie (and Dex) in the NBA Draft, Danny Greens performances in the NBA Finals, and PJ's bad decisions as of late!

Come join in the discussion and let me know your thoughts and opinions!

(Still looking into how to get it on to iTunes, anyone with the know how and willing to help please contact me.)

@UNC_Obsessed on Andrew Wiggins

Andrew Wiggins is set to announce where he is going to be spending the next year of his life Tuesday May 14^th, 2013 at around 12:15pm EST. The internet is about to explode while fans of four different schools and all college basketball fans alike await the news. To some people his decision will be a shock. To others, a mere “I KNEW IT!” will say it all. In my opinion, I will be shocked regardless of where Andrew Wiggins decides to go.

Wiggins is to choose between Florida State, Kansas, the University of Kentucky, and the University of North Carolina. I personally have heard so many different opinions. Some people are convinced that UNC will get Wiggins. Some are certain that he will go to FSU because of his parents. I have heard people saying that Wiggins will choose Kansas or Kentucky and that the other two are out. I have no idea what to believe.

My gut feeling tells me that Andrew Wiggins will attend Florida State next semester. Parent’s opinions always weigh heavily on the decision of recruits. That being said, I cannot see any other reason for Wiggins to attend this school other than because FSU is the alma mater of both of his parents.

My head tells me that Andrew Wiggins will go to Kansas University. KU is a respectable university that is almost always a title contender. KU also lost four senior starters from this past year and they also lost Ben McLemore, a freshman starter who decided to enter the NBA draft. This sparks open a ridiculous amount of play time for Wiggins and gives him a place to make a big name of himself in just one year.

As paranoia sets in, I begin to fear that Wiggins will decide to attend the University of Kentucky. Being a North Carolina fan, this is the worst case scenario. None of us want to see Andrew Wiggins join Calipari, let alone the eight other recruits that Kentucky managed to pick up. If Wiggins were to join the Wildcats, Calipari would have picked up nine of this years top recruits. The most depressing part of that statement? Seven of those players are ranked in the top 25 on ESPN’s top 100 rankings. I’m not sure there is a Carolina fan out there that wants to see Wiggins join this squad.

My heart, on the other hand, is telling me that Andrew Wiggins will surely pick the University of North Carolina. Andrew Wiggins fits the Carolina personality perfectly. He is a good kid with good morals and a good head on his shoulders. He is a family person and he keeps his life private. Many people think Wiggins is an attention seeker for waiting so long to make a decision. This is not the case. He is not a kid that is full of drama; rather he is an eighteen year old boy trying to decide exactly which school will be able to set him up for the rest of his life. Think about that. Bring yourself back, or forward, to 18 years of age; young and naive again. How are you supposed to decide your entire life at such a young age? It may not seem this way to some people, however, Andrew Wiggins is making a decision that could make or break his entire career, let alone his entire life.

Getting back into the basketball aspect of this situation, UNC could definitely benefit from Andrew Wiggins. I hate to say it, but Reggie Bullock leaving this year actually brought the chances of Wiggins coming to UNC up a few notches. With Paige at point, Wiggins and Hairston on the wings, and McAdoo putting it up, this team is an automatic title contender. Wiggins could make this team unstoppable. So our opponent wants to shut down Hairston? Do it, we have Wiggins on the other side. You think you can box up on Wiggins? No worries, we got Mac going at it down low. There is no team out there stronger than a North Carolina team with Wiggins on it. Mark my words.

There is still a huge chance that we will not get Andrew Wiggins, but that does not mean we should give up and hang our heads about this coming season. A UNC team without Wiggins is still a huge threat. I would not say this team is unbeatable, and I will not say we will have an easy season, but we are definitely still in a contending position for a Final Four trip in the 2013-2014 season even without Andrew Wiggins. Here are the facts:

Number 1:

We have experience. Experience has become so rare in college basketball. We have PJ Hairston, Marcus Paige, and James Michael McAdoo as returning starters. We have even more experience coming off the bench with players like Leslie McDonald, Desmond Hubert, and Jackson Simmons.

Number 2:

Do not count out last years freshman class. Okay, so last years incoming class has had their year to adjust from high school basketball to college basketball. Now let’s see what they can do to help out the team. Players like JP Tokoto, Joel James, Brice Johnson, and Marcus Paige all have a year of experience under their belt. They have passed through their rookie seasons and are ready to play some ball.

Number 3:

Our new recruits. North Carolina’s recent biggest struggle has been getting a tall but also strong player out on the court. Ole Roy has had to go small with his team in order to come out of games on top. While this worked for the most part last year, it became a struggle to get any second chance shots, also Roy has already expressed his displeasure with this and said it would not happen again. It seemed that we were making more turnovers than baskets. This year will be a different story. Coach Roy has recruited and signed a 6 foot 8 inch, 210 lb power forward, Isaiah Hicks. In high school, Hicks was a powerful player who was not afraid to take the ball to the basket, in the state championship game he came away with 34 points and 30 rebounds. Hopefully he brings these traits into college as well. Roy also signed a 6 foot 9 inch, 275 lb center, Kennedy Meeks. While many people doubt Meeks because of his size, he did not become a McDonald’s All-American without talent. Meeks is incredible under the basket, both offensively and defensively and Roy compared his outlet abilities to those of Kevin Love. His presence this year will help Carolina immensely. The final definite addition to this team is a new point guard, Nate Britt. Britt is 6 foot 1 inch, 165 lb PG, who will most likely be a back up to Paige. Britt has a lot of raw talent, and most importantly, he has an unstoppable eye for the court. This type of vision is not something that you can learn; it is a raw talent that this boy has.

Whatever the outcome may be tomorrow afternoon just remember these facts: Andrew Wiggins will not make or break our team. Tar Heel nation is on a fight for this year’s championship and we can do it with or without Wiggins. Even if we don’t score this awesome recruit, stay loyal to your Tar Heels. The sky is Carolina Blue for a reason. Until next time, keep on bleeding blue.

GO TAR HEELS