CHAPEL HILL – The Tar Heels have changed a lot since Cole Anthony last suited up in Carolina blue.

When Anthony went down with a partially torn meniscus nine games into the season, he was often North Carolina’s first, second and third offensive option, or so it seemed. At times, the Tar Heels struggled getting any offensive flow and Anthony appeared to press more than losing himself in games.

To say the Heels were a bit disjointed at times would be an understatement. Since then, however, several Tar Heels have stepped up their games, not all at one time, but there’s been obvious growth, so it’s likely the Heels are a better team with a wider range of scoring options now than when Anthony went down, and the numbers back that up.

Carolina was 6-3 overall and 1-1 in the ACC with Anthony but went 4-7 and 2-5 without him. The Tar Heels have won two in a row, and two of their last three losses went into overtime. So, there has been some obvious growth.

With Anthony's return for Saturday's home game versus Boston College probable, let's get a better understanding of how some of the Tar Heels have improved compared to their performances before his injury.

*85-for-152 from the field (55.9 percent).

*37-for-64 free throws (57.8 percent).

*Averaging 18.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.

*Eight double-doubles in the 11 games.

*Scored 20-plus points with 10-plus rebounds in a game four times.

*Handed out 23 assists, 2.1 per contest.

Prior to Anthony’s injury: 11.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 50.7 FG percent, 1.7 assists.

“When Cole went down, I had to step into that role…,” Brooks said, following UNC’s win at N.C. State on Monday night.

“Being more aggressive with my shot. Me being more aggressive I think makes our team better and that’s what I try to do.”

Note: Robinson missed the game at Virginia Tech, so he played in 10 of the 11 games, plus he missed the second half at Gonzaga because he wasn’t feeling well. So he’s only played in 10 games during the 11-game stretch Anthony has been out.

*47-for-110 from the field (42.7 percent), including 32-for-83 from 3-point range (38.6 percent).

*26-for-32 free throws (81.3 percent).

*Averaging 14.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.

*20-plus points three times, all in the last seven games he’s played.

*14 steals

Prior to Anthony’s injury: (5 games) 9.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 40.0 FG percent, 7-for-24 (29.2 percent) on 3-pointers, 2.8 assists.

“I think BRob, at one I said ‘he’s finally getting healthy’ and all the other stuff that’s happening to him, too," UNC Coach Roy Williams said Friday. "But he’s more healthy than he was at the start of the season because he missed those first four games.”

Note: Black missed UNC’s loss at home to Wofford, so he’s only played in 10 games during the 11-game stretch Anthony has been out.

*27-for-74 from the field (36.5 percent), including 9-for-29 from 3-point range (31.1 percent).

*Averaging 6.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

*Black has made at least one 3-pointer in each of UNC’s last six games and he’s converted at least one in the last seven games he’s attempted one.

*At least one made 3-pointer in UNC’s last six games and Black has converted a 3 in the last seven games he’s attempted one.

Prior to Anthony’s injury: 4.9 points (32.7 FG percent), 4-for-11 (36.4 percent) on 3-pointers, 2.1 assists.

Note: Bacot injured his ankle early in the loss to Ohio State and struggled over the next six games. He said following a loss to Pittsburgh at home that his confidence was shaken during that stretch, and the numbers back it up. Following are his numbers during that six-game stretch and then in the six games since then. The intent here is to also illustrate how much Bacot has improved since Anthony went down, as well.

Six games after the injury (not including OSU stats):

*14-for-46 from the field (30.4 percent).

*14-for-26 from the free throw line (53.8 percent).

*7.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and .7 assists per game.

Over the last six games:

*31-for-61 from the field (50.8 percent).

*27-for-37 from the free throw line (73.0 percent)

*14.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game.

*Bacot has three double-doubles in UNC’s last four contests.

Yes, if Cole Anthony does play Saturday, he's rejoining an improved team, one that has gone through a lot of tough times but also fought through them and appears to have come out stronger. In addition, Brooks taking ownership and elevating his game a few notches from where it was when Anthony went down is huge. Robinson’s grit, lead-by-example ways and his recent giant step forward in knocking down perimeter shots is big.

Black is playing better and with more confidence, and Bacot has clearly matured. There is no doubt UNC is a better team now than when Anthony went down.