Analysis: Lack of size challenges UNC's frontcourt ahead of Duke game

North Carolina entered this season with a question the program hadn't asked for the past five seasons: who's going to be the starting center?

When the Tar Heels fell to Alabama in last season's Sweet Sixteen, then-graduate center Armando Bacot — a man who once said he “would die for this school” — walked off the floor for the last time. He made four all-ACC teams en route to claiming the program's all-time rebounding title, once held by former forward Tyler Hansbrough. It was clear his absence would be felt this season. Eyes turned to head coach Hubert Davis to see how he would patch this hole.

Internally, it was “next man up.” Heading into his junior year, forward Jalen Washington appeared poised to make the leap. High school highlights showcased shifty footwork and a smooth jump shot. Paired with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, the once five-star recruit appeared a viable replacement. 

Graduate forward Jae’Lyn Withers was another name expected to step up to the plate. Despite averaging just 12 minutes per game last season, Withers made noticeable impacts on the glass and recorded 16 points and 10 rebounds in the first round of the NCAA tournament against Wagner.

But both players have not contributed in the ways many thought they would. Questions began to rise after North Carolina's losing effort to a Hunter Dickinson-led Kansas team. The 7-foot-2 center posted 20 points and 10 rebounds over the outsized Tar Heels. The questions remained unanswered entering the Maui Invitational, where Johni Broome's 23 points and 19 rebounds highlighted Auburn's dominant win over UNC. Now, North Carolina must prepare for a game against one of the best teams in the nation on Saturday: No. 2 Duke.

Both Washington and Withers started during UNC's season-opener against Elon, but Davis has since experimented with the frontcourt rotation, utilizing a pair of transfer forwards from Nashville schools.

Junior Ven-Allen Lubin offered efficiency at the rim, averaging 12 points while leading Vanderbilt in field goal percentage last season.

While athletic with a solid post presence on both ends of the floor, Lubin's 6-foot-8 stature did not help the lack of height in the North Carolina locker room. With the Tar Heels, he is averaging 6.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. 

UNC also brought in junior Belmont transfer Cade Tyson as a stretch-four candidate. Tyson averaged 16 points last season, shooting over 46 percent from outside the arc. While he scored 23 points against LaSalle in December, the forward has yet to see consistent playing time or efficiency since. 

The lack of size caused ripple effects on the team's style of play. Long gone are the days of the post feed to Bacot for a layup or an open kick-out 3-pointer. This team rarely even looks for postups this season, looking to their guards instead. 

Rebounding woes have slowed down the Tar Heels as well. A team that flew in the transition game last year now ranks outside the top-150 in offensive and total rebounding percentage. Losses to Florida and Louisville this season both feature UNC conceding crucial offensive rebounds in crunch time — not ideal for a team that could be on the bubble this March, especially with the talent on this year's Duke squad. 

At 7-foot-2, Khaman Maluach will be a tough matchup for the undersized Tar Heels. The No. 3 ranked recruit has a 9-foot-8 standing reach and has been nearly unstoppable over the top. Shooting a staggering 78.8 percent from the floor, the first-year has recorded three double-doubles this season and showcased great patience on the defensive end. 

And then there's Cooper Flagg.

The first-year phenom has had the nation's attention since his high school days, and it's evident why. The 6-foot-9 forward  leads his team in every major statistic. His guard-esque handles and shot allow him to open up the floor, and his combination of size and athleticism make him a nightmare to meet at the rim.

To slow down one of college basketball's hottest players, Davis will need to depend on his small-ball lineup. Recent starting lineups have included 6-foot-6 Drake Powell as UNC's second tallest player on the court. With quicker perimeter defenders, the Tar Heels can shrink Duke's offensive game, leaving it up to the big men to step up on the defensive end. 

If they can't, it will be a long night at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

@dylanstalterr

@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com