Tag: north carolina tar heels

Hubert Davis sees the lineup staying “guard heavy” in the future

If the forwards aren’t working, just start four guards. Could Hubert Davis really do it?

North Carolina finally picked up a huge quad-one win that will go a long way toward their NCAA Tournament resume. However, the phantom that has been haunting UNC basketball still showed up in this game despite the win.

They fell down double digits in the first half and had to fight back in the second half. At one point, UCLA held a lead of 16 points.

However, they did it. They fought back and won a tough game. Since the start of the season, Hubert Davis has always started two forwards. Whether that combination was Jalen Washington and Jae’Lyn Withers or some mixutre of them and Ven Allen Lubin or Cade Tyson.

That might be changing though. The lineup that brought North Carolina back in the second half of the CBS Sports Classic was a four or five-guard lineup.

Davis told the press after the game via Inside Carolina that he will stick with that lineup going forward.

Yes. The lineup change that we made in the second half, I just felt like they were just loading up on RJ, and Ian got it going offensively as well in first half. So just having multiple scorers out there, I thought, would be really good for us because it puts teams in a situation. You want to go big, or do you want to match up with us? And then extending that pressure. You know, we may not have tremendous size, but we do have athleticism. And so when you pick up full court, it speeds teams up. We can get steals and deflections, and we get the pace that we want.

Davis will get that opportunity to start four guards when Campbell comes to the Dean Smith Center on December 29th.

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Guard play propels UNC to first ranked win of the season

Ian Jackson and RJ Davis explode in the Tar Heels’ win over No. 18 UCLA!

There is no denying that the win on Saturday night can be largely credited to two of North Carolina’s guards, RJ Davis and Ian Jackson.

Together, they combined for 41 points as Jackson led the way with 24 points, and Davis chipped in another 17 points. Jackson also had four rebounds as did Davis with two assists. Trimble was the only other player in double figures with 12 points.

After the game, Jackson reiterated, via Inside Carolina, how hard it is to beat AP Top 25 teams, teams which they are now just 2-5 against.

There’s been several games where we’ve been close and kind of didn’t finish it. And it was just one of those games where we got it done. It showed us how hard winning is, definitely how hard winning is at every level, especially at this level. So to come out here and get that final stop and end the game on a stop, it was big for us.

When it came down to it, though, Davis gave the credit for the win to another guard, Seth Trimble.

I shouldn’t have missed the first free throw. I wouldn’t have got to the second free throw (attempts) if Seth didn’t get that stop in the diamond press. That’s the reason why he won the game. He was able to deflect the ball off of the guard’s leg, and we were able to get another chance.

North Carolina will look to a long week break over Christmas as they match up with Campbell next Sunday, December 29th.

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Bill Belichick says he is ‘copying’ things Nick Saban did at Alabama

Bill Belichick wants to copy some things that Nick Saban did while at Alabama.

North Carolina Tar Heels football coach Bill Belichick said Friday that he was attempting to copy some things his friend and former assistant coach Nick Saban had done while at Alabama.

Appearing on Friday’s edition of ESPN’s “College GameDay” ahead of the College Football Playoff matchup between No. 10 seed Indiana and No. 7 Notre Dame in South Bend, Belichick joined Saban, Rece Davis, Pat McAfee and others via video call.

The conversation included some mutually flattering words between Saban and Belichick. That shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has followed the career paths of both men. Saban was Belichick’s defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns from 1991-94.

“I learned more from you about evaluating players than anybody in my career because you had a great way of defining the criteria for what you were looking for,” Saban told Belichick. “You went out and did it. You’ve always identified it, and I think that’s been a key to your success. I know you’ll do that — even though you’ve got to recruit them, you can’t draft them — in college as well.”

As for how Belichick is trying to copy what Saban did at Alabama, Belichick explained it to McAfee this way:

“I appreciate Coach Saban’s comments about the evaluations that we did in Cleveland. I think I learned a lot more from him than he did from me. He’s a great evaluator. And then I watched him at Alabama put together essentially his scouting and evaluation staff. So now I’m copying a lot of things that I watched him do there and learned from the system he installed there.”

Belichick added:

“We’ll get players ready for the NFL, no matter what position they play. We’ll get them ready for their lives and their careers just by the accountability that comes with the program very much like Nick did at Alabama. We’ll see what kind of success that is, but very much like that model.”

Saban joked that that it had been easy for Belichick to copy his model at Alabama since it was Belichick’s model in the NFL.

Belichick told Saban:

“I remember when you went back to Michigan State and then to Alabama, you and I had conversations about how much you enjoyed developing the young players and having more of an impact on them. Even though I haven’t done it and just saw it when I was at Navy, I can really see where you’re coming from on that. It’s been very exciting, even in the short time that I’ve been here.”

Belichick was introduced as North Carolina’s new coach on Dec. 12. His first game will be against TCU on Aug. 30 next year in Chapel Hill.

