Editor’s note: The UNC basketball game vs. UCLA has been cancelled due to COVID protocols within the Bruins’ program. Carolina will now play Kentucky at 5:30 p.m. in Las Vegas. For more information, click here.
The UNC men’s basketball team is out west in Las Vegas this weekend, for what promises to be a wild matchup in the CBS Sports Classic. Carolina will take on a No. 4 UCLA team coming off a Final Four appearance last spring. It’ll provide one last chance for the Tar Heels to pick up a signature non-conference win before the start of ACC play.
At No. 4, UCLA is the highest-ranked opponent Carolina has faced so far this season, and the highest-ranked opponent it’s played at all since December 2019. Prior to a win over then-No. 24 Michigan in this season’s ACC-Big Ten Challenge, the Tar Heels had dropped three straight matchups with ranked opponents.
After the team’s win over Furman on Tuesday night, several players were already looking ahead to the UCLA game on Saturday, with junior forward Armando Bacot saying it would be a chance to “put everyone on notice.”
Head coach Hubert Davis, though, downplayed the importance of Saturday as a litmus test, saying his focus was on his team.
“I’m not into tests,” Davis told reporters Thursday morning. “Or circling one game as something that’s more important than just the game that you’re supposed to be playing next. We’re concerned about us becoming the best basketball team that we can become. And as of right now, UCLA is the next team that we’re playing.”
Leading the charge for the Bruins is junior Johnny Juzang. Juzang is averaging a team-best 16.6 points per game and was an integral part of the Bruins’ Final Four run last season. Similar to the treatment Georgia Tech’s Michael Devoe received earlier this month, Juzang will likely see a healthy dose of senior wing Leaky Black on Saturday. Black has been Carolina’s best defender this season, and drew praise from Davis for his consistency through the first 10 games.
“I’m so proud of Leaky. He’s really, probably of anybody on the team, has settled into his role the quickest and the best,” Davis said. “He’s really taken pride on being a really good defensive player. I’m just really proud of Leaky. He’s having a fantastic season. And he’s showing everybody that he’s one of the best defenders in the country.”
Davis’ tight rotation has been one of the themes of this season so far, with only seven players seeing more than 10 minutes of game time against Furman. Sophomore guard Kerwin Walton’s sharp drop in minutes has surprised many fans, but Davis said both Walton and junior wing Justin McKoy will need to log more minutes if Carolina is to be successful.
“In order for us to be the best team possible, we need Kerwin [and] we need Justin to be big-time players,” said Davis. “And they’re going to be, and they are. And they’re gonna have their bright moments out there on the floor, and I’m so thankful that I’m their coach, and that they’re on this team.”
Despite entering Saturday’s game as the underdog, UNC will count on history repeating itself. The Tar Heels have won 10 of 13 meetings all-time with UCLA. A win would extend Carolina’s winning streak to six games, its longest since the 2018-19 season, and would also likely send the Tar Heels back into the Top 25 poll.
Featured image via Todd Melet
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