OZARKSFIRST

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) Christian Keeling and Justin Pierce know they can’t take long to adapt to new roles as graduate transfers at North Carolina.

That’s because the Tar Heels need immediate help after losing their top five scorers. And while touted freshman Cole Anthony figures to take a leading role at the point, the Tar Heels took an unusual step by bringing in Keeling from Charleston Southern and Pierce from William & Mary for one year. They each boast roughly 90 games of experience at the mid-major level.

“I think we kind of are able to maybe pick up concepts a little faster than maybe most freshmen across the country because we’ve been in the game for three or four years now,” Pierce said Wednesday during UNC’s preseason media day. “I think the adjustment from a mid-major (program) to a high major is a lot easier than high school to high major.”