University of North Carolina Athletics
What To Watch For: Fayetteville State
October 24, 2014 | Men's Basketball
NOTE: This article originally appeared in CAROLINA, the official digital magazine of Tar Heel athletics.
By Turner Walston
Carolina takes on Fayetteville State tonight in exhibition play. Here are four things to keep your eye on whether you're at the Smith Center or watching on GoHeelsTV.
Kennedy Meeks could become a more well-rounded player for the Tar Heels in his sophomore season, now that he's not as well rounded. Meeks has dropped nearly 50 pounds since he arrived at Carolina in the summer of 2013, and his new, fitter figure promises to allow him to see the floor longer and be more impactful as the season goes on. Meeks is penciled in to start at center, and the key to his development as a sophomore will be his ability to run the floor and continue to be a physical presence at his new playing weight.
Last year, a glut of talent in the post forced then-freshman Isaiah Hicks to the wing. Hicks' frustration and lack of confidence was evident as he struggled to adapt to the college game at a new position. Now, Hicks can move back to power forward and put his 6'8, 230-pound frame to work. He backed down and scored on defenders at Late Night and appears to be happy at home in the paint this season.
Three PGs?
Roy Williams said at Media Day that Marcus Paige, Nate Britt and Joel Berry will all play together at some point, evoking his 2002 Kansas Jayhawks, who used three point guards all the way to the Final Four. Will Paige, Britt and Berry all appear on the floor together Friday night? Perhaps. In any case, it's worth watching to see what each brings to the team when they have the opportunity to run the Tar Heel attack.
Fayetteville State
The Fayetteville State Broncos were 19-10 in 2013-14 and are projected to finished second in the CIAA's Southern Division this season. Sophomore guard Joshua Dawson, the great-nephew of former Tar Heel Jerry Stackhouse, is a preseason All-CIAA selection. Dawson averaged 9.3 points and 5.2 assists per game as a freshman. Senior forward Torian Showers netted 9.3 points while pulling down 5.9 rebounds a season ago. The Broncos are led by alumnus Alphonza Kee, now in his sixth season as the program's head coach.
