UNC men's basketball hasn't been running, and Roy Williams wants that to change

Two days after the North Carolina men's basketball team was defeated by Ohio State in one of the worst losses ever under head coach Roy Williams, questions abounded on how the team can improve. 

Unfortunately for the Tar Heels, no one, including Williams, has many answers right now. 

At his press conference on Friday, he made it clear though that the team hasn't been playing fast enough for his liking. 

"We're not pushing the pace enough to get easy ones," Williams said. "We don't have runners. We don't have the initial post option that Tyler Hansbrough, Sean May, some of those guys, Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks, would give us. And then the guys aren't running enough. 

"The bottom line is the ball isn't going in the basket enough. We used to get more easy ones than we got (against Ohio State)."

Williams is famous for always urging his team to play at a faster pace, and North Carolina has historically been one of the fastest teams in the country. This season, though, the team is just 133rd with a pace of 71.7 possessions per 40 minutes. Last year, The Tar Heels were eighth in the country with 75.9. 

UNC isn't even the fastest public school in the state — UNC-Asheville, UNC-Wilmington and N.C. State all sit above it currently. 

"Our goal every game is to score one or two that we score with 24, 25 seconds left on the shot clock," Williams said. "We haven't done that one time this year. Our teams in the past have been able to do it. So either I've gotten awfully dumb really quick, or they're not running." 

Williams explained how the lack of a threat from UNC's fast break leads to even more issues with what the Tar Heels try to do offensively. 

"If we're running, what else are we doing? (Opponents) aren't getting offensive rebounds because they're sending guys back, worried about our break," Williams said. "Heck, if I was playing against us now I'd get on my scooter and do figure eights running back. Ain't no sense in running back against us." 

When North Carolina is able to run the ball, the team can force cross matches early, causing an opposing guard to have to cover one of UNC's big men and allowing the team to send the ball into the post and score easily. So far this season, that hasn't been happening very much. 

Despite those woes, the Tar Heels have still been the best rebounding team in the country, averaging 47.5 rebounds per contest. Rebounding at that level will be much more difficult for the foreseeable future, though, with starting center Armando Bacot out with a sprained ankle. 

Bacot was averaging 13 points and 11 rebounds in six games, excluding the games against UNC-Wilmington and Ohio State where he played a combined 10 minutes, according to a UNC spokesperson. 

"I'm concerned about the lack of rebounding," Williams said. "... plus, who do you put in? That part is difficult, too." 

Next, facing a Virginia team that plays a very low possession-style of basketball, North Carolina will need to find a way to limit extra opportunities, like offensive rebounds, for the Cavaliers if it wants a chance to find its footing again. 

If that happens, the team can think about running. If it doesn't, the Tar Heels could have more performances like the one against Ohio State. 

@bg_keyes

@DTHSports | sports@dailytarheel.com