Lucas: Rapid Reactions

By Adam Lucas

1. Carolina is just better than Tennessee Tech, and most everyone acknowledged that before, during and after Friday's 108-58 win over the Golden Eagles. The Tar Heels didn't play particularly outstanding basketball but still cruised against a Tennessee Tech team that has been hampered by injuries.

2. The Tar Heels didn't have a great game shooting from the perimeter (5-23 from three-point range), but they completely owned the paint. Carolina owned the points in the paint category, 60-34.

3. The Smith Center went almost completely quiet when Kenny Williams went down near the UNC baseline midway through the second half. After a scary minute or so, he did walk off with some assistance. It was eventually announced as a sprained ankle, which was much better than it could've been.

4. One of the quieter early season storylines that might be important later in the season is the solid start to 2018-19 for Seventh Woods. His perimeter jumpers are a nice bonus--he hit a 17-footer and a three-pointer on Friday--but more impressively, he's been steady running the team and managing the offense. Woods put up four assists and zero turnovers in nine minutes of first half action against Tennessee Tech, then had a beautiful behind the back pass to Cam Johnson for a three-pointer in the second half. Woods finished with a career-high eight assists and seven points in 17 minutes.

5. Cameron Johnson didn't have the type of offensive performance he's had in Carolina's first three games, but he was extremely active tracking down loose balls, did a solid job on the glass, and had two steals. Everyone knows Johnson can shoot. If he can bring that type of all-around performance, Carolina is a much better team.

6. Two things a Smith Center crowd lives for: biscuits and a good rendition of "I Will Survive." The in-timeout karaoke by an energetic Tar Heel fan to that song was a second half highlight.

7. Friday night marked the 200th nonconference victory in Smith Center history. Carolina is 200-16 against nonconference opponents since the building opened in January of 1986. Roy Williams is 112-5 against nonconference foes in Chapel Hill.

8. Nice break for the Carolina starters in that game. Luke Maye played just 20 minutes (but still found time to score 15 points and grab eight rebounds), Williams had 22 before he went out, and Coby White played 20. Everyone else was below 20 minutes.

9. Roy Williams is a tough grader in this category, but Carolina might have run the floor better in that game than they have all year. The Tar Heels had a 27-8 edge in fast break points, and Coby White is slowly figuring out when to push and when to be more deliberate. Also, his teammates are figuring out how to keep up with him. Twice in Friday's game White scored after a made Golden Eagles basket--a sure sign the pace is getting closer to where the head coach wants it.

Players Mentioned

Cameron Johnson

Luke Maye

Coby White

Kenny Williams

Seventh Woods

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