Tag: North Carolina Tar Heels Basketball

Elliot Cadeau joins a UNC legend with his 2024 production through first three games

Elliot Cadeau is UNC’s first basketball player – of the 21st century – to achieve this rare feat.

The North Carolina Tar Heels are just three games into their college basketball season, so it’s still difficult to tell how the season will play out.

There is one thing we’re confident saying about UNC through just those three games, though: Elliot Cadeau took a MASSIVE step forward from freshman year

Cadeau, a sophomore from West Orange, N.J. who starts at guard alongside RJ Davis this year, looks extremely well-rounded. In addition to being a solid passer, Cadeau is explosive when he drives to the basket, can knock down threes at a more consistent clip and – cue the excitement – shows the ability to slam dunk in transition.

With his 47 points and 23 assists on North Carolina’s young season so far, Cadeau earned a unique statistical distinction alongside a program legend.

Cadeau became the first Tar Heel, since Ed Cota (1997-2000), with a minimum 12 points and seven assists through his first three games.

If you were old enough to remember watching Cota, he was an assist machine named the 1997 ACC Rookie of the Year. At the time, Cota was just the fourth player in UNC’s history to be named ACC ROTY (Joseph Forte, Marvin Williams, Tyler Hansbrough, Brandan Wright and Harrison Barnes later earned the distinction)

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If you look at the graphic above, Cadeau enjoyed his best game on the young college basketball season – and arguably his collegiate career – last Friday against American. Basketball is a team sport, but Cadeau’s hot stretch early was the main reason why North Carolina initially led the visiting Eagles, as he scored 15 first-half points.

How much better can Cadeau g througethout the season? Will he return for a third year?

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UNC basketball maintains Top 10 ranking in Andy Katz’ NEW Power 37 rankings

Andy Katz gave the Tar Heels a good spot in his latest Power 37 rankings.

We’re only three weeks into the 2024-2025 college basketball season, but we’re slowly starting to see several teams shape their identity.

I’ve already watched Kansas prove itself as a continued powerhouse, while Arizona might not be as good as we thought. Duke is one of the most talented teams on paper, but its achilles heel every year – experience – cost it a chance at beating Kentucky.

I can’t formulate too much of an opinion about our North Carolina Tar Heels, but I can tell you they’re exciting to watch. UNC is 2-1 through three games, looking its strongest against American and showing some initial concern against Elon.

Ahead of the stacked Maui Invitational, which begins on Monday, Nov. 25, North Carolina landed 10th in Andy Katz’ latest Power 37 rankings. These groupings are new to the 2024-2025 season, with Katz utilizing the Power 36 a season ago.

The Tar Heels found themselves trailing Iowa State (ninth), Alabama (eighth), Purdue (seventh), Duke (sixth), Kentucky (fifth), Auburn (fourth), UConn (third), Gonzaga (second) and Kansas (first).

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When Armando Bacot, Cormac Ryan and Harrison Ingram left UNC in the offseason, I’ll admit I had some initial concerns about the team’s depth – and veteran leadership.

Through three games, North Carolina has quickly showcased additional depth and new leaders – both from the transfer portal and amongst returners.

Elliot Cadeau has stepped up alongside reining ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis, giving the Tar Heels one of the country’s most dangerous backcourt duos. Drake Powell might be the best defensive player on the roster, while Seth Trimble added an offensive arsenal to his bag.

Jae’Lyn Withers and Jalen Washington are thriving in their first year as starters. Belmont tranfser Cade Tyson is starting to look more comfortable, while Ven-Allen Lubin is that productive, long-overdue big man off the bench.

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North Carolina soars in latest Top 25 and 1

Where do the Tar Heels land in the updated CBS Sports Top 25 and 1?

The North Carolina Tar Heels are enjoying another long break in between games after beating American University on Friday night in the Dean Dome. The Tar Heels next go to Hawai’i to face the Rainbow Warriors on Friday and then the Maui Invitational the week of Thanksgiving.

With a 2-1 record, the Tar Heels will be tested next week on the island because the Maui Invitational field is loaded. The game at Hawai’i could be a trap game.

But as we get set for the next 10 or so days out there, the Tar Heels are earning some early season praise.

Gary Parrish of CBS Sports updated his Top 25 and 1 after the weekend games, and North Carolina checks in at No. 3:

Elliot Cadeau finished with 18 points and eight assists in Friday’s 107-55 win over American. The Tar Heels’ next game is Friday at Hawaii.

That’s the highest ranking for the Tar Heels this season, behind only Kansas and Auburn.

They are ahead of No. 4 UConn, and No. 5 Iowa State, two teams in the Maui Invitational. Duke is No. 12 after losing to Kentucky in the Champions Classic.

Next week should provide some really good tests for Hubert Davis’ team.

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UNC sets team-best points total under Hubert Davis in blowout win over American

UNC reached a

The UNC men’s basketball program is one of the country’s best at executing the up-tempo offense – and turning that into extremely-high point totals.

Particularly since Hubert Davis took over for the legendary Roy Williams as North Carolina’s (2-1) head coach, it seems like the offense is even more dangerous.

