Tar Heels Host Gardner-Webb Friday Night

Friday, November 15

Chapel Hill

9 PM

North Carolina

Gardner-Webb

Tickets

Sophomore Leaky Black

Photo by: Maggie Hobson

November 14, 2019 | Men's Basketball

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GAME 3 NOTEBOOK
• Carolina (2-0) plays host to Gardner-Webb (0-2) on Friday, Nov. 15, at the Smith Center. The ACC Network will televise the game.
• Roy Williams has 873 Division I wins, which ties Jim Calhoun for sixth place all time. Adolph Rupp is fifth with 876 and Dean Smith is fourth with 879.
• Freshman point Cole Anthony earned NCAA.com National Player of the Week honors and was the ACC Player and Freshman of the Week for his play against Notre Dame (34 points, 11 rebounds) and UNCW (20/10). It marked the second consecutive year a Tar Heel freshman also earned ACC Player of the Week honors (Coby White for his play vs. Syracuse and Clemson).
• Carolina is 420-73 in the Smith Center, including 205-16 against non-conference opponents. The Tar Heels have won their last seven home games against non-conference opponents since a loss to Wofford on 12/20/2017.
• Including the Nov. 6 win at UNCW, the Tar Heels are 170-18 all-time against in-state, non-ACC opponents.
• Carolina moved up three spots in this week's Associated Press poll. It's the 509th time in 581 polls that a Roy Williams team (at UNC and Kansas) is ranked in the AP poll. That's an 87.6 percent appearance rate in the top 25, including 64.7 percent in the top 10.
• Grad student Justin Pierce made his 100th career three-pointer to hit the 1,000 career point mark in the win at UNCW. Pierce needs five rebounds for 600.
• Grad student Christian Keeling averaged 17.8 points and 5.7 rebounds in six games against Gardner-Webb while at Charleston Southern. He scored 20 or more three times, including a 27- point, 10-rebound game at home as a freshman and 26 points at home the next season.
• Carolina's next ACC game is now scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 8th, at 4 p.m. at Virginia.
• Five high school prospects signed National Letters of Intent to attend UNC and play for the Tar Heels: R.J. Davis, a 5-11 guard from White Plains, N.Y.; Donovan "Puff" Johnson, a 6-7 forward from Moon Township, Pa.; Walker Kessler, a 7-0 forward from Newnan, Ga.; Caleb Love, a 6-3 guard from St. Louis, Mo.; and Day'Ron Sharpe, a 6-10 forward from Greenville, N.C. See comments from Roy Williams on the class and the signees below.

UNC-GARDNER-WEBB SERIES
• The Tar Heels are 4-0 against the Bulldogs with all four previous meetings also played in the Smith Center.
• David Noel made a three-pointer from the top of the key with 1.8 seconds to play for an 83-80 win in the first-ever meeting between the schools in the 2005-06 season opener. Tyler Hansbrough led UNC with 21 points in his Tar Heel debut. Noel and Danny Green both scored 17.

LAST TIME VS. GARDNER-WEBB (11/9/12)
UNC 76, G-W 59
• Carolina won, 76-59, in the previous meeting on Nov. 9, 2012. James Michael McAdoo (26) and Dexter Strickland (13) were the only Tar Heels to score in double figures. McAdoo also had 14 rebounds. UNC forced 22 turnovers.

NEWCOMERS
• Carolina's 18-man roster includes eight players who didn't play for the Tar Heels a season ago:
– graduate transfers Christian Keeling, a 1,666-point career scorer from Charleston Southern, and Justin Pierce, 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds the last two seasons at William & Mary;
– freshmen Cole Anthony, Armando Bacot, Jeremiah Francis and Anthony Harris;
– Ryan McAdoo, who played in 2017-18 at Florida Gulf Coast and sat out last season as a transfer;
– and senior Robbie O'Han, who played the past three seasons on the Tar Heel junior varsity

THE DEPARTED
• Carolina is without six players who played last season, including first-round NBA Draft picks Cameron Johnson (playing with Phoenix), Coby White (Chicago) and Nassir Little (Portland), Luke Maye (G-League with Wisconsin Bucks), Kenny Williams (G-League with Austin Spurs) and Seventh Woods (transferred to South Carolina).
• Including senior guard Brandon Robinson and junior forward Sterling Manley, who are injured and will not play, the Tar Heels will tip off against Gardner-Webb minus 85.2 percent of their scoring (2,632 points), 79.3 percent of their rebounding (1,156), 86.6 percent of their assists (587) and 95.5 percent of their three-point fields goals (298).
• Johnson was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2019 after making the second-most threes (96) in a season in UNC history; he was the only player in the top 10 in the ACC in field goal, three-point and free throw percentage;
• Maye finished 10th all-time at Carolina in rebounding, was first-team All-ACC in 2018 and second-team in 2019 and was the NCAA South Regional MVP in 2017; he is the only Tar Heel to ever score 30 points both at Duke and NC State;
• Williams scored 915 career points, scored in double figures 49 times and was Carolina's defensive player of the game 19 times;
• White earned second-team All-ACC honors as a freshman and scored the fifth-most points ever by a Tar Heel freshman;
• Little scored 19 and 20 points in his first two NCAA Tournament games and was UNC's fourth-leading scorer last season;
• Woods played in 94 games over three seasons; he scored 14 points in the win over Gonzaga last season

