Lucas: Summer School

By Adam Lucas

Everything about the first four practices of the summer for the 2024-25 Tar Heels looks like a normal practice.

There is the usual practice plan, complete with a Thought for the Day at the top (Wednesday's, for example, was, "Hard work always pays off; mere talk puts no bread on the table."). There is pre-practice film study. There are numerous periods of each practice, with every single one timed out to the exact minute, a nod to former Tar Heel assistant and head coach Bill Guthridge—for example, film begins at 3:01, not 3:00. The first passing drill begins at 3:24.

Occasionally, though, there are some subtle differences. On Tuesday, Hubert Davis went through a lengthy explanation and demonstration of a couple offensive tweaks for this season. "Here are two things we have to get better at this year from last year," he told his new team, and went on to explain each of them in detail. One of them was so specific that it included certain areas of the court taped off so players would have a permanent reminder of exactly where they were (and weren't) supposed to be.

When Davis finished, he looked around at his team. "Everybody got it?" he asked. Then, a bit unexpectedly, he added, "RJ, did I forget anything?"

And that's just the slightest difference in the intensity of the summer. It's unlikely that once October arrives, the head coach will be checking anything with RJ Davis, no matter how many accolades the fifth-year standout now has on his bio. But that's a good gauge of the mood in the summer. These practices are much more about installation of ideas, especially for a group of newcomers that make up approximately half the roster, rather than depth charts or playing time.

It's still extremely intense. Davis still referenced hanging championship banners on Tuesday, explaining that a lack of effort on one simple nuance can be the difference in winning a championship or coming in second. Even in July, in Chapel Hill they're still thinking about titles.

And when the ball is in play, it's still extremely focused. At one point on Thursday, an unfamiliar voice rose above the din. Was that…I think it was…yes, Elliot Cadeau was instructing a couple of younger teammates on where he wanted them to be on the fast break. Couple it with a smoother looking shot (which is regularly getting better results) and he looks like a very different sophomore than the player who very rarely spoke up as a freshman.

With the roster split evenly into two teams for the final 16-minute period of each practice, which is very close to scrimmage action, Cadeau was part of a group on Wednesday that dominated the session. He punctuated a series of wins in mini-games played to three baskets with a layup over the outstretched arm of his defender and high off the backboard, satisfyingly barking, "Game time!" as the ball fell through the net.

This, of course, fueled the competitive nature of the head coach. "Kill 'em, Blue!" Hubert Davis shouted.

So don't expect any slower tempo to a summer practice. Davis still roars, "Purpose and pace!" at every opportunity. Assistant coach Sean May still reminded a Tar Heel that he missed a defensive assignment because he was too busy celebrating a dunk on the offensive end.

But it's still the summertime. It's still a time to try things, including a 24-second shot clock on occasion because "We've got to get in shape!" according to Davis, and multiple players playing multiple positions.

It's also a time for alumni to make an appearance. Before the Tar Heels took the court on Wednesday, Luke Maye, James Michael McAdoo and Joel James were going through an on-court workout. Maye participated in the practice and proved to still be a tough cover, scoring on a variety of moves around the basket and providing a tough defensive assignment for Cade Tyson; he was instrumental in the dominant run for Blue on Wednesday.

Practice will pause for a few days this weekend. Coaches have recruiting assignments and former Tar Heels will gather in Las Vegas for the annual Summer League dinner, with a healthy representation from multiple Carolina teams expected. Over the remainder of July, the Heels will get back on the court four more times, have a team bonding activity that has become one of the highlights of the summer, and then take one last break before the school year begins in mid-August.

Stay tuned to the Carolina Basketball social accounts for more coverage of Tar Heel summer action, plus another GoHeels.com recap after the final summer practice.

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Elliot Cadeau

RJ Davis

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