Lucas: Rapid Reactions

By Adam Lucas

1. That was about as solid a season-opening win as you can get, with a 78-67 road victory over a Wofford squad that has a chance to be an NCAA Tournament team.

2. Quite an encouraging season debut for Garrison Brooks against a tough opponent in the post in Wofford's Cameron Jackson. Brooks was extremely active in the paint and around the rim and finished with a career-high 20 points and five rebounds. At the moment, Brooks appears to have the lead in the battle for post playing time.

3. Wofford had good success in the opening minutes on the offensive glass, collecting four offensive rebounds in the first 6:30 of the game. But the Tar Heels tightened up on the glass over the rest of the game, allowing just one offensive rebound in the final 13:30 of the second half. Eliminating the second chances bogged down the Terrier offense and allowed Carolina to open a 33-26 halftime lead.

4. An important, senior-type defensive performance from Kenny Williams against the hair-trigger Fletcher Magee. Williams had a poor game in terms of the box score, but he was largely responsible for Magee making just seven of his 23 field goal attempts (17 of which were three-point attempts).

5. When the Tar Heels needed a big basket in the second half, it was quite often Cameron Johnson who made it. The graduate student drilled five three-pointers in the game and finished with 17 points.

6. Taking care of the basketball was a major area of emphasis for Roy Williams in the days leading up to Tuesday night's game. There were some mixed results in that category, especially early, as the Tar Heels turned it over three times in the first eight possessions. When Carolina turned it over during the course of the game, it was quite often in spurts--three in five possessions here, four in six possessions there.

7. Coby White struggled some early. Carolina got steadying minutes from Seventh Woods in the second half--Woods also had a highlight reel play in the first half when he dove at midcourt and then fed Luke Maye--and then White returned just in time to play out the course of the win, including a big White bucket that was essentially the backbreaker.

8. Don't be too concerned about Nassir Little's second half playing time or lack thereof. There won't be many games when Brooks puts up 20 (or if there are many games when Brooks puts up 20, that's great news for Carolina's season). Little showed some flashes in the minutes he did receive, and put up seven points, three assists and two rebounds in 20 minutes.

9. Here we are on the ninth point of the night and Luke Maye's game-high 24 points haven't even been mentioned. What a luxury to have a player like Maye, who was very efficient with his 13 shots and also contributed seven rebounds. Another encouraging sign: he was eight for nine at the free throw line.

10. Tuesday night's game was just the seventh time Carolina has opened the regular season on the road since the beginning of the Atlantic Coast Conference for the 1953-54 season. The Tar Heels are now 7-1 in those road openers. Three of Roy Williams' season openers as head coach have come on the road, with victories at Davidson to begin the 2007-08 season, at Tulane to start the 2016-17 campaign, and now at Wofford.

11. Quite a turnout of Carolina basketball alums at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. Antawn Jamison was on hand in a scouting capacity, and Julius Peppers and Ed Cota made the drive from Charlotte to sit behind the UNC bench. Peppers greeted Richardson--his former employer with the Panthers, who was in attendance for the game--with a big hug at halftime.

University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Garrison Brooks

Cameron Johnson

Nassir Little

Luke Maye

Coby White

Kenny Williams

Seventh Woods

Related Videos