Freshmen contribute despite lack of game action

UNC men’s basketball coach Tad Boyle said freshmen Emmanuel Addo and Tate Unruh have contributed significantly to the team’s success this season, despite neither of them having played a single minute in any game.

“They’ve had a great impact in practice,” Boyle said.

Addo, a 6-foot-8 forward, and Unruh, a 6-foot-2 guard, are taking their redshirt years this season. They join junior guard Devon Beitzel, junior forwards Chris Kaba and Neal Kingman, and freshman guard Elliott Lloyd as Bears who have redshirted under Boyle.

“The biggest thing was the weight room,” Kingman said. “I came in here; I was a skinny kid, and I’ve put on about 25 pounds since I got here, and it’s made a world of difference.”

Boyle echoed Kingman’s sentiment about the importance of the weight room for redshirts and the fact that Addo and Unruh have been successful there.

“I’d say the biggest improvement they’ve been made is in the weight room,” Boyle said.
Unruh said it has been tough at times to practice hard and then sit on the bench during games as his teammates build an 18-5 record.

“Game days aren’t as fun for me as for the other guys,” Unruh said.

Kingman said that even though they don’t get into games, Addo and Unruh get the same treatment as the players on the team who do.

“In the locker room, they’re just another one of the boys,” Kingman said.

Boyle said there are several reasons why players redshirt: they may need to build strength or refine weaknesses in their game, or the decision to redshirt a player may stem from other circumstances within the team.

“For some players, it’s a matter of there’s guys at their position and you know they won’t get many minutes,” Boyle said. “Tate is a good example for that.”

Unruh said there are benefits off the court to redshirting, as well.

“With studying and living the college life, it’s been really helpful this year to be able to get used to things,” Unruh said.

Boyle said that Unruh, who was the fourth-best 3-point shooter in Missouri high school history, simulates opponents’ top shooters in practice.

“Tate can shoot the lights out,” Kingman said. “When we’ve got an opponent coming in here that has a great shooter, we’ll play him like he’s that guy.”

Addo’s situation is somewhat unique. He was born in Toronto and lived in Ghana for five years before moving back to Canada and eventually to Northfield, Minn. He started playing basketball during his freshman year of high school.

Addo said this season has helped him adjust from the high school game to the college game.

“There’s some stuff you can do in a high school game and get away with that you can’t get away with in college,” Addo said.

Boyle said although Addo’s abilities are raw, he has the potential to be a special player for the University of Northern Colorado.

“The thing about Emmanuel is that he has a good feel for the game,” Boyle said.

Addo and Unruh said that when they can get on the court, they are confident they will be able to maintain the standard that this year’s team is setting.

“Next year, hopefully, we’ll be able to continue the trend,” Unruh said.