Tag: Jae’lyn Withers

Drake Powell getting first career start against Alabama

UNC’s starting lineup will look a little different against Alabama.

The North Carolina Tar Heels will have a slight change to their starting lineup against Alabama tonight, as freshman Drake Powell will be starting in the place of Jae’Lyn Withers.

Powell has played phenomenal basketball through seven games in his freshman season, including a solid run through the Maui Invitational. He scored a career-high 18 points against Michigan State on 7-of-9 shooting, including a 4-of-6 mark from deep.

Powell has averages of 6.3 points, 3.7 points and 0.7 assists per game, but even when he’s not contributing on the stat sheet, Powell is finding ways to impact the game. He’s a phenomenal defender who hustles after every ball, can deliver some soul-snatching blocks (watch American highlights) and has the ability to make shots from anywhere, whether a highlight-reel dunk or a clutch 3-pointer.

UNC went just 1-2 in the Maui Invitational: coming back to beat Dayton in its opener, before getting blown out by Auburn and losing in overtime to Michigan State. North Carolina is still trying to discover its best lineups – and it got a glimpse of how special Powell can be in the MSU loss.

The Tar Heels brought Powell off the bench in their first six games, when they rolled with a starting lineup of Withers, RJ Davis, Elliot Cadeau, Seth Trimble and Jalen Washington. Withers has played solid basketball in his first year as a starter, averaging 7.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, but Powell has played better.

What a big moment for Powell, who gets his first start just 20 minutes up the road from where he played high school ball.

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Revisiting March’s UNC-Alabama Sweet 16 matchup ahead of Wednesday’s ACC-SEC Challenge

Do you remember when UNC and Alabama faced off in March’s Sweet 16 battle?

After nine months of waiting, the North Carolina Tar Heels get their long-awaited crack at revenge against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Wednesday night.

UNC (4-3) and Alabama (6-2) will face off as part of their new, highly-anticipated ACC-SEC Challenge clash. North Carolina spent Thanksgiving Week in Hawaii, where it beat Dayton before losing to Auburn and Michigan State, while the Crimson Tide lost to Oregon in the Players Era Festival title game.

Back in March, way before the UNC-Alabama ACC-SEC Challenge battle was scheduled, both teams faced off in the Sweet 16.

The top-seeded Tar Heels returned to the Big Dance behind an experienced squad, led by ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis and center Armando Bacot, while the Crimson Tide carried a deep, ultra-talented lineup led by Mark Sears and Grant Nelson.

Unfortunately for North Carolina, March’s Sweet 16 matchup ended in a disappointing, 89-87 loss.

UNC showed a troubling trend in that clash that I’ve witnessed several times recently: entering halftime with a lead, then enduring a cold spell that cost it the game. The Tar Heels were up 54-46 against Alabama, just like against Kansas in the 2022 National Title Game, then the Crimson Tide used a 43-33 second half to advance in the Big Dance.

North Carolina struggled to shoot the ball as a team against Alabama in the Sweet 16, making just 30-of-78 shots for a 38.5 percent mark.

RJ Davis struggled in particular, draining just 4-of-20 attempts – and failing to make a 3-pointer for the first time all season. UNC enjoyed an 85-84 lead with a minute left, then Jae’Lyn Withers took an ill-advised 3-point attempt the Crimson Tide rebounded – and scored on 23 seconds later.

If you’re looking at the Sweet 16 battle from an Alabama fan perspective, it was known as the Grant Nelson game. Nelson shot 6-of-9 from the field, including a 2-for-2 mark from downtown, while he made 10-of-13 free throws.

RJ and Withers are back, as is Nelson. Wednesday night in Chapel Hill is about to be a movie.

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How did UNC’s post players perform in closer-than-expected victory over Elon?

UNC might be better off in the frontcourt than you expect this coming basketball season.

Without Armando Bacot in a North Carolina Tar Heels uniform any longer, UNC is in big need of players to step up in the post this season.

Luckily for North Carolina, it has plenty of post guys to rotate with – and all are experienced upperclassmen.

Jalen Washington, who started at center in UNC’s 90-76 victory over Elon, is a junior. Jae’Lyn Withers, who started at power forward, is in his fifth season. Ven-Allen Lubin, the Vanderbilt transfer who came off the bench and can play both the four or five, is a junior. Cade Tyson, the sharp-shooting Belmont transfer seen as a Stretch Four, is a junior.

I’m really encouraged by what I saw from the Tar Heels’ post rotation Monday night, particularly from Withers and Washington. Withers grabbed a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Washington poured in eight points, grabbed four rebounds, blocked a shot, stole a ball and recorded an assist.

Lubin scored four points, registered seven rebounds and blocked two shots in 17 minutes off the bench, while Tyson scored two points – and grabbed two rebounds – in 16 minutes off the bench.

Look at the second sentence of what respected college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein said: Hubert Davis would sign for 3/4 of North Carolina’s post production on Monday night, particularly in a post-Bacot world.

I agree with Rothstein. There are bound to be some growing pains for UNC in the paint during college basketball season, but at least it has experienced upperclassmen in Lubin, Withers and Washington to count on for production.

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Jae’Lyn Withers takes advantage of season-opening start against Elon

Jae’Lyn Withers is a name UNC basketball fans should be keeping their eye on this season.

When Jae’Lyn Withers took his infamous 3-point attempt in UNC’s Sweet 16 loss to Alabama last year, many fans had a negative taste in their mouth.

