Lucas: Bahamas Notebook

By Adam Lucas

NASSAU, Bahamas—Carolina has only been in Nassau for 48 hours and hasn't played a game yet, but the Tar Heels have already taken a step forward.

Roy Williams said Tuesday afternoon that he expects Brandon Robinson to be available for Wednesday afternoon's game against Alabama.

"Right now the plan is to play him and probably start him," Williams said. "Unless he comes in tonight and says some other problem has started hurting him. It will be a gametime decision, but the plan is to start him."

"After the Elon game, I started practicing full," Robinson said. "Since that game I've been full practice and full go. I'm ready to play."

Robinson instantly solves one of Carolina's biggest deficiencies—a lack of veteran experience on the floor. And no matter whether he fills the starting spot currently occupied by Christian Keeling or Leaky Black, he gives the Tar Heels a slightly deeper rotation, a key factor for a team that has already seen Cole Anthony average 35.0 minutes, Garrison Brooks 33.8 and Black 31.5 in the first four games. Alabama favors an uptempo style that could tax a thin opponent.

"The experience he has will help us," Williams said while perhaps providing a clue of whose starting spot Robinson might be taking. "We've basically been playing seven guys. Having an eighth guy will help us. Brandon has been there in more close games in crunch time than any of those guys other than Garrison. His ability to shoot the ball, his defensive ability and the things he's already accomplished will help us…Brandon Robinson has been through it for four years. He's going to talk more than Christian, who has been through it for three months. That attention to detail of talking and getting everybody picked up and in the right spot is easier for him than for some of the other guys."

In addition to the intangibles, Robinson could also provide an offensive boost for a Carolina team that has connected on just 32.9 percent of its three-point shots this season. The only Tar Heel regular hitting better than 38 percent from the three-point line is Black, who has made two of his five attempts. Robinson made 46 percent of his three-point shots as a junior and has made 43.8 percent from the arc over the past two seasons.

Notes: Robinson has been a popular figure during the Bahamas stay, partially because of the curiosity regarding his playing status and also because of his efforts to bring relief supplies to an emergency children's hostel in Nassau, an act Williams said he'd like to see get more attention (good news: we were there with Robinson and posted a column yesterday). Interestingly, the Tar Heel senior said he's received so many questions from fans who were unable to attend the Elon game about how to help the Bahamas that he plans to sit down upon the team's return and try to devise a way to continue his efforts…With limited on-site facilities at the Atlantis resort, Carolina practiced for one hour on Tuesday in the game facility, the Imperial Arena, and then walked over to a nearby ballroom, where a practice court was set up, for the final hour of practice…Big endorsement for Robinson from junior Garrison Brooks (whose comments also show why Brooks is so respected by his teammates): "I personally believe B-Rob is the most important player on our team," Brooks said. "He gives us a lot on offense and also helps a lot on defense. He also provides leadership that we need. You can put him anywhere on the floor and he can do anything for our team."

Players Mentioned

Cole Anthony

Leaky Black

Garrison Brooks

Christian Keeling

Brandon Robinson

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