Lucas: Tennessee Rapid Reactions

By Adam Lucas

1. Sensational first half and a good enough second half as Carolina gets a statement win, 100-92 over Tennessee in front of a great Smith Center crowd that will be dining on biscuits tomorrow.

2. The first 20 minutes was about as good as the Tar Heels could possibly be. They simply did everything right, from controlling the tempo (the most points the Vols had allowed in a half this season was 41; Carolina got 61) to dominating the glass to defending exceptionally. It was a beautiful half.

3. When Tennessee made a push in the second half, RJ Davis responded. He scored on a driving layup after the Vols had cut it to eight, and then answered with a three-pointer after UT had cut it to seven. That was enough offense to allow the Tar Heels to push the lead back out to a safer margin and then make just enough free throws down the stretch. Davis finished with 27 points, including 5-for-11 from three-point range.

4. Hubert Davis also made a defensive adjustment on the red-hot Dalton Knecht, who was in the ballpark of the Smith Center scoring record by an opponent (Lionel Simmons had 37 for LaSalle in January of 1988) midway through the second half. Instead of allowing Knecht to either drive to the rim one-on-one or launch a three-pointer, the Tar Heels ran two defenders at him. To Knecht's credit, he didn't force it, and was also willing to find some teammates for big shots. Knecht did eventually tie the mark in the game's final minutes (and would have broken it had he not suffered a late injury), and he deserves to be in the record book--he was terrific.

5. Tennessee came into the game with the nation's number-one defense by several metrics. The Tar Heels shredded it. Granted, the numbers were boosted by the incredible first half, but the Heels still shot over 45 percent from the field and over 40 percent from three. Carolina took good care of the ball (just nine turnovers).

6. Part of beating their defense is also recognizing that they're going to play physically and being willing to score from the free throw line. Carolina did that very effectively, hitting 30-for-36 from the charity stripe while Tennessee was going just 12-for-14.

7. Armando Bacot was well aware he wasn't up to his standard in the Bahamas, and he responded with a stellar effort against a tough, physical opponent. Bacot had 22 points and 11 rebounds for his 71st career double-double. He also went 10-for-13 from the free throw line as he was relentless going to the rim.

8. The fast fingers of Jody Zeugner will have to officially research this, but the chances that Carolina has ever had three straight opponents go for 30+ against the Heels is very low. And the chances that Carolina went 2-1 in those games are even lower.

9. There may have never been a Tar Heel who controlled a game more while not making a basket than Elliot Cadeau in that win. Cadeau finished with ten assists and zero turnovers. The freshman, who got the start, was instrumental in setting the pace in the first half and had several highlight reel passes. He was a big part of the Heels owning a 20-8 edge in fast break points.

10. After two days of very limited to no action in practice, Cormac Ryan did not start but did come off the bench to score 15 points, including seven-for-seven from the free throw line. Ryan fouled out and was pretty clearly a little rusty in his 24 minutes. Carolina will benefit from getting him more back into his regular rhythm. Ryan was one of four Tar Heels in double figures--Harrison Ingram, who turned in his (by this point normal) 20 points and six rebounds in yet another solid all-around performance.

11. The win was Carolina's first over a top-10 nonconference opponent in the Smith Center since the win over Gonzaga in December of 2018. It's also an important game for NCAA Tournament credentials and a key victory during an incredibly difficult stretch that still includes games with FSU, UConn, Kentucky and Oklahoma.

12. In case you missed it earlier Wednesday, Carolina released information on the Secondary Break Club, which provides student-athletes with opportunities to benefit from their name, image and likeness.

13. A host of Tar Heel lettermen were in attendance. The list included, but was not limited to, George Lynch, Marcus Ginyard, Buzz Peterson, Ed Cota, Terrence Newby, Shammond Williams and Antawn Jamison. They probably fondly remembered the days when a regulation game could be played in less than two hours and 30 minutes.

14. Reminder: the Tar Heels are back in the Smith Center Saturday for the ACC opener against a good Florida State team. Tickets are available.

Players Mentioned

Armando Bacot

Elliot Cadeau

RJ Davis

Harrison Ingram

Cormac Ryan

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