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The Tar Heels are recording all kinds of consistencies.
After seven games, Carolina has a 6-1 record. The infamous predecessors of 2022-23 did not have six wins in the books until last December 10, when they started a four-game winning streak to offset the four losses that knocked them from No. 1 in the preseason rankings to all the way out of the polls.
Their shooting is much better against three good defensive teams, 46.4 percent from the floor and 38 percent from 3-point land. We all remember how difficult that was a year ago when the Heels hit 43.4 percent overall and only 31 percent on long balls, which was last in the ACC. And their free throws are up to 77 percent coming off 74 percent.
It’s hard to figure out exactly what happened in Wednesday night’s exciting win over No. 7 Tennessee, which was leading the nation in defensive efficiency. The Vols defense was allowing 61.5 per game, and the Tar Heels scored 61 in the first half and the first time in coach Rick Barnes’ nine years in Knoxville that his teams gave up 60 points in a half and the second time for 100 in a game.
Neither team missed a free throw in the first half, combining for 22 of 22 with UNC making 16 of those. Carolina wound up making 32 of 38, including its last 13 points of the game from the foul line (Thanks, Davis, Bacot and Cadeau!). The Heels’ last field goal was a 3-pointer by R.J. with just under 7:00 to play. He became the fifth Tar Heel to score 25 points in consecutive games since 2000.
Freshman Cadeau, starting only his second game, is now the third UNC player to dish 10 assists and make zero turnovers in a game (Ed Cota and Ty Lawson). Cadeau took some razzing from his teammates and former players after going 0-for-5 from the floor before making 3 of those last 13 free throws.
Tennessee fueled its comeback in the second half by shooting 58 percent while the home team misfired at 32 percent — their lowest in a half this season. The Vols’ high-voltage defense caused UNC problems, but not enough to complete the comeback.
There is another worrisome defensive trend for Hubert Davis in the last three games, when Villanova’s Eric Dixon scored 34 points in the overtime loss to the Wildcats. Arkansas’ Tramon Mark also had 34 but missed the last five minutes of a close game with an injury. Tennessee’s stud transfer Dalton Knecht had 37 on the board in the middle of the Vols’ comeback when he sprained his ankle and could not return.
Even if it helped Carolina move to 6-1, that is something you never want to see from a player on either team.
Featured image via Todd Melet
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