1. Decisive ACC win for the Tar Heels, who wanted a type of. Carolina beat SMU within the first convention assembly, 82-67.
2. Chalk it as much as protection (SMU shot simply 33 % from the sector), and chalk it up particularly to publish protection. SMU entered the sport as one of many prime ten offensive rebounding groups within the nation. Carolina emphasised that closely in apply the final two days, and it paid off. The Mustangs managed simply ten second likelihood factors (4 after the sport had been determined) and the Heels tied the general factors within the paint battle, 26-26. The guests have been simply 19-for-51 on two-point pictures.
3. Ven-Allen Lubin’s stat line wasn’t eye-popping (seven factors and two rebounds) however he was an enormous a part of Carolina’s effort across the rim, as have been Jalen Washington (three extra blocks, together with an early tone-setting one on SMU huge man Samet Yigitoglu) and Jae’Lyn Withers (seven factors and three rebounds, plus a drawn cost).
4. SMU was additionally the most effective three-point share capturing groups within the league. However they managed simply 3-16 on Tuesday, not practically sufficient to offset their struggles within the paint.
5. Tuesday marked the return of Seth Trimble, who missed three video games with an higher physique harm. Trimble got here off the bench in his return and whereas he wasn’t himself offensively and was held scoreless, his presence was essential as a result of Elliot Cadeau was saddled with two fouls in lower than 4 minutes and needed to head to the bench early. Along with being a part of that perimeter protection above, Trimble had three assists and only one turnover.
6. He hasn’t been as flashy as Ian Jackson (who had 18 factors and 7 rebounds on Tuesday even on a comparatively “sluggish” evening), however Drake Powell has steadily been exhibiting some regular progress and was essential on Tuesday. The freshman hit 4 three-pointers to go along with his 4 rebounds, block and steal on his method to ending with 17 factors. If Powell can persistently be a capturing or driving menace from the nook, Carolina’s offense turns into way more harmful. Powell’s defensive flexibility additionally offers Carolina numerous choices.
7. RJ Davis had a game-high 26 factors on 8-15 capturing and in addition picked up 5 rebounds and 4 assists. The spotlight got here with 2:30 left, when he tossed in his ultimate three-pointer on the shot clock buzzer over the outstretched arm of Yigitoglu–which is a really lengthy outstretched arm. Sadly, Davis wasn’t round to see the tip after a defensive collision left him bloody.
8. One thing you like about Jackson: he is not afraid of something. He took a tough flagrant one foul from Yigitoglu halfway by the second half and earned a pair free throws. On the very subsequent possession, he drove proper on the Turkish huge man once more.
9. Trimble’s return impacted the minutes of Cade Tyson, who didn’t play within the recreation. Tyson has struggled to seek out consistency, particularly in opposition to the top-tier groups on the schedule, and has only one three-pointer within the final six video games. However he will be essential in some recreation down the street.
10. Longtime Carolina followers will keep in mind that the Tar Heels and Mustangs performed a three-game sequence within the mid-Nineteen Eighties. That set featured a recreation in Greensboro, a recreation in Dallas the lengthy misplaced Reunion Area and a recreation on the Smith Heart. Carolina went 2-1 in these video games, with present assistant coach Jeff Lebo scoring 22 factors as a sophomore within the win in Dallas.
11. By no means know who you may see on the Smith Heart: former Maryland coach Mark Turgeon was within the entrance row and acquired a pregame go to from Roy Williams, who coached him at Kansas. Turgeon, properly, was sporting a Carolina sweatshirt. Governor Josh Stein, a Chapel Hill Excessive alum and large Tar Heel fan, was additionally readily available for the primary time in his tenure.
