UNC Men's Basketball Outhustles Florida State, Cruises into ACC Tournament Semifinals

No. 1 seed Carolina outclassed No. 9 Florida State all day long at the ACC Tournament quarterfinals in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, cruising to a 92-67 win. It’s UNC’s third win against the Seminoles this season.

𝐇𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐍.#CarolinaFamily | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/yiu434nMod

— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) March 14, 2024

“I think the whole team had a rhythm today,” said reigning ACC Player of the Year R.J. Davis, who led all scorers with 18 points. “We came out and set the tone early.”

Freshman guard Elliot Cadeau played a major role in tone-setting, frequently diving on the floor for loose balls. He was so involved, Cadeau had to come out of the game briefly due to cuts on his leg.

“Playing as hard as I can is an important part of my game,” said Cadeau, who finished with eight points, four rebounds and six assists. “I’m not that gifted physically. I’m six foot, six-foot-one. I’m closer to the ground. I can get the loose balls. Getting on the floor pumps my teammates up, and it helps me too.”

“When he dove on the floor,” said Armando Bacot, “it really got us going.”

Cadeau’s floor burn came as UNC went on a 26-11 run to end the second half, blowing open what was a one-point game into a 46-30 Tar Heel lead at halftime. That lead grew to as large as 27 points in a stress-free second half, one which included a massive dunk in transition from Seth Trimble. The reserve guard scored 12 points off the bench.

“I’d give it a 7,” Cadeau said of Trimble’s dunk. “I know he can jump a lot higher.”

Trimble and Davis were two of four Tar Heels to reach double digits. Cormac Ryan and Bacot each added 14. Ryan continued his hot outside three-point shooting stretch with a 3-4 performance against the Seminoles. He’s now 11-17 (64.7 percent) on threes in his last three games.

But the most eye-popping number came on the glass. Carolina outrebounded Florida State by 26, the team’s most lopsided advantage against any team all season. Bacot and Harrison Ingram both reeled in 10. The Tar Heels’ offensive rebounds (17) nearly equaled Florida State’s total team rebounds (22). It led to 17 second-chance points for Carolina.

“We knew we had an advantage on the boards,” Bacot said. “I think Harry [Harrison Ingram] early on, how he was on the boards, it really pushed me and J-Wash [Jalen Washington] and all of us to get more… it was a ton of fun.”

As a team, UNC shot 34-65 (52.3 percent), its best mark since January 22. Before walk-ons Creighton Lebo, Rob Landry and Duwe Farris entered the game late, every Tar Heel to play had made at least one shot.

The Tar Heels are now 26-6 overall and will be back in action in the ACC semifinals Friday night at 7 p.m. They will take on the winner of No. 4 seed Pittsburgh and No. 5 seed Wake Forest.

Featured image via Todd Melet

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UNC Men’s Basketball Outhustles Florida State, Cruises into ACC Tournament Semifinals

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