Seemingly everything was clicking for the North Carolina Tar Heels on Friday night, as they obliterated American University, 107-55, in front of a raucous Dean Dome crowd.
UNC (2-1) only led by nine at halftime, then outscored the visiting Eagles (1-3) 64-21 in the second half. North Carolina held American to just 14.7 percent shooting in the final 20 minutes, the lowest in a half by an opponent in the Hubert Davis era.
Throughout the whole game, but particularly in the second half, there was one player in particular who captained the Tar Heels’ defensive effort: freshman Drake Powell.
Playing in just his second home game for UNC, 20 minutes up the road from his hometown in Pittsboro, Powell led all players with 11 rebounds.
“I think rebounding is a fun part of the game for me,” Powell said. “I’m just trying to do it more consistently. Just feeling my whole game. I was just trying to play with a chip on my shoulder as well, crashing the boards with enthusiasm.”
There wasn’t a single person who was happier about Powell’s effort than his head coach, Hubert Davis.
“You can use him in a number of different spots on both ends of the floor,” Davis said of Powell. “He does stuff that we didn’t teach him in drills, wasn’t in any station. His one block, that’s the second time he’s done a block where he’s caught it with both hands. Last time I can remember that was MJ doing that, when we played together with the Wizards. Drake’s just starting to scratch the surface of what he can do out there on the floor.”
Powell also blocked a game-high three shots and added seven points, hitting 2-of-5 shots and 3-of-4 free throws.
North Carolina is very lucky to have a player of Powell’s caliber. If Powell can turn in this defensive effort on a nightly basis, the college basketball world needs to watch out.
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