The No. 8 seed North Carolina Tar Heels have taken down the No. 9 seed Marquette Golden Eagles, No. 1 seed Baylor Bulldogs, No. 4 seed UCLA Bruins, and No. 15 seed St. Peters Peacocks. The Duke Blue Devils have taken down No. 15 Cal State Fullerton, No. 7 Michigan State, No. 3 Texas Tech, and No. 4 Arkansas.
The two are now set for a rematch in what is (arguably) the most anticipated Final Four matchup in NCAA March Madness history. Both of these teams will have multiple players entering the NBA Draft and the Chicago Bulls need to have an eye on two of them.
With the Bulls struggling to defend the perimeter without Lonzo Ball, they will likely look to upgrade their wing defense. That could mean getting a vet in free agency, making a trade, or addressing the position in the draft. The latter is the cheapest option, something the Bulls’ current cap calls for with Zach LaVine hitting free agency.
On the other hand, Chicago will also have to upgrade their interior defense. If they decide to stick with Nikola Vucevic, they will need to find a shot blocker to back him up, especially if Tristan Thompson retires.
North Carolina’s Rachon “Leaky” Black is the do-everything wing the Bulls could grab for the wing role, while Duke’s Mark Williams can be that inside presence for the Bulls.
North Carolina’s Leaky Black could be the missing defensive piece for the Bulls
Black has established himself as the Tar Heels’ most valuable floor raiser this season, most notably against Baylor and UCLA. Black is UNC’s most reliable defender, and is tasked with guarding the other team’s best ball handler or scorer each game.
His 3-point shot needs improving, but the stroke is there. He shoots 83% from the free-throw line and 36% from three. The Bulls coaching staff is more than capable of helping his shot get more consistent as well as extending his range.
Leaky Black knows how to turn defense into offense
— Barstool College Basketball (@StoolCBB) March 26, 2022
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What isn’t a question is Black’s defensive edge. in the Sweet 16, he threw off each Bruin he defended, forcing Johnny Juzang and Jaime Jaquez into poor shooting performances. Standing at 6-foot-8, he has great hands and lateral quickness. He can switch onto bigs in sort stints and defend quick guards. That versatility is perfect in today’s era of small ball.
Duke’s Mark Williams size and spring is something the Bulls can’t overlook
It’s no secret that the Bulls’ big three are defensive conundrums. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan allow easy blow-bys at the worst moments, while Vucevic moves in slow motion. The three provide great offense, but eventually give up the same scoring on the other end.
The team desperately needs a shot blocker to offset their scorers’ terrible defense. The Bulls rank 23rd in the NBA in points allowed in the paint, trailing the Detroit Pistons. To have a worse interior defense than a rebuilding rebuilding is the biggest sign that the Bulls aren’t quite there yet in terms of being a contender.
Williams can help at least change shots inside. As a 7-foot big who has played against current and future pros in college, he has the size and athleticism to be a good interior force off the bench.
If the Bulls decide to move off of Vucevic, they will have to get a veteran big who can mentor Williams. He’s still raw but has improved each game he’s played at Duke. His ability to learn on the fly and adjust is his best attribute outside of his height.
The Bulls don’t need prime Hakeem Olajuwon. They just need someone who can set screens, block shots and make a layups. Williams is a player who can fill that role and grow into a bigger one.