Tag: UNC vs. American University

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

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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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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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