CHAPEL HILL, N.C. –– After a 1-2 letdown in the Maui Invitational last week, No. 20 North Carolina is primed to make a comeback not just to avoid a three-game losing skid, but to avenge last season’s Sweet 16 loss to the Crimson Tide.
The Tar Heels fell eight spots in the AP Top 25 poll this week after suffering losses to Auburn and an unranked Michigan State – not a good sign ahead of tomorrow’s ACC/SEC Challenge against No.10 Alabama.
“From a defensive standpoint, the six halves in Maui, three of the six we’ve allowed teams to shoot over 50 percent from the field. That’s not where we want to be,” Head Coach Hubert Davis said to the media yesterday.
“In the three games in Maui, teams were averaging 90 points per game. That’s not good for us. That’s not where we want to be.”
In seven games this season, UNC has relied heavily on its three-guard play, namely because its front court—with the absence of Armando Bacot—hasn’t been able to get stops and rebound the ball. Getting on the offensive glass was also a huge problem for the Tar Heels and their three games on the road yielded more turnovers than assists.
Addressing all of these issues begins with stronger offensive outings from tipoff. In each of the three games’ first halves, the Tar Heels trailed by double figures. A frontcourt made up of Jalen Washington and Jae’Lyn Withers with Ven Allen-Lubin as the third guy hasn’t been enough to get the job done and there’s bound to be a change. The loudest cries have been for Davis to start freshman Drake Powell. Powell is averaging 6.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game in his 22.3 minutes per game, yet the intensity of his game and his rim protection that could make a more positive impact for the Tar Heels.
Washington isn’t getting enough touches and his lack of production is costing the team valuable plays, which in turn hurts their league standings. While his 6-foot-11 frame and experience as a junior hasn’t been up to par, it might be best to go with the 6-foot-6 Powell who can provide more offensive and defensive versatility.
Regardless of these issues, however, the Tar Heels always seem to show up in a major way for these non-conference matchups at the Smith Center. Just flashback to their 100-92 win over the Tennessee Volunteers last season.
This series with the Crimson Tide is slightly different in that during the last two meetings, the Tar Heels have lost by a combined four points. This game will be especially important to ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis whose season ended on a sour 4-for-20 field goal effort back in March. In that game and for the first time all season, he shot 0-of-9 from beyond the arc. While these struggles have continued a bit into this season—14-for-51 from the 3-point line through seven games—tomorrow offers an opportunity to completely erase the past and start fresh.
The sooner the Tar Heels can get an interior presence and improve their defense, the better positioning they’ll be in ahead of conference play which begins with a game against Georgia Tech on Saturday at the Smith Center.