UNC Basketball: Getting in the zone

Photo by Mark Brown/Getty ImagesShaking off the awful loss against Clemson is a must as the Tar Heels prepare for the first Duke game of the season this Saturday. Enough has been said about how this year will be the first time since 1950 that neither team is ranked, but I’ll just add that both teams are playing... suboptimal basketball at this moment in time.

One reason for optimism? Carolina’s biggest weaknesses, turnovers and poor shooting, are not necessarily exacerbated by Duke’s current style of play. The Blue Devils have been playing zone defense as of late, as the young team either 1.) cannot be taught proper defensive principles, or 2.) K is using the zone to hide poor individual…