Jon Rothstein has been on the move a lot since college basketball teams across the country began official practices this week in preparation for the 2024-2025 season.
On Thursday, the CBS Sports college basketball insider made a visit to Chapel Hill to get a glimpse of what this new-look UNC basketball program features. Rothstein provides some interesting tidbits that should have fans intrigued about this year’s team.
Greetings from Chapel Hill. Here for North Carolina practice. Year 4 of the Hubert Davis era. pic.twitter.com/OoOVn7slxI
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 26, 2024
After showing us all the beautiful sight of the Roy Williams Court inside the Dean Smith Center, Rothstein began by posting about Belmont transfer Cade Tyson, a player he believes will have a similar impact like we saw a few years back from Brady Manek.
Belmont transfer Cade Tyson could provide spacing at PF similar to the way that Brady Manek did during the 2021-22 season. Not comparing Tyson to Manek in terms of impact, but a small ball lineup feels inevitable in Chapel Hill.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 26, 2024
Rothstein made sure to mention the Tar Heels’ two five-star talents: Ian Jackson and Drake Powell, commenting on how they are both built to thrive in North Carolina’s transition style of play.
Two of North Carolina’s freshmen — Ian Jackson and Drake Powell — are tailor made for the Tar Heels in transition. Elite athletes. Elite finishers. Made for the system.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 26, 2024
This team reminds Rothstein of a recent UNC basketball squad that played with an undersized lineup, a group that Tar Heel fans should remember quite fondly.
The makeup of North Carolina’s team reminds me of the team in 2017-18 that started Luke Maye at C. Undersized. Will have to go by committee at the 5 spot.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 26, 2024
He did go on to note that the Tar Heels need someone to emerge as a consistent scorer for this team, as RJ Davis will need some help in carrying the scoring load.
North Carolina needs either Elliot Cadeau or Ian Jackson to be a consistent, double-figure scorer to take pressure off RJ Davis. The true secondary option is still TBD for the Tar Heels.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 26, 2024
Additionally, Rothstein gave his early prediction for the UNC basketball program’s starting lineup, a topic that has a lot of different options to decide from.
Early prediction on North Carolina’s 2024-25 starting five:
Elliot Cadeau, RJ Davis, Ian Jackson, Cade Tyson, Ven Lubin
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 26, 2024
In conclusion, here is what Rothstein had to say after getting to watch the UNC basketball program practice on Thursday:
ROTHSTEIN REACTION: NORTH CAROLINA. pic.twitter.com/jcrMaT0PMc
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 26, 2024
As we all know, the expectations don’t change at the University of North Carolina. The goal every year is to hang another banner in the rafters of the Dean Smith Center, as this group is already putting in the work to hopefully be the last team standing when it’s all said and done.
