While the injury to Dexter Strickland’s knee, which will keep him out the rest of the season, is a huge blow to a North Carolina team expected to content for the national championship, at least one sports analyst thinks the Tar Heels can thrive without Strickland.

Strickland, a starting guard, has been perhaps the Heels best defender but Mike DeCourcy of Sporting News thinks Carolina will need more offensive punch than they’ve gotten to win it all – and they might get that punch by playing Reggie Bullock and/or P.J. Hairston more.

DeCourcy writes that the “absence of Strickland removes a capable finisher from Carolina’s fast break but provides the opportunity to devote his minutes to someone more capable of striking from the perimeter and stretching opposing defenses. During the periods when Marshall and Strickland played in tandem and 6-10 John Henson was in at power forward, the Heels were operating with only one truly dangerous 3-point shooter, (Harrison) Barnes.”

He says that while Bullock and Hairston have struggled, “it figures to help that each one’s playing time will increase.” He said that the Tar Heels must develop an overwhelming offense to be serious title contenders. “Whether it’s Bullock or Hairston or a combination of each player’s best, Carolina will be empowered by the forced transition,” he wrote.

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