CHAPEL HILL, N.C. –– The Tar Heels have been stacking the days and now it’s time for the true test because in just one week, the season officially starts.
North Carolina did what they were supposed to against a Division II Johnson C. Smith team yesterday afternoon, beating them 127-63 and now the real test is set to kickoff Monday, Nov. 4th against Elon at 9 p.m.
It’s a new era of Carolina basketball and the starting lineup for yesterday’s contest featured: Elliot Cadeau, ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis, Seth Trimble, Cade Tyson, and Jalen Washington. But it was the bench that truly electrified the crowd.
Notably, freshman phenom guard Ian Jackson scored the most points with 21. He attacked the rim relentlessly converting 8-of-10 from the free-throw line and showcasing his range with a three-pointer.
His style of play perfectly embodied the up-tempo philosophy Coach Davis has instilled in his guys.
“With this group, there’s a number of different lineups we can play,” UNC head coach Davis said. “We can go big, we can go small. There’s a lot of athleticism and versatility out there and I really think the lineups in terms of which ones work the best could be game-to-game so that’s one of the exciting things about our group.”
Vanderbilt transfer Ven-Allen also put it on for his Smith Center debut finishing with 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Lubin also led the team in rebounds with 12. Complemented by junior guard Seth Trimble who contributed 15 points, reigning ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis has a deep supporting cast around him
this season.
The Tar Heels’ commitment to Davis’ “three-second rule” — not holding the ball longer than three seconds — transformed into a devastating fast-break assault. The results were staggering: 72 points in the paint, 34 fastbreak points, and 26 points off turnovers. They played at a blistering pace but a burning question remains: Can this be sustained against ACC competition?
“Yes,” Lubin stated firmly. “That’s just the way Carolina basketball is and it’s something we’re going to maintain going forward.”
While this group might lack the vocal leadership of past Carolina teams, their performance spoke volumes. If yesterday’s exhibition is any indication, these Tar Heels won’t need words to make noise in the ACC this season