With North Carolina leading 85-84, Withers, who shot just 20 percent from deep, launched a wide-open shot. The Crimson Tide pulled down a rebound and – moments later – took the lead for good on Grant Nelson’s layup.

After the Tar Heels’ 90-76 victory over Elon in their season-opener on Monday, fans should have a positive feeling about Withers.

Getting an unexpected start, Withers delivered in major fashion, showcasing he can be a crucial part of North Carolina’s success by recording a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Withers shot 4-of-10 from the field, but what’s even more encouraging is that he made two of three attempts from beyond the perimeter. Withers also showcased his abilities as a ball-handler and passer, generating an assist and one of UNC’s 11 steals.

It took Withers until January 17 this year to record his first double-double, when he scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against Louisville, where he transferred from ahead of the 2023-2024 college basketball season.

Withers’ usage in Monday’s opener also points to him having an increased role throughout the upcoming year. Withers played 22 minutes, the most out of any Tar Heel post players. Jalen Washington played 21 minutes, Vanderbilt transfer Ven-Allen Lubin played 17 and Belmont transfer Cade Tyson played 16.

Withers started 79 percent of the games he appeared in at Louisville, but has started just 10.5 percent of his games as a Tar Heel.

If Withers continues to play like he did Monday night, we’ll be hearing the North Carolina native’s name called a lot more in the starting lineup.

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Does Ven-Allen Lubin’s commitment to UNC basketball guarantee him a starting spot?

The Tar Heels should immediately make Ven-Allen Lubin their starting power forward for the coming season.

Thursday was a big day for the UNC basketball program.

After coming so close to landing the likes of coveted transfers Oumar Ballo, Aaron Bradshaw and Cliff Omoruyi – only for them to choose other schools – North Carolina finally grabbed Vanderbilt transfer Ven-Allen Lubin.

The Tar Heels had post players before Lubin’s addition – Jae’Lyn Withers, Jalen Washington, Zayden High and incoming freshman James Brown – but none with extensive college experience.

Lubin started all 26 games for the Commodores last year, averaging 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He recorded five double-doubles, something UNC enjoyed a lot of with Armando Bacot over the last five seasons.

Given that Lubin is 6’8″, I foresee most of his minutes at power forward, with the occasional switch over to small forward or center. This puts North Carolina in a pickle at the 4-spot, as Jae’Lyn Withers was slated to be the starter, after backing up Harrison Ingram last year.

Withers only started three games during the 2023-2024 campaign, averaging 4.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Lubin is an immediate upgrade, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see Hubert Davis use Withers and Lubin in a tandem.

Washington’s number are similar to Withers (3.9 points, 2.6 rebounds per game), but he’s a center. High played even less (0.8 points in 4.5 minutes per game), but he’ll likely play as a reserve.

To put it simply, I would be shocked if Lubin isn’t starting from Day One.

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UNC basketball forward Jae’Lyn Withers makes decision on future

Jae’Lyn Withers announces he’s returning for his fifth and final season with the UNC Basketball program.

The 2024-25 North Carolina basketball roster is starting to take shape as the calendar has flipped to May.

After landing a commitment from Cade Tyson in the transfer portal a week ago, UNC received good news when RJ Davis announced he was returning for his fifth and final season. Now they are getting another key piece back.

Jae’Lyn Withers confirmed he is returning for his final season of eligibility per college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein. The Charlotte native will spend his last year in his home state, and it will be the second season with the Tar Heels for the forward.

Last season, Withers came off the bench for UNC. He averaged 4.2 points and  3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 53.5% from the field.

With UNC losing Armando Bacot and Harrison Ingram, keeping Withers gives it some much-needed depth in the post. He stands 6 feet, 9 inches.

He will be one of two Tar Heels to use the extra COVID-19 season for eligibility, joining Davis.

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Jae’Lyn Withers’ shot was the coup de grâce in UNC’s Big Dance exit

Jae’Lyn Withers owned up to the shot that, essentially, cost UNC a win against Alabama in the Sweet 16.

There were too many things to count that went wrong for UNC in Thursday’s Sweet 16 loss to Alabama.

Hardly anyone shot well, highlighted by RJ Davis‘ 4-for-20 night and Armando Bacot’s missed, wide-open dunk. Hubert Davis made a questionable decision to sit Seth Trimble most of the second half, when North Carolina really needed its best defender against the nation’s top-scoring team.

The most head-scratching decision, however, came when the Tar Heels had a 1-point lead with one minute to go in the game. RJ kicked the ball out to a wide-open Jae’Lyn Withers beyond the 3-point line. Withers isn’t necessarily the guy UNC wants shooting this big shot, but he was so wide open.

A make would’ve sent the North Carolina bench into jubilation, but the latter happened.

Moments later, hearts were broken across the Tar Heel State when Grant Nelson scored Alabama’s final five points.

“I work on that shot every day so I don’t think it’s a bad shot,” Withers told Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Eisenberg after the game. “But with time and score, I could have tried to get to the free throw line or get to the basket and get an easier look for me.”

I agree with Withers – it was a great shot. If I were that wide open, I would’ve taken the same shot. Even if there were three minutes left in the game, I would’ve given Withers the green light.

Withers, however, is not the guy you want shooting 3-pointers. As Eisenberg pointed out earlier in his article, Withers had only taken 19 perimeter shots all year – and made just four of them.

He owned up to his decision, though, which is exactly what you want to see from a veteran presence.

“That was probably one of the most crucial plays of the game,” Withers said.

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