Bullock Leaps, Hairston and McAdoo Return for Junior Seasons: How Does That Make Us Feel?

As I am sure you are all aware by now, North Carolina managed to retain two of its three potential ship jumpers this offseason, with Reggie Bullock electing to plunge into the NBA waters and P.J. Hairston and James Michael McAdoo choosing to return for their junior seasons. As an N. C. State fan, how should we feel about this development?

I suppose the best case scenario for the ABC crowd would to see all three leave, but if you could choose only one to go, that one would definitely be Bullock. As the chart below shows, the (generously listed) 6-7 wing was remarkably efficient for a perimeter player. His rebounding and assist rates were very good for someone who entered this season with the reputation as a just a catch and shoot wing, and he took good care of the basketball. His offensive rating compared to conference competitors was second only to another rangy wing by the name of Scott Wood, and Bullock was eighth nationally in that metric. His 5.8 win shares led the Tarheels by a wide margin and were good for sixth in the league.

Bullock hurt the Pack plenty this season, particularly in Chapel Hill. He put up 22 points and 13 rebounds in the Tarheel win. The rebounds matched a career high and the point output was just two off his career best. He also averaged four assists in the two meetings.

Hairston was also excellent against the Pack, averaging 15.5 points in the two meetings on 55.6% shooting. He made 58.3% of his three-balls against the much-maligned State D. Despite the fifth highest usage percentage of any player in the ACC, Hairston was an efficient shooter and very rarely turned the ball over. He also had the sixth highest steal percentage in the conference. It would have been nice to see him go, too.

As for Jim Mike Mac, I am inclined to say that his sticking around might be a win for the Pack, especially if his ball-hogging deters Andrew Wiggins from matriculating in Chapel Hill. I think most Pack fans relish watching him fail to live up to the hype in the same way UNC fans enjoyed the all-too-frequent follies of C.J. Leslie. The two are actually remarkably similar players in that their offensive efficiency takes a huge hit due to their over usage and explosively high turnover rates. Jim Mike Mac gobbled 28.2% of his team's possessions despite being one of its worst offensive options; of the 11 Tarheels who appeared in 30 or more games, only J.P. Tokoto had a lower offensive rating than Jim Mike Mac. Leslie used 25.8% of possessions despite being only the sixth most efficient offensive option of the seven guys who got a decent amount of minutes. At least Leslie's superior finishing ability allowed him to make over half his shots and finish slightly above average in ORtg (103.0). Jim Mike Mac shot 44.5% from the floor, a ghastly total for a guy who shoots from nowhere but in the paint. Only 12 ACC players who spent 500 or more minutes on the floor this season had a lower ORtg than Jim Mike Mac's 93.6, and not one of those players had a usage rate above 25%. In fact, seven of those 12 had usage rates below 20%. You see, when you're not good at basketball, you defer to other, more efficient players.

Unless you are James Michael McAdoo.

Against N. C. State, Jim Mike Mac averaged 13.5 points last season, but he needed 27 field goal and six free throw attempts to get his points. He shot 44.4% from the floor and 50% from the charity stripe, more or less his season averages, despite playing against the Pack's lackluster interior and free throw defenses. He also coughed the ball up seven times while handing out but one solitary dime.

So, in closing, so long, Reggie, so long, C.J. (alas, but not P.J.), and welcome back Mac.

(And, as always, thanks to SR for the stats and metrics.)