Tag: 2023-2024 UNC Basketball Season

Blue White Scrimmage cancelled due to NIL Rules

The UNC men’s basketball program’s Blue White Scrimmage was canceled this year, no thanks to new NIL rules.

Once again, the NCAA is rearing its ugly head at UNC.

First, it ruled wide receiver Devontez Walker ineligible due to new, 2-time transfer rules enacted two days after his arrival.

Now the NCAA is affecting the Tar Heels’ men’s basketball program.

Earlier on Thursday, Aug. 24, 247Sports reported that UNC’s annual Blue White Scrimmage has been canceled.

Though the Heels don’t begin official gameplay until Monday, Nov. 6 against Radford, the Blue-White scrimmage provides players an early opportunity to build chemistry – plus for coaches to see how they will construct their starting and reserve units.

According to event organizers Pro Camps, those who purchased tickets will receive full refunds.

“”Due to recently updated NCAA guidance around student athletes and NIL, the Blue White Scrimmage on September 9th is cancelled and will not be allowed,” Pro Camps told 247Sports. “We apologize for any inconvenience, but full refunds on ticket purchases will be provided.”

The Blue White scrimmage debuted last year on Aug. 27, 2022. Thanks to NIL rules, Tar Heels players received a portion of profit generated through the event.

This summer, though, the NCAA is making efforts to tighten its NIL regulations.

“If a state law permits certain institutional action and NCAA legislation prohibits the same action, institutions must follow NCAA legislation,” according to a document obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

Athletes must now disclose their NIL deals within 30 days of signing contracts.

It’s wonderful that athletes now finally have a chance to profit off their name and skillset, but this just seems like another case of the NCAA trying to prevent this.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Social media reacts to Air Jordan 6 UNC PE national title sneakers

Late last night, zSneakerHeads announced the Air Jordan 6 PE “2017 National Championship” shoes. Let’s see how sneakerheads reacted to it.

Regardless of how the UNC men’s basketball team does in any given year, there’s one guarantee: their gameday drip will always be on point.

They’ve gone from wearing the tiny shorts in the last century to the long, baggy shorts in more recent days. Now, players are wearing shorts that are halfway between – something fans might think of as a little more 2023-esque.

The jerseys are some of the best in college basketball, as they’re designed by Chapel Hill staple Alexander Julian. Carolina has the unique, argyle style down the sides, a design we haven’t seen any other team come out with.

Late Tuesday night on Instagram, zSneakerHeadz gave Tar Heels’ fans a peek at the Air Jordan 6 PE “2017 National Championship” shoes, a new set the players could be donning during the upcoming campaign.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CvtDFn7s_KS/?img_index=1

It’s unknown if UNC players will ever get these shoes despite them being labeled “player exclusives” but they will have their fair share of options as the year goes on.

There’s only one thing left to do. Let’s take a look at social media to see how UNC fans and sneakerheads reacted to yesterday’s news:

Tar Heels matching up against reigning NCAA Tourney Champs in Jimmy V Classic

The UNC men’s basketball team gets arguably its greatest early season test on Tuesday, Dec. 5, facing UConn in the Jimmy V Classic.

Two national men’s basketball powers – one expected to win last year’s national chmpionship and one who actually did – will be facing off in November’s highly-anticipated Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden.

UNC, coming off a disappointing 2022-2023 campaign in which it became the first Preseason Number One to miss the NCAA tournament, will face the reigning national champion UConn Huskies on Tuesday, Dec. 5.

The Adama Sanogo-led Huskies breezed through Iona, Saint Mary’s (Calif.), Arkansas, Gonzaga, Miami (Fla.) University before dominating San Diego State in the national championship, 76-59.

The Armando Bacot-led Tar Heels, meanwhile, fought for their life as a bubble team late in the season. Carolina won three straight against Notre Dame, Virginia and Florida State in late February, then lost to archrival Duke in the regular-season finale and Virginia in the ACC Tournament.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CvprHxrgdw_/

Fans watching the UNC-UConn matchup are going to see plenty of new faces.

The Heels return leading perimeter shooter R.J. Davis (.362 3-point%) and all-time rebound/double-doubles leader Armando Bacot to the starting lineup, but bring in a highly-touted Elliot Cadeau and two transfers (Harrison Ingram, Jae’Lyn Withers).

Tristen Newton (10.1 points per game) is the Huskies’ highest returning scorer, while 7’2″ Donovan Clingan is listed at the starting center. Stephon Castle, Cam Spencer and Alex Karaban round out the starters.

Regardless of who’s taking the floor for either team, it’s going to be an exciting matchup to watch. We’ll provide more details on time and how to watch once we get closer to Gameday.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

R.J. Davis putting in summer work at old high school

UNC shooting guard R.J. Davis is preparing for the upcoming collegiate season by working out at Archbishop Stepinac, his old high school.

R.J. Davis is going to be a key part of the UNC men’s basketball team getting back to the NCAA tournament.

The Tar Heels, picked to finish No. 1 last year after a national championship appearance in April 2022, missed the Big Dance in one of the most disappointing seasons in team history. Their season hung by a thread after a heartbreaking 62-57 loss against Duke on March 4.

Inconsistencies from deep, plus Pete Nance not living up to his billing as Brady Manek’s replacement, were only a couple of the issues that plagued Carolina.

There was one bright spot for UNC throughout the campaign: R.J. Davis.