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Freddie Kitchens iterates key message ahead of Tar Heels Fenway Bowl

Don’t miss what Freddie Kitchens had to say as he steps in as head coach for the Fenway Bowl.

Two well-known basketball schools will play football on a baseball field. It doesn’t get any more fun than that. North Carolina will take on UConn in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl, on December 28th.

After the firing of Mack Brown, it was announced that Freddie Kitchens would step in as the team’s interim head coach for the bowl game.

When Kitchens met with the team as their head coach this week, he had just one key sentiment for them, via UNC football, “Stay where your feet are, put the work in, and don’t waste an opportunity in front of you.”

Kitchens also went on in his press conference about the current state of the Tar Heels football program since the firing of Mack Brown and the hiring of coaching legend Bill Belichick.

Any time you have a new beginning, there will be excitement. Eventually, the excitement ends and it becomes about the work the person is putting in each day. The excitement turning into an opportunity to play is up to the individual player. It all goes back to being where your feet are each day in whatever you’re doing. It comes down to who they want to become as a player and as a team.

Kitchens will coach North Carolina in its bowl game without superstar running back Omarion Hampton, who is headed for the NFL Draft.

The game will occur on December 28th in Boston, Massachusetts, at Fenway Park. UNC and UConn will kick off at 11:00 a.m. ET on ESPN.

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Former UNC basketball coach receives North Carolina’s highest honor

Legendary Tar Heels coach receives North Carolina’s highest honor from the governor.

In 2021, the legendary coach who spent his final 18 years of coaching at UNC basketball stepped down and handed the reigns to Hubert Davis.

Roy Williams, one of the most legendary coaches North Carolina has seen, won three NCAA Championships with the Tar Heels in 2005, 2009, and 2017. He was also a nine-time ACC regular season champion, a three-time ACC tournament champion.

He took the Tar Heels to five final fours as well. Before spending 18 years at North Carolina, he was the head coach at Kansas for the previous 15 years prior to his tenure in Chapel Hill.

Overall, he is 903-264 in his career, with a 79-27 record in NCAA tournaments. He is a two-time AP Coach of the Year and a two-time ACC Coach of the Year. His accolades definitely speak for themselves, and now he adds one more.

According to WCNT, Gov. Roy Cooper presented the legendary University of North Carolina men’s basketball head coach Roy Williams with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest honorary society in the state.

Governor Cooper gave high praise to the former Tar Heel coach saying, “Coach Williams exemplifies what it means to be a Tar Heel and a North Carolinian.”

Williams still attends UNC basketball games all over the country and has been seen as far as Hawai’i this season supporting his Tar Heels.

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The Tar Heels land committment from former Georgia offensive lineman

Bill Belichick is now landing former Georgia players in his latest transfer addition.

UNC football continues to strike in the transfer portal, especially from big-name schools across the country. The Tar Heels Transfer Portal Tracker can be found here.

Bill Belichick is overhauling the team’s offensive line with transfers Christo Kelly, a three-star transfer recruit, and former Alabama lineman Miles McVay.

He has also added Melkart About-Jaoude, a three-star edge rusher transfer; Connor Cox, a three-star transfer tight end; ex-Michigan kicker Adam Sahama; and now former Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne in the transfer portal.

Now, North Carolina has added a third offensive lineman transferring for the second time from Rice. The original four-star lineman was recruited and committed to the SEC’s best Georgia. With Georgia having so many talented linemen, he transferred to Rice where he spent one year.

This is what 247sports scout Gabe Brooks had to say about Lindberg coming out of high school.

Possesses outstanding size that is college-ready on paper. Run-game mauler who thrives in drive-blocking situations. High motor. Intelligent on and off the field. Tenacious block-finisher who plays with a mean streak that is evident even on tape. Takes his target to the ground if opportunity is there. Does a good job for a taller lineman of playing with good leverage. Shows enough athleticism to successfully combo block to the second level, where he is a handful for opposing linebackers.

With Bryce Baker on his way to Chapel Hill, Bill Belichick is doing everything in his power to work on protecting one of the best quarterbacks in the incoming Class of 2025.

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UNC lands transfer committment from Big Ten quarterback

Tar Heel football strikes big again in the transfer portal today with huge quarterback!

With Bill Belichick in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, it is no secret that players are desirous to play for the ex-NFL coaching legend. With the transfer portal opening just days before his hire, he has already attacked the openings.

Just this week, they added offensive lineman Christo Kelly, a three-star transfer recruit; Melkart About-Jaoude, a three-star edge rusher transfer; Connor Cox most recently, a three-star transfer tight end.

Today alone, they have added former Alabama offensive lineman Miles McVay, ex-Michigan kicker Adam Sahama, and now former Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne in the transfer portal.

Browne was a three-star recruit with a 247sports score of 86 coming out of New Berlin, New York. He was the No. 8 player in the state in his class. As a transfer, 247sports still gives him an 86 rating and is the No. 33 quarterback currently in the transfer portal.