POLLING
• Carolina in No. 6 in the country in the Associated Press poll. The Tar Heels began the season ninth and moved up three spots after winning their first two games.
• This is the 102nd consecutive week the Tar Heels are ranked in the AP poll.
• This is the 14th straight season UNC was ranked in the AP Top 25 in the preseason. Last season, the Tar Heels opened at No. 8 and ended the year ranked No. 3.
• UNC has finished the season in the top 10 in each of the last four seasons (3 in 2015-16, 5 in 2016-17, 10 in 2017-18 and 3 in 2018-19).
• This week's No. 6 ranking is Carolina's 918th appearance in the AP poll, the most rankings of any school in the country.
• It's the 57th time in 72 seasons the AP ranked the Tar Heels in the top 10 at some point in the season.
• Carolina has been ranked in the Top 10 of the AP poll 683 times, most in ACC history and second-most all-time behind Kentucky (700). Carolina has been ranked in the Top 5 433 times, also second-most behind only Kentucky (462).
• Carolina has finished in the Top 10 of the AP poll 38 times, including 27 of the last 39 years.

SCHEDULE NOTES
• The Tar Heels are slated to play five teams that were ranked in the preseason AP poll and could play another in the Bahamas.
• No. 4 Duke, No. 5 Louisville, No. 8 Gonzaga, No. 11 Virginia and No. 18 Ohio State are all on the UNC schedule; No. 12 Seton Hall and No. 15 Oregon are possible opponents in the Battle 4 Atlantis. Both the Pirates and Ducks are on the opposite side of the bracket and could face the Tar Heels on the third day of the tournament.
• Ken Pomeroy's strength of schedule has ranked Carolina in the top eight in the country in each of the last five seasons and in the top 10 in 11 of Roy Williams' first 16 seasons as head coach (No. 8 in 2018-19, No. 1 in 2017-18, No. 6 in 2015-16 and 2016-17 and No. 1 in 2014-15).

M*A*S*H UNIT
• Senior guard Brandon Robinson, who started and scored eight points, sprained his right ankle against WSSU and did not play in the first two games.
• Freshmen guards Jeremiah Francis (knee) and Anthony Harris (knee) and junior forward Sterling Manley (knee) have missed extensive time in the preseason due to injuries and did not dress out against WSSU. Francis and Harris suffered knee injuries in high school and are still working their way back to action.
• Manley has not practiced this season. He missed 16 games last season due to soreness in his left knee.
• Sophomore guard Leaky Black (ankle) and junior guard Andrew Platek (ankle) missed some time in the preseason due to injury but have played in both exhibitions and the first two regular-season games.
• Junior guard K.J. Smith missed three weeks of practice due to an ankle sprain, but played at UNCW.
• Freshman forward Armando Bacot started the first two games and played 22 minutes against Notre Dame, but was limited to 2:41 at UNCW. He picked up two quick fouls, then upon his return was struck by an errant elbow and sat out the rest of the game as a precaution. He is expected to play against Gardner-Webb.

HALL OF FAMER BOBBY JONES
• 1974 All-America and eight-time NBA All-Defensive team honoree Bobby Jones became the 11th Tar Heel player or coach inducted in the Naismith Hall of Fame.
• Jones was inducted in September 2019. He is the second Tar Heel to enter the Naismith Hall of Fame in as many years (with Charlie Scott in 2018) and the seventh in the last two decades.
• Jones joins Tar Heels Scott, Michael Jordan, Roy Williams, James Worthy, Larry Brown, Bob McAdoo, Billy Cunningham, Dean Smith, Frank McGuire and Ben Carnevale to earn basketball's highest honor.

PRESEASON
OCT. 27 VILLANOVA SCRIMMAGE
• Carolina and Villanova scrimmaged for more than 50 minutes on Oct. 27 at the Smith Center.
• The teams scrimmaged a year ago at Villanova.
• Villanova won the first two segments (44-36 in a 20-minute half and 8-7 in a six-minute segment with just non-starters), while the Tar Heels won the final two periods (43-36 in a 20-minute half and 18-12 in an eight-minute period that featured zone defenses by both teams).
• Over the full 54 minutes, Carolina shot 50.6 percent from the floor and made 9 of 25 three-pointers, out-rebounded the Wildcats, 49-47, and held Villanova to 39.1 percent from the floor and 39.2 percent (20 of 51) from three-point range. Both teams turned the ball over 17 times.
• Villanova's Justin Moore made 9 of 12 three-pointers and led all scorers with 39 points. Moore scored 18 in the first period, 15 in the second and six in the zone segment.
• Cole Anthony led UNC with 28 points. He was one of four Tar Heels to score in double figures with Armando Bacot (18), Garrison Brooks (14) and Leaky Black (12).
• The Tar Heels shot 36 percent from the floor and 1 of 10 from three in the period they lost by eight points, and 66.7 percent from the floor and 5 of 8 from three in the period they won, 43-36.
• Anthony (12) and Black (10) both made a pair of threes and combined for 22 points, and Brooks had eight points and eight rebounds in the second 20-minute segment.
• Brooks (11) and Bacot (9) combined for 20 rebounds over the full scrimmage.