Anytime the Heels needed a big shot, whether a rare 3-pointer or a layup through contact, Davis was that guy. He led the ACC in free throw shooting (.881) and finished 10th in scoring (16.1 points per game).

Even though the season is three months away from starting with a Monday, Nov. 6 home-opener against Radford, Davis is already putting in the offseason work.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvc2H-zO1np/?img_index=4

On Wednesday, Davis posted a series of workout pictures to his Instagram account. It appears Davis worked on his perimeter shooting and defense.

He spent time on the court at his old high school, Archbishop Stepinac, where he was named New York’s 2020 Gatorade High School Basketball Player of the Year.

Davis led Carolina in 3-point percentage last season (.362). The Heels will need every bit of his sweet perimeter touch if they want to win some games this year.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Will experience be enough to carry Tar Heel hoopsters back to NCAA Tourney?

The UNC men’s basketball team carries a breadth of experience on its roster ahead of the upcoming season. This will be crucial to success.

Despite the slew of transfers and eligibility running out for Leaky Black and Pete Nance, UNC’s men’s basketball squad will have a good amount of experience on its upcoming roster.

Headlining the 2023-2024 Heels is Armando Bacot, arguably the best returning center in college basketball and one of UNC’s all-time greats, plus R.J. Davis.

Bacot is Carolina’s all-time leader in rebounds (1,335) and double-doubles (68). The Heels ran their offense through the 6-11 big man from Richmond, Va., so much last year that opposing teams would double/triple-team him and force UNC to find other avenues of offensive production.

Davis is one of the Heels’ most productive and consistent scorers. He finished second in scoring (16.1 points per game) and reached double-digits in all but four contents.

“They have done an unbelievable job of creating team and getting the new guys — not just the freshmen but also the transfers — acclimated to what this program is about and what our team is going to be about,” head coach Hubert Davis told The Daily Tar Heel. “That came naturally. This is something that they took personally for themselves, to be leaders. This team is together because of those two guys.”

UNC also brought in graduate transfer Jae’Lyn Withers from Louisville, who finished last in the ACC a season ago, plus another graduate transfer in Notre Dame’s Cormac Ryan.

According to Hubert Davis, that experience is going to be a key in getting the Heels back to the NCAA tournament.

“Probably the biggest area I didn’t know is what kind of a leader he is,” Davis told Daily Tar Heel about Ryan. “He’s a gatherer. He is a vocal leader in the locker room, on the court, off the court and just brings teammates together.”

Carolina kicks off its season on Monday, Nov. 6 against Radford.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Maye no more: Beau Maye opts not to continue UNC hoops career

Beau Maye, brother of UNC star quarterback Drake Maye and former hoopster Luke Maye, is leaving the Carolina basketball program.

Maye is a household name at the University of North Carolina.

It started when Luke Maye hit “The Shot heard ’round Chapel Hill” in the 2017 men’s basketball NCAA Tournament, sending UNC to its second-consecutive Final Four. The Heels ended up winning the title that year, holding off Gonzaga for their sixth title.

Fast-forward a few years, and Drake Maye is the best quarterback in college football.

Drake finished fourth among Football Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks in passing yards (4,321) and played himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation. He’s a preseason Heisman contender and projected to go in the first round in the 2024 NFL draft.

There’s another Maye brother you might not know as much about: Beau Maye. Beau, who grabbed two rebounds in two minutes for UNC during the 2022-2023 season, will not return.

There was no reason given for Beau Maye leaving the program, but it’s not a huge blow for the Heels. They already return talented starters in Armando Bacot and R.J. Davis, plus a key reserve (and possible future starting center) in Jalen Washington, then brought in electric point guard Elliot Cadeau, Zayden High and a slew of tranfers.

Whether he left to watch his brother sling it on the gridiron or not, it would’ve been unique to still say there’s two Mayes playing at UNC.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

UNC basketball’s 2023-2024 jersey numbers are officially in

UNC men’s basketball players got a step closer to the 2023-2024 season on Monday, as they all received jersey numbers.

North Carolina basketball will have a new look this year after a disappointing end to the 2022-23 season.

UNC returns an all-time great in Armando Bacot, the program’s all-time leader in rebounds (1,335) and double-doubles (68), at the center spot. R.J. Davis, the Heels’ most consistent scorer last season (16.1 points per game, double-digit points in all but four games), will likely split point guard duties with freshman Elliot Cadeau and spend time at shooting guard.

The Heels brought in five players from the transfer portal – projected starters Harrison Ingram (Stanford) and Jae’Lyn Withers (Louisville), plus Cormac Ryan (Notre Dame), Paxson Wojcik (Brown) and James Okonkwo (West Virginia). They’ll also sport returners Jalen Washington and Seth Trimble, Robert Landry, Creighton Lebo, Duwe Farris, plus another freshman in Zayden High.

On Monday, July 31, players got an exciting step closer to the season, as they received jersey numbers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CvX2QGRrrXj/

High and Cadeau, the two freshmen, wear numbers one and two. Ryan sports three, while Davis stays wearing the four and Bacot will keep his five. Trimble wears seven again, while Wojcik is given eight. Washington will wear the Lucky 13, Lebo dons 14, Landry has the Taylor Swift connection with number 22 and Withers wears 24. Okonkwo puts 32 on, Farris takes 34 and Ingram puts 55 on his back.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.