Under Hubert, the Tar Heels have now scored 100 points in a game eight times, most recently reaching 107 in Friday night’s blowout victory over American. Elliot Cadeau and Jalen Washington scored 18 points apiece to lead UNC, Seth Trimble and RJ Davis each added 13, while Cade Tyson rounded out the double-figure scoring with 11 points.

North Carolina led the visiting Eagles (1-3) just 43-34 at the half – and its defense was susceptible to hot shooting early – but North Carolina made a quick imprint on its victory with 64 second-half points.

Not only was the Tar Heels’ second-half scoring output its most in a half under Hubert, but its 107 total was also the most in a game during the Hubert era.

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Defensively, UNC limited American to just 21 points and 14.7 percent shooting in the second half.

“For this team to play at that pace, it is all tied to defense,” Hubert said. “I mean, it was the same way in the second half against Kansas. I mean, we got stops, and when you get stops and you finish it with the rebound, we’re pretty good in transition. I said at the beginning of the year, in order for us to be good in transition, one, you’ve got to be in the best shape of your life. And, two, there needs to be a full commitment. And there’s been a full commitment with these guys in regards to sprinting to offense and just the unselfishness of pitching the ball ahead, seeing the open guy and having multiple guys when you pitch the ball ahead that actually can attack the basket and do something with it. I just think it’s a huge benefit for us.”

North Carolina was clearly the better team in every area Friday night, but like Hubert alluded to, the game was largely decided offensively in fast break points. The Tar Heels held a whopping 23-0 advantage over the Eagles, who entered Friday’s non-conference matchup as one of the country’s slowest teams.

UNC’s previous points high under Hubert was 105, when it beat Charleston Southern, 105-60, two days before New Year’s Eve last year. They also beat Syracuse 103-67 on Jan. 13 this year, College of Charleston 102-86 on Veteran’s Day in 2022, lost 103-101 to Alabama on Nov. 27, 2022, beat Tennessee 100-92 in Chapel Hill on Nov. 29 last year, dominated rival NC State 100-80 on Jan. 29, 2022 and The Citadel 100-67 on Dec. 13, 2022.

Just how many more times can North Carolina reach the century-point threshold this season?

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Jalen Washington sets career-high, anchors post attack in UNC’s Friday night victory

Just exactly how good was Jalen Washington for the UNC men’s basketball team during Friday night’s dominating victory?

For what seemed like forever against American on Friday night, the North Carolina Tar Heels couldn’t drain a 3-pointer if they tried.

UNC missed its first nine attempts, not draining one until an electric, second-half make from Belmont transfer Cade Tyson. He finished 3-of-7 from deep as the only Tar Heel with multiple made threes.

RJ Davis, who’s usually automatic from deep, went 1-of-7 from the perimeter. Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble, who’ve both improved their 3-point shooting, were a combined 2-of-5 from deep. North Carolina was just 7-of-22 as a team.

Luckily for UNC, though, its inside game was giving the Eagles fits. No post player was more important for the Tar Heels than junior center Jalen Washington, who scored a career-high 18 points on a perfect, 6-of-6 mark from the field and career-best 6-of-7 output from the free throw line.

North Carolina finished its night 36-of-61 overall (59 percent) from the field. On a night where the perimeter shots weren’t falling, the Tar Heels were seemingly automatic from inside-the-arc.

“We felt like that was the best way for us to score,” Washington said of UNC taking the basketball inside. “Just taking advantage of that and being relentless down there, just dominating points in the paint. I feel like that was just opening up shots for guards, our wings just to be able to shoot and knock down threes, which they’re capable of doing and they’ve been doing.”

Not only was Washington scoring efficiently, but he was also showcasing a fire his teammates and coaches didn’t see last season, celebrating after and-ones, contested layups and thunderous dunks.

“Jay Wash is a really sweet, quiet giant, and I love that about him, but on the court I want the one that hits himself in the head (celebrating),” North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis said. “I want that all the time — not just for him, but for his teammates, which he does if he gets a rebound, or he dives on the floor. He’s a lot more confident. His personality is coming out.”

For a season in which we weren’t even sure that J-Wash was going to start for the Tar Heels, he’s sure taking advantage of his golden opportunity.

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Drake Powell’s defensive energy sets tone in UNC’s Friday night blowout victory

The Tar Heels are lucky to have a player of Drake Powell’s defensive talent. He showed out on Friday night.

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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PHOTOS: UNC basketball beats American University

Here are the best photos from the UNC basketball program’s big win over American University on Friday night.

The North Carolina Tar Heels got back on track Friday night, a week after suffering their first loss of the season to Kansas. Like that game against Kansas, it was a bit of a slow start for the Tar Heels.

But they used another big second-half performance to blow out American University 107-55. The Tar Heels get back over .500 as they are 2-1 overall on the season.

From here, the Tar Heels head to Hawai’i as they face off against the Rainbow Warriors next Friday night. After that, they will participate in the Maui Invitational which is a loaded field. It will be a great test for the Tar Heels out there in Maui.

Before we get there, let’s look at the best photos from this game on Friday night.

Two UNC freshmen will NOT be available against American

UNC will be short two of its star freshmen tonight in basketball action against American.