WINSTON-SALEM STATE EXHIBITION
• Garrison Brooks led four Tar Heels in double-figure scoring with a game-high 18 points and added a game-high 11 rebounds as No. 9 North Carolina defeated Winston-Salem State, 96-61 (Nov. 1) in an exhibition game.
• The Tar Heels shot 57.6 percent from the floor in the second half and 50 percent for the game and scored 32 fast break points to overcome 23 turnovers.
• Carolina also out-rebounded the Rams, 56-33, with Brooks and freshman Armando Bacot combining for 21 boards.
• Graduate transfer Christian Keeling hit two three-pointers and scored all 14 of his points for UNC in the second half.
• Freshman Cole Anthony had 11 points and seven assists and Bacot added 10 points.
• Senior guard Brandon Robinson injured his right ankle on a fall in the first half and did not return.
• Sophomore Leaky Black also had seven assists against just one turnover and made a pair of threes.
• Carolina led 45-24 at halftime after holding the Rams to 27.8 percent shooting from the floor (10 of 36). The Rams finished the game shooting 32.9 percent from the floor, including 8 of 30 from three-point range, and had 22 turnovers.

2019 SIGNEES
R.J. Davis, a 5-11 guard from White Plains, N.Y.; Donovan "Puff" Johnson, a 6-7 forward from Moon Township, Pa.; Walker Kessler, a 7-0 forward from Newnan, Ga.; Caleb Love, a 6-3 guard from St. Louis, Mo.; and Day'Ron Sharpe, a 6-10 forward from Greenville, N.C.
• "It's a fantastic class with very highly-rated prospects, but they are even better individuals," says Williams. "They will be a fun group to work with, and they will be fun to work with as individuals. They all have the complete game and will be the kind of kids that our Tar Heel supporters will fall in love with."
• Davis attends Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, where he plays for Coach Patrick Massaroni.
• Roy Williams on Davis: "RJ is a great youngster, a very good student. He's the leading scorer in his high school's history already and is a point guard who shoots so well that he can play with other point guards, handle the ball in certain situations and shoot the ball in others. He's a great leader and is part of a fantastic high school team that has won a recent state title and will play in national tournaments. He will show people he is a high-quality player who comes from a fantastic family."
• Johnson is the younger brother of former Tar Heel Cameron Johnson, who earned 2019 first-team All-ACC honors and plays for the Phoenix Suns. Johnson attends Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix. He is coached by former NBA star Mike Bibby. Johnson grew up near Pittsburgh, where he played for Coach Adam Kaufman at Moon Area High School.
• Roy Williams on Johnson: "When you see Puff, you see his brother, Cameron, which is obviously a very good sign, but Puff is also his own young man and that's an even better sign. He's a tireless worker who is playing for a nationally-competitive team that will play in big-time tournaments. Puff is going to get better and better. He's a bit of a late bloomer, but he's already a top 100 player. His dad and I both believe that, like Cameron, he's going to work and work and continue to improve in all aspects of his game. His greatest skill now is shooting the ball in the basket but he's going to be a fantastic all-around player. We are fortunate to have already known his family for the past two years and know they are going to be tremendously supportive of him and our program."
• Kessler attends the Woodward Academy in College Park, Ga., where he plays for Coach Anthony Thomas.
• Roy Williams on Kessler: "Walker is the best shooting big man in the entire country. His game improves every month. He can play inside because of his size, but he can really stretch the defense with the way he shoots. He's a dedicated individual who always is working to get better and is a true joy to be around. He's developed a great relationship with our players and staff. He's a fun young man to be with. His family is an athletic family that really knows what big-time college basketball is all about. His brother (Houston), dad (Chad) and uncle (Alec) all played at the University of Georgia, and we are thrilled to have them now join our basketball family."
• Love attends Christian Brothers College High School, where he plays for Coach Justin Tatum.
• Roy Williams on Love: "Caleb is another youngster who is a scoring point guard, an athletic point guard, a guy who can attack the basket and finish against bigger players. Our guys loved playing with him when he was here playing pickup. He's the kind of player that everybody who plays with him says they want him as a teammate. His parents are very education-oriented and will be wonderful supporters of our University and the basketball program."
• Sharpe plays for Coach Kevin Boyle at Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla. He played three seasons at South Central High School in Winterville, N.C., where he was coached by Chris Cherry.
• Roy Williams on Sharpe: "He's one of those kids that you fall in love with as soon as you meet him, and that's what I did when he was a sophomore. He's gotten better and better and better. If you look at his rise in the rankings you'll see that two years ago he wasn't in the top 100 in his class; now he's in the top 20 and he's going to continue to improve. His mom and dad have made a big sacrifice to send him to play against tremendously difficult competition at Montverde, and he's stepped up to the task and done a great job. He won a state championship and was the MVP of the 4-A state tournament in North Carolina last year, so he knows how to play well in big games."