Rise and Shine: UNC's defense problem

By Sam Federman

HeelReport on YouTube

North Carolina is 14-4 entering Wednesday's game against Notre Dame, two games better than last season's 12-6 start, but the Heels are in a crisis mode right now.

Hubert Davis' team is 17th out of 18 teams in the ACC in defensive rating during conference play thanks to some of the worst three-point defense splits imaginable. Additionally, a few star guards have had their way with UNC.

In the loss to SMU, Boopie Miller scored 27 points and had 12 assists. Wake Forest's Nate Calmese had 28 points and 9 assists. Stanford superstar freshman Ebuka Okorie dropped 36 and 9, and then Dai Dai Ames and Justin Pippen each scored 19.

Why is this happening? North Carolina's guards are really struggling to keep guards in front of them, and they're also struggling on switches. The Tar Heels have elite size and physicallity on the inside, but have been giving up way too many easy touches in side, creating open looks outside and chances in the paint.

North Carolina has allowed opponents to shoot nearly 45% from beyond the arc in ACC play, and the Heels have the worst defensive rating in the ACC.

There's plenty of time left in the season for North Carolina to solve its issues, which weren't issues in the first month and a half of the season for the most part. The Heels take on Notre Dame on Wednesday, needing a win.