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University of North Carolina Athletics
Jae'Lyn Withers
Photo by: Maggie Hobson
Lucas: Opportunity Awaits
November 22, 2023 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Jae'Lyn Withers was the latest Tar Heel to make good use of being given a chance.
By Adam Lucas
PARADISE ISLAND—In a back hallway of the ballroom-turned-basketball court that is home to the Battle 4 Atlantis, Carolina assistant coach Pat Sullivan saw Jae'Lyn Withers from afar.
"J-Wit!" Sullivan barked in that distinctive Bogota, N.J. accent. "Great job!"
Withers turned around and saw who was addressing him. "Coach," he said, "I really appreciate the opportunity."
"It's one thing to get an opportunity," Sullivan said. "But you have to take advantage of it. And you did."
After a lackluster first half that saw Northern Iowa shoot 60 percent on the way to a 41-35 lead at the break, Hubert Davis and his coaching staff tabbed Withers to start the second half. The Charlotte native responded by contributing 2-for-2 from the field, 2-for-2 from the free throw line, three rebounds, an assist, a block and no turnovers, all of which helped him accumulate a +22 margin in his 13 minutes of second half action.
He was so productive that some of his best plays didn't even show up in the box score; midway through the half, he got the ball on the low block. He had an athleticism advantage, but instead of forcing a shot, he whipped it cross-court to Cormac Ryan on the wing. Ryan delivered an easy entry pass to Armando Bacot, who scored. Ryan got the assist, but Withers made the play happen.
Since taking over, Hubert Davis has consistently told his team he can't guarantee them when an opportunity is coming, but he does guarantee them that an opportunity is coming. Withers' performance Wednesday was an example of what to do with it when it arrives.
"I always tell them that their job is that when an opportunity comes, be ready," Hubert Davis said on the Tar Heel Sports Network. "All our guys have responded in that way. I don't know when they're going to get that chance. But when they get it, they have to be ready. And J-Wit really stepped up today."
Withers has looked extremely comfortable in his four games as a Tar Heel, and it's important to watch what he isn't doing as well as what he is doing. He shot nearly 42 percent from the three-point line last season at Louisville, and by his own admission perhaps got a little too comfortable hanging around the three-point line. But a player with his ability and athleticism is more effective in Carolina's offense leaving those shots mostly to teammates and wreaking havoc closer to the rim.
With that in mind, Withers took (and made) his first three-pointer of the season on Wednesday, waiting until well into his fourth game before attempting one. He attempted three per game last year for the Cardinals.
He also committed over two turnovers per game for the Cards, but he's made just two miscues in 66 minutes this season. And on the other end of the court, he's been part of a dramatically improved UNC defense that forced 17 Northern Iowa turnovers. Withers is just one behind Ryan for the team lead in the season steals category, and although he wasn't credited with any against the Panthers, his active hands created numerous deflections.
If there's an area of improvement, it's that after four games Withers still has the same number of offensive rebounds as Wanda (Mrs. Williams still has zero). That's a little deceptive because his quick hands have definitely created some offensive rebounds for others, but look for him to secure that first production on the offensive glass here in the Bahamas.
It's pretty simple: Withers wants to do whatever the Tar Heels ask him to do. He's well aware that fulfilling those requests most often results in victories, and after suffering through a 4-28 campaign at Louisville last year, he isn't taking this one for granted. You think following the Heels was tough last year? Think about this: it's November 22 and Withers has already experienced as many victories as he did all of last season.
It showed when he was handed a postgame box score on Friday and took an extra minute to locate the column he was trying to find (turnovers, of which Carolina had just nine). "I got out of the habit of looking at these last year," he said. "It's no fun to look at these when you aren't winning."
That's why he's been such a good fit in Chapel Hill.
"We all want to win," he said. "Don't get me wrong. We all want to score and make the great play. But our unselfishness comes from us being older. We're at the point that winning is the most important thing in the game."
PARADISE ISLAND—In a back hallway of the ballroom-turned-basketball court that is home to the Battle 4 Atlantis, Carolina assistant coach Pat Sullivan saw Jae'Lyn Withers from afar.
"J-Wit!" Sullivan barked in that distinctive Bogota, N.J. accent. "Great job!"
Withers turned around and saw who was addressing him. "Coach," he said, "I really appreciate the opportunity."
"It's one thing to get an opportunity," Sullivan said. "But you have to take advantage of it. And you did."
After a lackluster first half that saw Northern Iowa shoot 60 percent on the way to a 41-35 lead at the break, Hubert Davis and his coaching staff tabbed Withers to start the second half. The Charlotte native responded by contributing 2-for-2 from the field, 2-for-2 from the free throw line, three rebounds, an assist, a block and no turnovers, all of which helped him accumulate a +22 margin in his 13 minutes of second half action.
He was so productive that some of his best plays didn't even show up in the box score; midway through the half, he got the ball on the low block. He had an athleticism advantage, but instead of forcing a shot, he whipped it cross-court to Cormac Ryan on the wing. Ryan delivered an easy entry pass to Armando Bacot, who scored. Ryan got the assist, but Withers made the play happen.
Since taking over, Hubert Davis has consistently told his team he can't guarantee them when an opportunity is coming, but he does guarantee them that an opportunity is coming. Withers' performance Wednesday was an example of what to do with it when it arrives.
"I always tell them that their job is that when an opportunity comes, be ready," Hubert Davis said on the Tar Heel Sports Network. "All our guys have responded in that way. I don't know when they're going to get that chance. But when they get it, they have to be ready. And J-Wit really stepped up today."
Withers has looked extremely comfortable in his four games as a Tar Heel, and it's important to watch what he isn't doing as well as what he is doing. He shot nearly 42 percent from the three-point line last season at Louisville, and by his own admission perhaps got a little too comfortable hanging around the three-point line. But a player with his ability and athleticism is more effective in Carolina's offense leaving those shots mostly to teammates and wreaking havoc closer to the rim.
With that in mind, Withers took (and made) his first three-pointer of the season on Wednesday, waiting until well into his fourth game before attempting one. He attempted three per game last year for the Cardinals.
He also committed over two turnovers per game for the Cards, but he's made just two miscues in 66 minutes this season. And on the other end of the court, he's been part of a dramatically improved UNC defense that forced 17 Northern Iowa turnovers. Withers is just one behind Ryan for the team lead in the season steals category, and although he wasn't credited with any against the Panthers, his active hands created numerous deflections.
If there's an area of improvement, it's that after four games Withers still has the same number of offensive rebounds as Wanda (Mrs. Williams still has zero). That's a little deceptive because his quick hands have definitely created some offensive rebounds for others, but look for him to secure that first production on the offensive glass here in the Bahamas.
It's pretty simple: Withers wants to do whatever the Tar Heels ask him to do. He's well aware that fulfilling those requests most often results in victories, and after suffering through a 4-28 campaign at Louisville last year, he isn't taking this one for granted. You think following the Heels was tough last year? Think about this: it's November 22 and Withers has already experienced as many victories as he did all of last season.
It showed when he was handed a postgame box score on Friday and took an extra minute to locate the column he was trying to find (turnovers, of which Carolina had just nine). "I got out of the habit of looking at these last year," he said. "It's no fun to look at these when you aren't winning."
That's why he's been such a good fit in Chapel Hill.
"We all want to win," he said. "Don't get me wrong. We all want to score and make the great play. But our unselfishness comes from us being older. We're at the point that winning is the most important thing in the game."
Players Mentioned
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