Since we last checked in on our three Triangle teams, they’ve been involved with six ACC tournament games, two NIT games, one NCAA tournament game, one COVID-19 stoppage, one coaching change and a lot of transfer action. The transfer portal stays open until July 1, and the way this offseason has been going, this story could become outdated quickly. Nonetheless, here’s a brief overview of where teams stand at this point.
One: UNC looks toward a new era
A frustrating loss to Wisconsin in the first round of the big dance left many wondering what changes needed to be made to get the Tar Heels back to the elite tier that they’ve only glimpsed in the past couple of seasons. But this offseason has been a shakeup like few Tar Heel fans could have imagined. The announcement of Walker Kessler’s departure to the transfer portal preceded the basketball-world-shocking retirement of coach Roy Williams. After a short replacement search, the program turned to former player Hubert Davis (who had been an assistant under Williams for nine seasons). Davis got off on the wrong foot by unsuccessfully trying to re-recruit Kessler, who eventually committed to Auburn. UNC has also lost Day’Ron Sharpe to the NBA draft and a group of players headlined by Garrison Brooks to the portal. The biggest name coming in, meanwhile, is transfer Brady Manek out of Oklahoma, a three-point shooting big man and stretch-four (something UNC has rarely had). A proven scorer over four college seasons, Manek is a hugely important addition as the Tar Heels look to move past an inconsistent offensive season. Davis seems like the right coach, but something has got to change for a program that’s just not playing on the same level right now as the elite teams in college basketball.
Two: The Cam Hayes era truly begins for N.C. State
The Wolfpack won one game in the NIT before losing to Colorado State to finish off an up-and-down season that was headlined by a win at 15th-ranked Virginia. That was part of a five-game winning streak toward the end of the season that almost got N.C. State into the big dance, but three losses to Syracuse were hard for the Wolfpack’s resume to overcome. N.C. State has lost Braxton Beverly, Shakeel Moore and Nick Farrar to the portal so far and added Greg Gantt Jr. (Providence) and Casey Morsell (Virginia). After previous reports suggested otherwise, it now appears that Manny Bates will stay in Raleigh rather than transferring, which is key given that D.J. Funderburk and Devon Daniels (two of the team’s top three scorers) likely won’t be using their extra year of eligibility. Those departures stand to create a bigger role for Cam Hayes, who struggled to find consistency for most of his freshman season, but stepped up after Daniels’ ACL injury, breaking out in a 20-point effort against Notre Dame in March. He’s expected to be handed the keys to the offense next year.
Three: Duke turns the page
The season defined by COVID was a largely forgettable season for the Blue Devils and was— almost appropriately—capped by a virus issue that bounced them from the ACC Tournament right as they seemed to be hitting their stride. That left Duke on the wrong side of the NCAA Tournament bubble. Though they’ve lost Patrick Tape, Jordan Goldwire, Henry Coleman III and Jaemyn Brakefield to the transfer portal, as well as Matthew Hurt, DJ Steward and Jalen Johnson to the draft, the Blue Devils are just hoping (like a lot of us) to get back to normal next year. They should be able to return to form thanks to a recruiting class that includes three top-30 recruits per ESPN: Paolo Banchero, Trevor Keels, and A.J. Griffin. Adding some more intrigue to next year’s Dukarolina games is the fact that Griffin hails from the same New York high school as UNC guard RJ Davis. Get ready to hear about that a lot.
Graphic by Shelby Swanson/The ECHO