This season at Purdue, Browne threw for 43 completions in eight games. He totaled 532 yards and four touchdowns with only two interceptions. He is also a dual threat as he ran 50 times for 155 yards, averaging 3.1 yards per carry in his junior season.

Browne still has two years of eligibility left as he heads to Chapel Hill.

Bill Belichick will continue to be on the hunt for transfers as the portal remains open. It will close at the end of December. You can stay up to day with a full list of the moves that Belichick has made on our Tar Heels Wire Transfer Portal Tracker.

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UNC, Bill Belichick fall short in late push for the transfer portal’s No. 1 quarterback

Bill Belichick went searching for a massive recruit in the transfer portal and fell just short.

Since being hired as the new North Carolina Tar Heels head coach, Bill Belichick has been hitting the ground running in the transfer portal with calls and visits from a dozen prospective players.

Belichick even recently said that players are reaching out to him in an effort to make the team in Chapel Hill. You can find a full list of the moves that Belichick has made on our Tar Heels Wire Transfer Portal Tracker.

In the last week, they added offensive lineman Christo Kelly, a three-star transfer recruit; Melkart About-Jaoude, a three-star edge rusher transfer; Connor Cox most recently, a three-star transfer tight end; and three-star kicker, Adam Samaha.

All of those names are good and helpful for the team next season; however, Belichick was reportedly after a whale of a prospect.

According to Georgia Stoia of SoonerScoop and On3, Belichick made a strong play for the No. 1 quarterback in the transfer portal, John Mateer.

In his first starting season last year, Mateer threw for 3,406 yards and 29 touchdowns with only seven interceptions for Washington State.

Washington State also produced Miami transfer quarterback Cam Ward, who became a consensus All-American this season despite not leading his team to the College Football Playoffs.

Despite the strong efforts, John Mateer ended up committing to Oklahoma and signing a massive NIL deal with the team’s collective.

What could Bill Belichick have up his sleeve next for Tar Heel fans?

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Tar Heels football picks up crystal ball prediction for this three-star defensive lineman

Another transfer portal commit could be on his way to Chapel Hill, check out this three-star defensive lineman with a crystal ball to Bill Belichick!

A three-star in-state and inner-conference defensive lineman recruit may be on his way to Chapel Hill. 247 Sports gives him a 100% crystal ball to Bill Belichick and the newly revamped defensive side of the ball.

CJ Mims was initially recruited by North Carolina out of high school along with big-time ACC schools including NC State and Duke.

According to 247sports, Mims played in all 12 games in the 2023 season, logging 249 total snaps, booking 14 tackles, tallying at least one stop in eight of 12 games, and credited with half TFLs against Marshall, UTSA, and Tulsa. He was also credited with a half sack against UTSA and his first forced fumble of his career, Gardner-Webb.

Mims first signed with East Carolina out of high school in 2022 before entering the transfer portal after his freshman year. In December of last year, Mims committed to ACC-rival Wake Forest, where he spent his sophomore season.

Now back in the portal for a second time, it is projected that Mims will make his way east in North Carolina from Winston-Salem to Chapel Hill.

With Travis Shaw entering the portal earlier in the window, UNC football and Bill Belichick could use the help on the defensive line.

Don’t forget to check out our Tar Heels Wire Transfer Portal Tracker.

In the last week, they added offensive lineman Christo Kelly, a three-star transfer recruit; Melkart About-Jaoude, a three-star edge rusher transfer; Connor Cox most recently, a three-star transfer tight end; and three-star kicker, Adam Samaha.

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Tar Heels add transfer portal committment from ex-Michigan kicker

UNC, Bill Belichick adds ex-Michigan kicker to replace Noah Burnette.

Since North Carolina hired Bill Belichick and the transfer portal opened, the Tar Heels have been a highly publicized place to play. Belichick has been pegged by ex-NFL players as a “pipeline to the NFL.”

That is bound to bring players, and the Tar Heels have just committed their fourth portal transfer of this window.

In the last week, they added offensive lineman Christo Kelly, a three-star transfer recruit; Melkart About-Jaoude, a three-star edge rusher transfer; and Connor Cox most recently, a three-star transfer tight end.

Now, UNC football and Bill Belichick will add a former two-star kicker Michigan recruit out of high school, Adam Samaha.

Samaha was the third-string kicker on the Big Ten school last year behind Dominic Zvada and Charlie Mentzer, which is probably the reason he is in the transfer portal, to begin with after Zvada, the Big Ten Kicker of the Year, announced his return to the team.

Last year, Noah Burnette kicked for North Carolina and converted 49 of 62 field goal attempts during his time in Chapel Hill. After Burnette took to the transfer portal himself, the team’s roster was left with just Liam Boyd and Lucas Osada.

Bill Belichick has been quoted as saying that this is not the last player North Carolina will bring in from the portal, and we should continue to look for more big names to commit to the program soon.

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