If the past means anything, then the fourth-ranked UNC men’s basketball team should have a bright future ahead after knocking off the No. 16 Wisconsin Badgers 71-56 in Wednesday night’s Maui Invitational Final.

The last two times the Tar Heels have won the preseason tournament in Hawaii–in 2004 and 2008–they’ve gone on to win the national championship later that year.

Tournament MVP Joel Berry led UNC with 22 points in the game, as the team completed its three-game sweep without ever trailing at any point.

Forwards Kennedy Meeks (15 points), Isaiah Hicks (14 points), and Justin Jackson (12 points) each joined Berry in double figures in what was by far UNC’s lowest scoring output of the year.

Meeks also posted a game-high 16 rebounds, with the Tar Heel frontline once again establishing dominance–even against the toughest opponent they’d seen all year.

The Tar Heels were helped by a great defensive performance on Wisconsin’s star guard Bronson Koenig, who was held to just two points on 1-for-13 shooting from the floor.

Vitto Brown scored 15 points to lead the Badgers in scoring, while Ethan Happ chipped in 13.

UNC has now won seven games in 13 days to open the season, and looks poised to be a bonafide Final Four contender.

Up Next:

After a week off for Thanksgiving, the Tar Heels will return to action next Wednesday against No. 3 Indiana–which is coming off an upset loss to Fort Wayne earlier this week.

Game Notes:

  • For the first time in his brief college career, Tony Bradley did not reach double figures in scoring–finishing with just six points.
  • UNC did not record a single fastbreak point.
  • It’s the Tar Heels’ fourth Maui title all-time.

 

FINAL BOX SCORE

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