Carolina wrapped up nonconference play with an impressive win over East Carolina on Monday night, setting new season-bests in points scored (99) and points allowed (51) as all 16 players saw action.
The
Pirates were never really in the game. They scored the first two points, but UNC scored the next 12, and the rout was on from there. With the Tar Heels coming off a heart-pounding win over Ohio State in Atlanta just over 48 hours earlier, it was great to see them dominate from the get-go.
Here are three things to take away from Carolina’s performance.
Hubert Davis may have found his ideal rotation
I was skeptical of the decision to keep Luka Bogavac in the starting lineup while moving Jarin Stevenson to the bench – especially after he put up a dud against Ohio State – but this game gave us a better look at the new lineup’s benefits.
Seth Trimble’s presence gives Carolina the ability to ratchet up the tempo, and when Bogavac is as on his game as he was against ECU, he’s a better fit for that style of offense than Stevenson. For Stevenson’s part, he’s shown he can provide quality minutes at center as well as forward, which allows him to sub for both Henri Veesaar and Caleb Wilson (meaning Davis doesn’t have to turn to Zayden High or James Brown as often in those spots).
That being said, it’s rare to be able to stack the frontcourt with three players 6’10” or taller, and I hope Davis keeps deploying that lineup when appropriate.
Free throw shooting remains an issue
After going 19-of-30 from the charity stripe against ECU, Carolina is now shooting just over 68% on free throws this season – one of the bottom 100 marks in Division I. It hasn’t cost Carolina any games yet (it wouldn’t have made a difference against Michigan State), but it certainly could. The coaching staff has to make this a point of emphasis heading into ACC play.
We should all appreciate what this team has done so far
With just about any team, there’s bound to be some room for grievance (happy Festivus); as my above takeaway illustrates, this Carolina squad is no exception. But take a moment to think on this question: when’s the last time you felt this good about the Tar Heels at this point in the season?
At 12-1, this UNC squad is off to its best start since the 2008-09 campaign, and it’s played all but four of those games without its best guard. It’s found a way to win the tough games that most recent Carolina teams would have lost. It has arguably the most electrifying player in college basketball, and it has a real chance to add to the program’s trophy case.
Whatever holidays you celebrate this time of year, it’s a gift to have a team you can truly look forward to watching.
