North Carolina went on a spending spree in the offseason to get bigger, faster and better on the perimeter. So far, it’s paid off.
Those three upgrades have made the Tar Heels more versatile, and it’s showing with the frontcourt trio of Caleb Wilson, Henri Veesaar and Jarin Stevenson. While the backcourt has flashed how good it can be, there are still nagging consistency issues even as UNC sits at 12-1 — its best start since the 2008-09 season, when the Tar Heels won the national championship.
The biggest swing spot? Point guard.
Colorado State transfer Kyan Evans has handled most of the point guard duties. On paper, he looked like a plug-and-play answer. He averaged more than 10 points per game last season and shot better than 44 percent from 3, one of the top perimeter marks in the country.
This year, though, he hasn’t looked like that player.
Evans is averaging just 5.8 points and 3.9 assists while shooting 37.5% from the field, 30% from beyond the arc and 75% from the free-throw line. December has only magnified the slump: 3.3 points per game on 30.7 percent shooting overall and 25 percent from beyond the arc. He hasn’t attempted a free throw this month, a glaring sign of his lack of aggression. His minutes have trended down with his confidence.
So if Evans continues to struggle, where does North Carolina turn?
There are options.
One is Seth Trimble. Listed more often as a two-guard in the rotation, Trimble has the tools to slide over to the one. Despite playing in only four nonconference games because of injury, he’s averaging 14.5 points and 3.7 assists. He looks like a veteran — and he should. He’s in his fourth year of college basketball at the same school, a rarity in today’s transfer-heavy era.
Since Trimble’s return, UNC has looked faster and freer in transition. That’s not just a coincidence; it’s exactly what head coach Hubert Davis emphasized after the Tar Heels beat Ohio State on Dec. 20. Derek Dixon is another player to watch, as he has quietly made his own case. Dixon, who has mostly come off the bench for the Tar Heels this season, has averaged 5.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 42 percent from the field, 45.5% from 3 and 75% from the free-throw line.
In December, those numbers have ticked up. He’s averaging 6.3 points, 2.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 42.3% from the field and 41.1% from 3, and his minutes have increased accordingly. He’s also lived at the free-throw line compared with Evans, hitting 7 of 8 attempts (87.5%) over that span, while Evans hasn’t taken a single foul shot.
If Carolina wants more aggression and efficiency from the lead guard spot, Dixon has to be part of that conversation.