When the North Carolina Tar Heels take on the American University Eagles tonight in men’s college basketball action, they’ll be doing so without two of their star freshmen.

Per InsideCarolina, guard Ian Jackson and center James Brown will be unavailable due to lower-leg injuries. They are considered day-to-day.

Jackson, a projected starter this offseason, has instead averaged 7.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 0.5 blocks off the bench. Brown, UNC’s voice of reason who was a key behind its second-half comeback against Kansas, grabbed two points and two rebounds against Kansas on Friday, Nov. 8.

What do Jackson and Brown’s injuries mean for North Carolina, besides the fact it’ll be down two of its best young players?

Brown’s injury likely won’t impact the Tar Heels as much, as they’re deep in the post with Jalen Washington, Jae’Lyn Withers, Ty Claude and Ven-Allen Lubin.

It’s Jackson’s injury, though, where things get a bit tricky for UNC. He is North Carolina’s third-best perimeter shooter, registering a 50 percent clip through two games. The Tar Heels will almost certainly miss Jackson’s speed and him acting as a sixth man off the bench. If UNC’s guard trio of RJ Davis, Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble get in foul trouble, the roster is pretty thin behind him – unless UNC elects to dip into its walk-ons.

Luckily for North Carolina, Jackson and Brown’s injuries come in just the third game of 2024. Hopefully their injuries aren’t too serious, but if Jackson and Brown are out for an extended period of time, Hubert will have to re-shuffle his minutes a bit.

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Getting to know UNC’s next basketball opponent: American University

The UNC men’s basketball program hosts American University on Friday, Nov. 14 for an 8 p.m. tip-off. Let us tell you a little bit about the Eagles.

After nearly pulling off a comeback for the ages on Friday, Nov. 8 at Kansas, the North Carolina Tar Heels return to the Dean Dome this Friday, Nov. 15 to host the American University Eagles.

UNC trailed the Jayhawks by 17 at halftime, came all the way back to take a 3-point lead in the second half, then eventually suffered a tough, 92-89 loss.

Despite losing, North Carolina responded extremely well. The Tar Heels distributed the ball well, saw four starters score in double figures – led by 19 points from Seth Trimble – and they shot great from the free throw line (28-of-31).

That’s now in the past, so UNC now turns itself to American. You’re likely wondering: who are the Eagles?

American University is a Washington, D.C-based Division-I program that plays in the Patriot League, which houses the likes of Colgate University, a program that has won the past four Patriot League tournaments.

The Eagles have appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times, winning the Patriot League tournament in 2008, 2009 and 2014, but haven’t been back since. American finished 16-16 overall last season, but its 10-8 conference record was its first winning mark – in league play –since the 2019-2020 COVID-shortened campaign (12-6).

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The Eagles are 1-2 through just three games this season: losing 65-52 at LaSalle on the Nov. 4 – the first day of college basketball season, beating Harvard 67-55 in the Eagles’ home opener on Nov. 10, then losing 74-66 at Siena on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

American doesn’t rebound the ball a ton, as guard Lincoln Ball averages a team-best 5.3 per game, but it has a triple-threat in the scoring column. Forward Matt Rogers anchors the Eagles’ scoring attack with 13.3 points per game, guard Collin Smalls averages 12.3 and Geoff Sprouse averages 10.7.

North Carolina should have no issue beating American, but we know all too well about upsets in the Dean Dome.

Now that you know a bit about the Eagles, tune in for tipoff tomorrow at 8 p.m. on the ACC Network.

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UNC basketball signs first two pieces of 2025 recruiting class

The UNC men’s basketball team just got two players better in the 2025 recruiting class on Wednesday.

The North Carolina Tar Heels are no stranger to signing high-profile basketball recruits – just look at what they did in their 2024 recruiting class.

On Wednesday, UNC officially added two recruits to its roster, nabbing the first two pieces of its 2025 recruiting class.

Davidson Day School’s Isaiah Denis and Gonzaga College High School’s Derek Dixon, a pair of 4-star combo guards who should step into major roles for North Carolina during the 2025-2026 college basketball season, officially signed to continue their basketball careers in Chapel Hill.

Denis and Dixon aren’t too far removed from their initial commitments. Dixon committed to the Tar Heels on Friday, Sept. 27, while Denis committed on Saturday, Nov. 2.

At 6’5, I see Denis playing a role similar to current UNC freshman Drake Powell. Denis can either run the point or play shooting guard, but also has the height to play the 3-spot – if UNC head coach Hubert Davis elects for a smaller starting lineup.

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Dixon is a bit shorter at 6’3″, so I see him being exclusively a point guard or shooting guard. Dixon’s recruiting profile points to him being a solid perimeter shooter, so in the best case scenario, he produces at a high clip like reigning ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis.

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The Tar Heels aren’t anywhere close to being done yet in the class of 2025, as they’re chasing the likes of top recruits Caleb Wilson and AJ Dybantsa. Plenty of high school kids are still undecided – and with Hubert Davis’ track record on the recruiting trail, expect several additional high school stars to choose North Carolina as their college basketball destination.

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