CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. — The Carolina men capped a wonderful weekend for the Tar Heels and their Nation in three distinct ways.
First, and most importantly, they snapped an eight-game losing streak at Virginia and did it by beating the Cavaliers at their own game of ball control and determined defense.
The win, coupled with Duke’s defeat at Wake Forest, put UNC alone in first place of the ACC race with four games remaining for each team in the regular season.
And third, besides rising in all the national rankings, the Heels’ seventh quad 1 win could thrust them back onto the top seed line of NCAA tournament projections after Washington State’s upset win at Arizona Thursday night.
Virginia’s clear game plan was to neutralize R.J Davis, who was dogged by several Wahoo defenders and wound-up shooting a season-low 1 for 14 from the field. Missing all six shots he took in his first scoreless half of his senior year, R.J. came back to hit his only “3” in the second half for his lone field goal of the game — but canned 9 of 10 free throws to help thwart UVa’s rally from a 12-point deficit in the waning moments of the 54-44 win.
The last time Carolina won here was in 2012, when Roy Williams’ nationally ranked team also scored 54 to Virginia’s 51. No UNC team has scored so few since then, and it was also the first time since then the Heels put up less than 30 points in both halves. Carolina had lost the previous five times when scoring under 60.
The Tar Heels built a solid first-half lead on a record-tying five 3-pointers by the sizzling Cormac Ryan, who added a sixth in the second half to finish with a game-high 18 points — the first time he has led UNC in scoring. His six triples were the most since Caleb Love made that many against Clemson a year ago and his 15 points in the first half matched Love’s in the second half against UCLA in the 2022 NCAA Sweet 16.
And they were crucial since Carolina had its own scoring droughts and managed only 6 second half field goals.
With so much attention being paid to Davis, Ryan worked his way around screens against Virginia’s vaunted packline defense to get good looks and made 6 of 11 from behind the arc. Ryan, who has now drained 24 long balls in the last eight games, also opened driving lanes for his inside teammates.
The efficiently constructed John Paul Jones (JPJ) Arena has an intimate feeling of a large high school gym and was packed to the top rows and ready to rock, but Carolina largely kept the frustrated fans quiet or carping at the officials. They came to the JPJ well aware that their Cavaliers were in a dismal offensive slump, scoring even lower than their per-game average (63.4) and their putrid shooting percentages matched lows dating back to 2009.
The blue-clad visitors were dominant in the first half but should have led by more than 26-16 at the break, allowing their frigid hosts to stay close despite Virginia going 5 for 30 and 0 for 6 on 3-point attempts. The Tar Heels shot 37 percent that included Ryan’s five bombs, but got only 10 points from the other three starters in the first half.
UNC’s R.J. Davis was hounded by Reece Beekman during Saturday’s game, but managed to keep his three-point shooting streak alive with a made three-pointer as his lone field goal. (Photo via Cal Cary/The Daily Progress and The Associated Press.)
Armando Bacot had another second half explosion, after missing the last 12 minutes of the opening half in foul trouble. He was nobly replaced by Jalen Washinton who had 6 rebounds and 4 blocks; J-Wash didn’t get much time in the second half as Mondo became more engaged with 8 points of his total 10 and 10 of his 13 rebounds to notch his sixth straight double-double, 14th of the season and 82nd of his career. AB also finished with 5 offensive rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks, looking more and more like the Bacot of ’22.
Harrison Ingram had 7 points and 10 rebounds against the Cavaliers while covering their array of taller men who screen and roll inside but also can hit from deep. Ingram and his mates had one of their best efforts closing out around the arc where the cockeyed Cavaliers made 2 of 14 attempts, only one by Isaac McKneely, among the best 3-point shooters in the ACC. Ingram also did a lot of animated talking in some of the team huddles, with Hubert Davis standing by and listening.
After the game, Davis said his theme for the mid-week break was “Whatever it takes.” The team exuded that, as subs standing behind the seated starters stood arm and arm with intentionality. The Heels should relish their position and build on their togetherness and tenacity with what’s at stake. They played smart and together, if not fast due to the opponents’ tempo, and their 8-3 advantage on fast break points showed they got to run some despite the snail’s pace.
Elliot Cadeau (6 assists) and R.J. Davis took turns trying to guard Virginia star Reece Beekman who is bigger than both of them and can be murder in the paint when he gets one of them of his back. Beekman had UVa’s first six points and added one assist. But, after taller Seth Trimble and Ryan joined the defensive rotation, Beekman had one more basket in the first half and just one in the second for total of 10 points and 7 rebounds. He missed a late layup that confirmed the party was party over.
It wasn’t all Carolina’s defense given the Wahoos’ offensive blues over the last few weeks. When they fell behind the Tar Heels by eight points early, you could almost feel how tight they got. Their 17 percent shooting in the first half and 28 percent overall broke or matched records in Virginia’s offensive futility and translated into one of UNC’s best defensive games of the season.
With the lead and their resolve getting stronger, the bigger Tar Heels basically took over the game and were never in danger of losing until the lead shrunk to five late with a Cavalier at the foul line. He missed, meaning Virginia made only 10 of 15 from the stripe. UNC went 15 of 19, with Davis converting his last four to close out Carolina’s 21st overall win and bumping their first-place ACC record to 13-3.
Yes, it was a typically ugly game against a Virginia team that has played deliberately over coach Tony Bennett’s 14-plus seasons in Charlottesville. His 15th team is particularly challenged on offense with Beekman and McKneely UVa’s only consistent offensive threats.
Carolina faces Miami at home Monday night at 7 p.m. in which has to be forewarned as a trap game. It is the first of three straight at home before the March 9 rematch at Duke. It may be a sports cliché, but the Tar Heels can now control their own destiny.
Featured image via Cal Cary/The Daily Progress and The Associated Press.
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
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