UNC guard Nate Britt 'comfortable and confident'

Replacing a preseason All-American is never easy. But two games into the North Carolina men’s basketball season, junior Nate Britt has answered the call — and more.

Britt carried the load for UNC in Sunday’s 92-65 win against Fairfield in the team’s home opener, tying a career-high with 17 points and four 3-pointers.

For Britt, it isn’t about minutes or being open. It’s all about being more confident.

“Being in my third year, I feel a lot more confident,” he said. “The game has slowed down a little bit more, and I feel like that’s what’s happening.”

When the Stags inched closer to the Tar Heels in the second half, Britt helped put the game away.

He buried back-to-back 3-pointers with about 10 minutes left, distancing UNC from the visitors.

Not only is Britt shooting well, but he’s been efficient doing so. He finished 6-of-9 from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.

Coach Roy Williams said making consecutive shots is huge for sparking Britt’s play.

“I think he’s comfortable and confident,” Williams said. “Shooting the ball in the basket always makes people feel better.”

With Marcus Paige out, Britt has seen an increased amount of minutes, playing a total of 52 in the first two games of the season. Most of these minutes have come with sophomore guard Joel Berry joining him in the backcourt.

Berry said he and Britt play very well together and both share a similar style of play.

“We’re kind of the same player,” Berry said. “Me and Nate have a good chemistry together, and as you can see we are capable of making shots.”

Britt said point guards are a rare breed, and that there is a special type of camaraderie between the two of them on the court.

“Point guards love playing with each other,” Britt said. “There’s a different type of chemistry that we have and we’ve shown that the last two games.”

And it’s not just scoring that this pair brings to the lineup.

With less than two minutes to play, Britt sent the Tar Heel faithful to its feet with an electrifying alley-oop pass to Isaiah Hicks.

“I wanted to try to needle a bounce pass, but I couldn’t,” Britt said. “I knew the guy couldn’t beat him up top, so I lobbed it.”

It took awhile for UNC to put the game out of reach. Too long, if you ask Britt.

“There’s no excuse for that,” Britt said. “(In a) home opener, that should never be the case.”

He added that as the season continues and tougher opponents take the court against the Tar Heels, it’s about staying prepared, something he has made a priority.

“(I’ll be) getting a lot of reps in practice and just trying to focus on the key things Coach has been asking me to do,” he said.

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