University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI
Lucas: Jan. 26 UNC Basketball Notebook
January 26, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Notes and quotes prior to the trip to Tallahassee
By Adam Lucas
You wouldn't have expected this a month ago: the player leading the Tar Heels in rebounding in ACC games is Harrison Ingram, who is grabbing 10.6 boards per game in conference play, ahead of Armando Bacot's 9.8. Ingram has double-figure rebounds in four of the past five contests and five of the past seven. That's impressive work from a player who didn't have a single game with 10+ rebounds at Stanford last year. Of his 60 rebounds in the past five games, 13 have come on the offensive end, and his total of 22 offensive boards in ACC play also leads the team.
"Harrison Ingram does so much for this team," Hubert Davis said this week. "His versatility, skill, and being able to make plays on both ends of the floor are so valuable to us. He competes and the guys feed off his energy. I couldn't imagine not having a guy like him in the locker room or on the floor."
Davis is right—he doesn't like not having him on the floor. Ingram's 31.6 minutes per conference game are second only to RJ Davis at 34.8.
Notes: Because of some class and timing issues, the Tar Heels held a morning practice on Wednesday. According to informed sources—specifically, Creighton Lebo—it might have been a monumental day. "This has to be the first morning practice in Carolina basketball history," he said as he came out to do some pre-practice shooting. It might not be the first ever, but it's certainly one of the very few, especially during a non-exam period…Highly suggest today's interview with Jae'Lyn Withers on the Carolina Insider podcast. It's easy to understand how he's figured out how to carve himself an important role on a winning team. Withers also gives a window into the daily schedule of a basketball player that might surprise some fans…
If you missed the team-signed basketballs at their first availability last fall (or, let's be honest, wanted to wait and see how the team performed), you've got another chance. The team is signing the last remaining balls this week. Order forms are available here and the program will use the proceeds for their community endeavors such as this one…A reason why his teammates love James Okonkwo: his minutes have been sporadic, but when he gets the chance to contribute, he takes advantage of it the way he did at Boston College last weekend. And then he says things like this: "I just want to do what Coach Davis brought me here to do. Make effort plays and athletic plays at the rim. He makes it simple for us players. We have the responsibility to show up and give our best. If I do that, I will keep getting better."…
Another note from those conference-only stats: Withers is shooting 62.5 percent from the field in ACC games after hitting just 14-for-32 (43.8 percent) during the nonconference portion of the schedule. Close to half his field goal attempts were three-pointers during nonconference games, and he's dropped that figure to just over 20 percent of his ACC shot attempts. The Louisville transfer isn't happy with his 1-for-5 three-point performance in conference play, but he's regularly working hard on his shot after practice and it wouldn't be surprising if he knocks in a couple in an upcoming game. If he gets his confidence back on that shot, he will be very difficult to guard.
You wouldn't have expected this a month ago: the player leading the Tar Heels in rebounding in ACC games is Harrison Ingram, who is grabbing 10.6 boards per game in conference play, ahead of Armando Bacot's 9.8. Ingram has double-figure rebounds in four of the past five contests and five of the past seven. That's impressive work from a player who didn't have a single game with 10+ rebounds at Stanford last year. Of his 60 rebounds in the past five games, 13 have come on the offensive end, and his total of 22 offensive boards in ACC play also leads the team.
"Harrison Ingram does so much for this team," Hubert Davis said this week. "His versatility, skill, and being able to make plays on both ends of the floor are so valuable to us. He competes and the guys feed off his energy. I couldn't imagine not having a guy like him in the locker room or on the floor."
Davis is right—he doesn't like not having him on the floor. Ingram's 31.6 minutes per conference game are second only to RJ Davis at 34.8.
Notes: Because of some class and timing issues, the Tar Heels held a morning practice on Wednesday. According to informed sources—specifically, Creighton Lebo—it might have been a monumental day. "This has to be the first morning practice in Carolina basketball history," he said as he came out to do some pre-practice shooting. It might not be the first ever, but it's certainly one of the very few, especially during a non-exam period…Highly suggest today's interview with Jae'Lyn Withers on the Carolina Insider podcast. It's easy to understand how he's figured out how to carve himself an important role on a winning team. Withers also gives a window into the daily schedule of a basketball player that might surprise some fans…
If you missed the team-signed basketballs at their first availability last fall (or, let's be honest, wanted to wait and see how the team performed), you've got another chance. The team is signing the last remaining balls this week. Order forms are available here and the program will use the proceeds for their community endeavors such as this one…A reason why his teammates love James Okonkwo: his minutes have been sporadic, but when he gets the chance to contribute, he takes advantage of it the way he did at Boston College last weekend. And then he says things like this: "I just want to do what Coach Davis brought me here to do. Make effort plays and athletic plays at the rim. He makes it simple for us players. We have the responsibility to show up and give our best. If I do that, I will keep getting better."…
Another note from those conference-only stats: Withers is shooting 62.5 percent from the field in ACC games after hitting just 14-for-32 (43.8 percent) during the nonconference portion of the schedule. Close to half his field goal attempts were three-pointers during nonconference games, and he's dropped that figure to just over 20 percent of his ACC shot attempts. The Louisville transfer isn't happy with his 1-for-5 three-point performance in conference play, but he's regularly working hard on his shot after practice and it wouldn't be surprising if he knocks in a couple in an upcoming game. If he gets his confidence back on that shot, he will be very difficult to guard.
Players Mentioned
F/C
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballFB: #TheCall26 Signing Day Press Conference
Thursday, December 04
UNC Men's Basketball: Dixon's Clutch Play Leads Tar Heels Past Kentucky, 67-64
Wednesday, December 03
MBB: Dixon's Clutch Play Leads Tar Heels Past Kentucky, 67-64
Wednesday, December 03
WBB: Courtney Banghart Pre-Texas Media Availability
Tuesday, December 02