Lucas: Saint Augustine's Rapid Reactions

By Adam Lucas

1. Carolina did what it was supposed to do in routing Saint Augustine's, 117-53. Sorry, folks--you don't get biscuits during the exhibition season.

2. Carolina was good in almost every possible way against a team that was not as gifted and talented (as Roy Williams used to say) as the Tar Heels. They shot the ball well, used their size advantage to rebound it well, and perhaps most encouragingly and something that can translate against better opponents--shared the ball well. Fifteen of the first 22 baskets were assisted and the final tally was 22 assists.

3. For the record, Carolina's starting five was RJ Davis, Cormac Ryan, Paxson Wojcik, Harrison Ingram and Armando Bacot.

4. It didn't take Davis long to heat up. He hit five of his first six three-pointers on the way to 20 first half points and scored the first eight for the Heels. He had 17 points in the first 5:45 of the game. That isn't going to be an every night output...but it's also consistent with what he showed last weekend against an outside opponent. Davis had a game-high 22.

5. As befits a player on the Cousy watch list, Davis wasn't all about scoring. Even when he was hot from the outside, it didn't feel like he was hunting his own shot. He had three first half assists and did not turn the ball over; he finished with that same total.

6. The second wave began with freshmen Elliot Cadeau and Zayden High checking in together at Carolina's first substitution. Both players made some very positive contributions. Cadeau is capable of playing at the tempo Hubert Davis has been emphasizing (UNC outscored the Falcons 25-0 in fast break points). It's a luxury to be able to maintain that pace even with reserves. And High was relentless on the boards, grabbing eight rebounds in his first 12 minutes and finishing with a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double in 20 minutes.

7. Cormac Ryan sat out the second half after tweaking his ankle near halftime. Cadeau started in his place and finished with seven points on 3-for-6 from the field and four assists with just one turnover.

8. It's an asset to this year's team that we've gotten this far without mentioning Harrison Ingram (16 points and nine rebounds plus a very solid floor game) or Armando Bacot (a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double in just 21 minutes).

9. Even with all the depth on display, keep in mind that Carolina played without Seth Trimble (lower body injury) and Jae'Lyn Withers (upper body injury). Both are expected to be part of the rotation and will see minutes as soon as they are healthy--hopefully in time for the regular season opener at home against Radford on Nov. 6 at the Smith Center.

10. Someone stop Creighton Lebo! Now wearing his dad's old number-14 jersey, he entered the game with six minutes left and had 11 points.

11. If that coach on the opposing bench looked familiar, you're a longtime Tar Heel fan. Saint Augustine's head coach Chucky Brown played for NC State from 1985-89 and was an All-ACC pick during his senior season. He played against Hubert Davis during that 1988-89 season, when the Tar Heels and Wolfpack split two meetings.

12. As you noticed if you listened to the Tar Heel Sports Network, Friday night marked the debut of the rotating stable of analysts who will fill in for Eric Montross this season. If you missed it, Eric will sit out this season. Details on the four Tar Heel lettermen who will sit in this season are here. Jones Angell was in Atlanta on Friday night with the football Tar Heels preparing for Saturday night's 8 p.m. kickoff at Georgia Tech, but will be back in the play-by-play chair for the Radford game.

13. Expect Hubert Davis to mention turnovers. The Tar Heels had a dozen of them, and a couple were unforced. Hey, not everything can be positive.

14. As you're out and about this weekend, a reminder that Paxson Wojcik was the guest on today's Carolina Insider podcast. Lots of good insight from the Brown transfer about making that decision and his first few months in Chapel Hill.

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University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Armando Bacot

Elliot Cadeau

RJ Davis

Zayden High

Harrison Ingram

Creighton Lebo

Cormac Ryan

Seth Trimble

Jae'Lyn Withers

Paxson Wojcik

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