.png&width=36&height=36&type=webp)
University of North Carolina Athletics
RJ Davis had a double-double in the win.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Lucas: Virginia Rapid Reactions
February 25, 2023 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Quick takeaways from the rematch with the Cavaliers.
By Adam Lucas
1. Carolina got exactly what it needed on Saturday with a 71-63Â win over Virginia. The win, in front of a great Smith Center crowd, boosts the Tar Heels' postseason credentials markedly.
2. Virginia was hit by a deluge of three-pointers in the first half. The Tar Heels' first basket was a Pete Nance three-pointer and it didn't stop from there, as the Heels hit 9-for-16 from three in the first half, tying the most in a half by the team this year (second half of Clemson game). Four of them were from Nance. Carolina led 42-26 at the break after shooting 57.7 percent from the field. Carolina finished 10-for-22 from the arc and is now 8-0 this season when making at least 35 percent from the three-point line.
3. It was obscured by some missed open three-pointers, but Nance also played well on Wednesday night at Notre Dame, when he was the only Tar Heel who could consistently get the ball to Armando Bacot in position to score. He did all those little things on Saturday, also, but will get much more attention because he made the shots. The win over the Wahoos was the best game of his Carolina career, as he scored, defended (three big blocks in the second half), and even had a laser assist to Puff Johnson in the second half. Nance finished with 22 points.
4. It was a lot easier to get assists because the shots were actually going in, but one game after struggling mightily to get any assists, the Tar Heels handed out eight assists on the first 11 baskets of the game. RJ Davis and Leaky Black each had three during that flurry. The pace slowed a little in the second half, and Carolina finished with 12 assists on 22 field goals.
5. RJ Davis quietly had a big day on the glass. Some of his ten rebounds were uncontested as Virginia sent everyone back on defense, but he also got a couple in traffic. The Tar Heel guard finished with ten boards, a team high. Add in his 16 points, and Davis had a double-double and also led the team in assists with four.
6. A combination of solid UNC defense and poor Virginia shooting sent the Hoos to their second straight poor shooting performance. UVA was just 39.7 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from the three-point line, and--the defense didn't impact this one much--45.5Â percent from the free throw line.
7. How important were the three-pointers? The Tar Heels turned it over 12 times, forced just four turnovers, got only three second chance points and (as usual against Virginia) had zero fast break points. And yet--on a day when Caleb Love struggled and was just 2-for-12 from the field--they still won relatively handily against one of the top teams in the league. Maybe you remember a former coach by the name of Roy Williams who frequently said, "Everything goes better when the ball goes in the basket."
8. Puff Johnson struggled on Wednesday night, was very limited in practice on Thursday, but then came back and had one of his best practices of the season on Friday. It carried over to Saturday, as he looked confident and swished his first two three-point attempts. As usual, Johnson was also involved in every loose ball and was a solid defender. Johnson finished with eight points (which accounted for all of Carolina's bench scoring) and also had five rebounds.
9. Leaky Black played in his 151st career game, tying him with Isaiah Hicks and Nate Britt for second on Carolina's all-time list. The only Tar Heel with more games is Deon Thompson, who has the Carolina and ACC record with 152.
10. The win gives Carolina the elusive Quad 1 win that everyone said they needed for NCAA Tournament consideration. It's pretty simple: if the Tar Heels keep winning, they'll make the field. Monday night's trip to Florida State might not look challenging based on the standings, but the back half of Saturday-Monday turnarounds are always difficult, especially when they include a flight. The atmosphere on Monday night will be much less intense than Saturday's raucous Smith Center. The Tar Heels will have to make their own energy in a game they must win.
1. Carolina got exactly what it needed on Saturday with a 71-63Â win over Virginia. The win, in front of a great Smith Center crowd, boosts the Tar Heels' postseason credentials markedly.
2. Virginia was hit by a deluge of three-pointers in the first half. The Tar Heels' first basket was a Pete Nance three-pointer and it didn't stop from there, as the Heels hit 9-for-16 from three in the first half, tying the most in a half by the team this year (second half of Clemson game). Four of them were from Nance. Carolina led 42-26 at the break after shooting 57.7 percent from the field. Carolina finished 10-for-22 from the arc and is now 8-0 this season when making at least 35 percent from the three-point line.
3. It was obscured by some missed open three-pointers, but Nance also played well on Wednesday night at Notre Dame, when he was the only Tar Heel who could consistently get the ball to Armando Bacot in position to score. He did all those little things on Saturday, also, but will get much more attention because he made the shots. The win over the Wahoos was the best game of his Carolina career, as he scored, defended (three big blocks in the second half), and even had a laser assist to Puff Johnson in the second half. Nance finished with 22 points.
4. It was a lot easier to get assists because the shots were actually going in, but one game after struggling mightily to get any assists, the Tar Heels handed out eight assists on the first 11 baskets of the game. RJ Davis and Leaky Black each had three during that flurry. The pace slowed a little in the second half, and Carolina finished with 12 assists on 22 field goals.
5. RJ Davis quietly had a big day on the glass. Some of his ten rebounds were uncontested as Virginia sent everyone back on defense, but he also got a couple in traffic. The Tar Heel guard finished with ten boards, a team high. Add in his 16 points, and Davis had a double-double and also led the team in assists with four.
6. A combination of solid UNC defense and poor Virginia shooting sent the Hoos to their second straight poor shooting performance. UVA was just 39.7 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from the three-point line, and--the defense didn't impact this one much--45.5Â percent from the free throw line.
7. How important were the three-pointers? The Tar Heels turned it over 12 times, forced just four turnovers, got only three second chance points and (as usual against Virginia) had zero fast break points. And yet--on a day when Caleb Love struggled and was just 2-for-12 from the field--they still won relatively handily against one of the top teams in the league. Maybe you remember a former coach by the name of Roy Williams who frequently said, "Everything goes better when the ball goes in the basket."
8. Puff Johnson struggled on Wednesday night, was very limited in practice on Thursday, but then came back and had one of his best practices of the season on Friday. It carried over to Saturday, as he looked confident and swished his first two three-point attempts. As usual, Johnson was also involved in every loose ball and was a solid defender. Johnson finished with eight points (which accounted for all of Carolina's bench scoring) and also had five rebounds.
9. Leaky Black played in his 151st career game, tying him with Isaiah Hicks and Nate Britt for second on Carolina's all-time list. The only Tar Heel with more games is Deon Thompson, who has the Carolina and ACC record with 152.
10. The win gives Carolina the elusive Quad 1 win that everyone said they needed for NCAA Tournament consideration. It's pretty simple: if the Tar Heels keep winning, they'll make the field. Monday night's trip to Florida State might not look challenging based on the standings, but the back half of Saturday-Monday turnarounds are always difficult, especially when they include a flight. The atmosphere on Monday night will be much less intense than Saturday's raucous Smith Center. The Tar Heels will have to make their own energy in a game they must win.
Players Mentioned
F/C
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F/G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballTar Heels in the Community pres. by NC Electric Co-ops - Wrestling Visits Ronald McDonald House
Friday, October 03
Carolina Insider - Olympic Sports Update (Full Segment) - October 3, 2025
Friday, October 03
UNC Women's Soccer: Faasse, Thomas Push Heels Past Eagles, 3-1
Friday, October 03
Latinx Heritage Month 2025 - Lindsay Lumsden & Team Guatemala Feature
Thursday, October 02