After a rocky West Coast swing for North Carolina, one player feeling the brunt of the rotation shake-up is junior guard Kyan Evans. Through the first 17 games of the season, Evans was logging close to 30 minutes a night-clearly trusted as a steady presence in the backcourt. But over the last three games, that number has dipped significantly, down to about 10 minutes per contest.
The drop-off in playing time has been noticeable, but there was a glimmer of hope in the Notre Dame game. Evans came off the bench and delivered 9 points, knocking down three triples and, just as importantly, committing zero turnovers. That’s the version of Evans Tar Heel fans were hoping to see carry over into a tough road test at Virginia.
Instead, the trip to Charlottesville was a setback. Evans played just seven minutes, missed all four of his shot attempts-including three from deep-and struggled to find a rhythm in what turned into a quiet night.
So where does that leave Evans, and what can Carolina realistically expect from him moving forward?
Let’s start here: expecting him to replicate his Colorado State production might be a stretch at this point. That version of Evans-high-usage, high-minute, primary ballhandler-isn’t the role he’s being asked to fill in Chapel Hill. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be a valuable piece of the puzzle.
What Evans can still bring to the table is smart, efficient guard play in limited minutes. If he regains confidence in his jumper, he could become a reliable floor-spacer and a steady hand alongside Derek Dixon.
We’ve seen flashes of chemistry between the two before, and there’s a blueprint for how they can complement each other. The challenge, of course, is size.
Two undersized guards in the backcourt can be a defensive liability-but if Evans plays with discipline, limits fouls, and brings energy on both ends, the pairing can work in spurts.
More likely, though, Evans settles into a bench role where he gives Carolina 10-15 solid minutes a night. In that role, the key is simple: take care of the basketball and knock down open shots.
UNC doesn’t need him to be a star-they need him to be efficient. The assist-to-turnover ratio has to be sharp.
The open threes-he’s going to get them-have to start falling. When opponents go under screens against a known shooter, it’s a problem.
If Evans starts making them pay, the ripple effect on the Tar Heels’ offense could be significant.
This isn’t uncharted territory for Evans. He’s shown in the past that he can bounce back from slumps and find his rhythm.
And with Dixon emerging as the lead guard, the pressure on Evans to carry the offense has eased. That could be exactly what he needs-a chance to settle in, play his game, and contribute without trying to do too much.
North Carolina hits the road again this Saturday, January 31st, for a 2:00 p.m. tip against Georgia Tech. It’s the kind of matchup where Evans could see extended run, and maybe even get the confidence boost he’s been looking for. One good performance could be all it takes to get him trending back in the right direction.
For now, the Tar Heels don’t need Evans to be the hero. They just need him to be steady, smart, and ready. And if he can start hitting shots again, don’t be surprised if his minutes-and his impact-start climbing right back up.