Graduate transfer Brady Manek may have only one year of eligibility to use in Chapel Hill, but if Tuesday night’s performance is any sign, he’s making it count.
Manek showcased his complete tool kit of offensive moves, scoring 20 points to lead the Tar Heels to a 83-67 season-opening win over Loyola.
𝗛𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗡. pic.twitter.com/NmkNJPb2lZ
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) November 10, 2021
Though Manek opened the night’s scoring with a three-pointer, his next baskets came on the block, in the form of floaters, layups and hook shots. After not starting the exhibition game against Elizabeth City State, he made his case for the rest of the season against the Greyhounds. Caleb Love, R.J. Davis, Leaky Black and Armando Bacot joined him as starters.
“One of the things that I said to [Manek] in the office just a couple days ago, is the only that I’m upset about in regards to him, is that I only get to coach him one year,” head coach Hubert Davis said after the game. “I think the best thing that I could have is to be able to coach Brady Manek for four years. He’s been that great.”
Manek didn’t finish the night as UNC’s leading scorer, though. That honor went to sophomore Caleb Love, who utilized his quickness and agility to score 22 points. He only scored 20 or more points twice all of last season. Perhaps even more impressive was Love’s efficiency: he shot 7-13 (53.8 percent), a percentage which he only eclipsed twice in 2020-21. He also didn’t turn the ball over a single time.
Love, though, seemed more excited to get his head coach his first career regular-season win.
“I’m just happy for Coach Davis,” he said. “Him being so passionate about this program, him being able to have this opportunity to step into this role for us, I’m just happy for him. And I’m happy for this team that we got the win.”
Sophomore Kerwin Walton notably began the game on the bench after starting the exhibition game. But he still ended the game with 11 points and three made three-pointers.
“That kind of shows, since we can play all these guys, that we have a lot of people who can play,” Walton said. “And I think that when we have a lot of guys who come off the bench… every single guy that we play has the ability to start. We can put in any lineup and we’ll be just fine. I have full confidence in everybody on my team, and I have full confidence in myself.”
With his first official game now under his belt, Davis didn’t dive deep into his emotions afterward, but did say one moment caught him off-guard.
“Where it was really emotional was after the game,” he said. “Going through the tunnel, my wife was there, with my three kids. My oldest son Elijah… he had come back to be at my first game. My dad was there, my sister. Pete Chilcutt, who was my roommate here… he flew from Sacramento, California, so he was in the tunnel. So just seeing all of the people that have been there for me my entire life, all the emotions that I have felt over the last seven months just came.”
Another esteemed guest in the Smith Center Tuesday didn’t greet Davis in the tunnel, but his presence was felt nonetheless: former head coach Roy Williams, sitting with his wife Wanda in the corner near the Tar Heel bench. Williams may not be coaching anymore, but some things remain the same for the Basketball Hall of Famer: after a few controversial foul calls, Williams placed his hands behind his head in protest. Officials were unmoved by Williams’ displeasure.
But one thing above all will bring Williams, Davis and every other Tar Heel fan in attendance Tuesday night a smile: Carolina is 1-0 for the 17th year in a row, and Hubert Davis currently holds the greatest winning percentage in the history of the UNC men’s basketball program.
Featured image via Todd Melet. For a photo gallery of the game, click here.
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