By Adam Lucas
1. Hubert Davis probably loved that game. He spent the last month telling his top-ranked Tar Heels that they were going to have to compete every night with a target on their back … then UNC-Wilmington came out and proved it for him. Carolina won a poor opener, 69-56.
2. The amazing thing wasn’t that the margin was so close. The amazing thing was that the margin was so big with Carolina playing so poorly. The Tar Heels had four assists, four quick break points, shot less than 50% from the field and a measly 20% from the three-point line, were passed by a CAA team … and still won by 13 Everyone can relax: Yes, Carolina looked better than that (and shot better than that) in practice. This is not a permanent referendum on heels 2022-23.
3. The new pass-happy version of Caleb Love will take some getting used to. This was the case at the start of the second half, when leaky black saw Love go to the edge with the ball and also cut the basket to be in rebound position. But Love threw him a pass he didn’t expect, which resulted in a turnover. It’s the type of game that won’t happen in a month.
4. This was the back half of a streak in which the Tar Heels committed a 10-second violation by being too relaxed under light UNCW pressure. Hubert Davis then went straight to his bench for the first year Seth Trimblewho played 15 minutes, the most from any reserve.
5. You think Hubert Davis going to talk about rebounding in training this week? The Seahawks had a 37-31 overall advantage and a huge 16-7 advantage on the offensive glass (which led to a 14-7 advantage in second-chance points). Yes, there have been more missed shots by the visitors and therefore more chances, but that’s not a stat that will please the head coach.
6. Reminder: despite the ease Armand Bacot published last spring, it is difficult to obtain double-doubles. He was running an eight-straight double-double streak and sat on 49 for his career. But limited by fouls in the second half, he finished with 16 points and “only” nine rebounds, a game record for either side.
7. Seahawks coach Takayo Siddles comes from the Kevin Keatts coaching tree, so he knows Carolina very well. UNCW did a good job of limiting UNC’s offensive transition opportunities in the first half, holding the Heels without a quick break point. It was part of a somewhat scrappy first 20 minutes, including Carolina holding just a one-rebound advantage on the boards, picking up just one assist on nine field goals and shooting 2-for-7 (28.6% ) from the three-point line. . And yet despite all that, the Tar Heels led by 11 at halftime.
8. A big part of that halftime advantage was a sticky UNC defense. In the first half, they limited the visitors to 36% from the field, 20% from the three-point line and forced eight turnovers. The Tar Heels have a chance to be a very good defensive team.
9. One of Carolina’s best weapons on their way to the Final Four last year was the free throw. The Tar Heels are still proficient at this; they hit 23 of 30 on Monday night. It’s a significant advantage to have two ball guards like Caleb Love (4-5) and RD Davis (4-4) who are so good at the line.
10. Interesting ride with the Tar Heels showing three guards in the final minute of the first half. This combination, including Love, Davis and Seth Trimble, forced a UNCW turnover and then essentially held them without a shot late in the half. It might not be Carolina’s top five, but it’s a look they’ve shown on occasion during preseason and it’s something they could use when the circumstances dictate. require.
11. Carolina played without Johnson Puffstill coming back from an injury.
12. A change has been made to the way student tickets are distributed this season. First feedback after a home game: very positive. The students were in their places, even at the upper level, more than an hour before the match. The environment was much better because of the noise they brought.
13. Great to see Luuuuuuuuke Maye at the Smith Center on Monday night. Maye is currently playing in Spain. With a few days off, her choice was clear: return to Chapel Hill. As he said, “I wanted to make sure I saw at least one of my brothers play.” Beau Maye is in his first year with the Tar Heel basketball team; Drake Maye, as you may have heard, is having a very successful year as a quarterback in Carolina football.
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