GoHeels Exclusive: Calm, Ready & Improving

By Pat James, GoHeels.com

At times over the last two seasons, as he's struggled learning North Carolina's offensive system and subsequently played sparingly, Brandon Huffman could've easily grown frustrated.

He could've stopped preparing as if he'll always play. He could've allowed his lack of minutes to affect his role as the player who keeps spirits up in the Tar Heel locker room. But adopting such an attitude, the sophomore big man said, is counterproductive.

"If you get in the mindset that things should be better, I think that's how you get caught up and you're not prepared, you're not working to get better," Huffman said. "I think just staying calm and ready is the best thing for me to do right now."

And Saturday, that approach paid off.

Although Huffman played just four minutes in an 83-62 loss against Louisville, he provided a spark on a day that UNC lacked energy. He finished with four points, his most in 16 career games against ACC opponents. He also played solid defense.

Huffman entered Saturday having played just 32 minutes this season. He didn't play in the previous game, a 90-82 win at NC State on Tuesday, because the Wolfpack's personnel lent itself to Carolina employing a smaller lineup. But with Garrison Brooks in foul trouble and Sterling Manley missing his fourth straight game because of left knee soreness, Huffman was needed against the Cardinals.

With 4:06 left in the first half, Huffman entered the game for the first time. Less than a minute later, he appeared to cleanly block a shot by Steven Enoch, but was called for goaltending.

Huffman responded, drawing a shooting foul on Enoch the next play. He made both free throws, then scored two more points when he rebounded a missed 3-pointer and made a left-handed layup while being fouled. He missed the ensuing free throw. But Roy Williams liked Huffman's effort and inserted him into the game again in the second half before pulling him after a turnover.

"He got in and gave us a little spurt there," Williams said. "But it's hard for him to handle the ball, and the first time he got it in the second half, he turned it over. But he tried to give us a little spurt to help us guard Enoch."

With no timetable set for Manley's return, Huffman could likely be called on again. That could occur as early as Tuesday, when the Tar Heels face a Notre Dame squad that rosters three players who are 6-foot-9 or taller.

Huffman, who started playing basketball at age 14, might still be raw. But he's working toward turning himself into a player who could handle more minutes.

"He continues to get better," said Luke Maye, who called Saturday's performance the best he's seen from Huffman in a game. "Sometimes he's a little bit lost on the offensive end, just reading and running plays, things like that. But he does a great job in practice, works hard, and I think he's come a long way. He just needs to continue to work and he'll get to where he needs to get to."

Huffman said he thinks he's gradually developed a better understanding of UNC's offense and where he needs to be on the floor. He's also focused on improving his defense around the rim. But he knows he can still grow in those areas and also improve his ball-handling.

Eventually, Huffman knows his time will come. Until then, he'll continue staying calm and ready. And he'll try to make the most of the minutes he gets, as he did Saturday.

"I'm really just hoping to catch momentum and do what I can to show Coach I'm ready and can get more and more," Huffman said. "It doesn't have to be a home run every night. But it just needs to be a step each time, that way I can accomplish some big things."

Players Mentioned

Garrison Brooks

Brandon Huffman

Sterling Manley

Luke Maye

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