1. Carolina had a get-well game, blowing out La Salle, 93-67, for a satisfying home win.
2. The margin was sparked by the best performance so far of Cade Tyson’s Carolina career. The Belmont transfer flashed the all-around game that made him such a sought-after player in the portal. He finished with a UNC career high 23 points, including 5-for-10 from the three-point line. Tyson had scored 24 points so far this season and nearly matched that in one game.
3. The prettiest play of the afternoon had Tyson on the receiving end, as freshman Ian Jackson navigated his way through traffic during the second half, then found Tyson spotted up in the right corner in front of the Carolina bench. Tyson, of course, swished the three-pointer.
4. In Carolina’s continuing quest for more production from the big men, Ven Allen Lubin–who was again in the starting lineup–had a solid 10-point, five-rebound performance. He made all four of his field goal attempts.
5. Lubin was part of wins in two statistical categories that Hubert Davis watches closely. Carolina dominated the glass, building a 27-14 edge on the boards at halftime on the way to a 47-36 game edge. And in a welcome change, the Tar Heels essentially controlled everything around the rim, including a 50-18 edge in points in the paint.
6. Drake Powell was terrific in Maui but had been less noticeable since the return to the mainland. He showed glimpses on Saturday of what he did in Hawaii. In the first half, he tipped out an offensive rebound, then drove and earned two free throws with a strong move to the rim (he made both). And in the second half, he swiped a rebound from an Explorer, then fed Lubin for an easy basket. Carolina can’t be as good as it wants to be without those types of plays from Powell, who finished with seven points and six boards.
7. Jackson didn’t have the big scoring numbers he’s had lately, but he still had a very strong game. Carolina was a team-high +30 when he was on the court, as he grabbed seven rebounds and handed out three assists while committing zero turnovers. Finding a way to impact the game without scoring is often a sign that a freshman is getting more comfortable.
8. La Salle cooperated by taking some questionable shots, but there’s no question the Carolina defense was better in this game than it has been recently. The Explorers shot just 35 percent from the field, and Carolina blocked six shots while swiping eight steals.
9. Fun fact on La Salle: the last meeting between these two teams was Jan. 9, 1988, at the Smith Center. Carolina won, 96-82, but the most memorable event from that game was the Explorers’ Lionel Simmons scoring 37 points. That was the 24th game in this building; after 569 games in the building following Saturday’s win, Simmons’ 37 remains tied for the most ever scored by an opponent in the Smith Center (Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht tied it last season).
10. Great to see Theo Pinson at the game, as he sat at the scorer’s table alongside Makhtar Ndiaye in what would have been an incredible television commentating duo. And, in fact, good news on that front–Pinson is scheduled to do color on a couple ESPN college games in the next month or so (neither involving Carolina, unfortunately).
11. The Tar Heels now enter a crucial week in the development of the 2024-25 season. Neutral site games with Florida (Charlotte on Tuesday) and UCLA (Madison Square Garden on Saturday) are very important to Carolina’s quality win credentials, which could use a boost going into ACC play. There are currently only three ACC teams other than the Heels in the top 55 of the KenPom ratings: Duke, Pitt and Clemson.
12. As you would expect, Bill Belichick received a huge hand when he was introduced at halftime.
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