No. 19 UNC’s versatility fuels more aggressive — and likely more efficient — defensive approach

R.L. Bynum,

By R.L. Bynum

Among the many reasons North Carolina’s men’s basketball team often struggled last season was its inability to defend ball screens.

The No. 19 Tar Heels, who open the season at 7 p.m. Monday at the Smith Center against Radford (ACC Network), have the versatility to handle screens better this season and, at least in the 117–53 exhibition victory over Division II St. Augustine’s, took a dramatically different approach.

UNC’s adjusted defensive efficiency last season (97.2), according to kenpom.com, was ranked No. 46 in the country. It was the worst showing since Carolina went 14–19 (No. 94 ranked, 98.4) in 2019–20 and would have missed the NCAA tournament had it been played.

Since the infamous 8–20 season in 2001–02 (No. 174, 101.7), the only other UNC teams ranked lower than 39 were in 2014–15 (51, 96.0) and 2012–13 (55, 94.9).

Radford (21–15 last season) at No. 19 North Carolina (20–13)

7 p.m. Monday | ACC Network

Going from 6–10 Pete Nance to versatile Stanford junior transfer Harrison Ingram at the four spot gives Coach Hubert Davis many more options.

In the exhibition, UNC switched on screens at every position except for fifth-year center Armando Bacot, who was aggressively hedging in those situations. The approach was productive in the exhibition against a much less talented opponent but also seems to have the potential to work against stiffer competition.

“This year, we’ve got a lot of athleticism on the wing and at the four position, too,” Bacot said. “With Pete, we could definitely switch, too. But he was also such a good shot blocker, so we wanted to have him around the rim.”

In addition to the 6–7 Ingram, two 6–9 frontcourt reserves — Louisville transfer Jae’lyn Withers and freshman Zayden High — can guard anybody on the court.

“We also realize we can switch more on the guards and trust them guarding out there,” Bacot said. “So it’s great having those athletic small guys.”

Notre Dame transfer Cormac Ryan is a dogged defender, as is senior guard RJ Davis and freshman guard Elliot Cadeau.

With Bacot in the lane, Carolina appeared to play a good bit of the “no middle defense” that Baylor used during its Final Four run in 2021 that works to prevent drives to the basket.

Only 14 of St. Augustine’s 53 points came inside, and the Falcons had no second-chance points.

All of that was, of course, against a Division II team. But if the Tar Heels keep that approach, it should make them more efficient on the defensive and against better competition.

NOTES — UNC is 101–12 in season openers and has won 18 in a row since the Santa Clara loss in Oakland, Calf., to start the 2004–05 season. … Carolina hasn’t lost a home opener since falling to Hampton to start the 8–20 season in 2001-02. … Ryan is 25. Six former UNC players in the NBA are younger: Cole Anthony (23), Leaky Black (24), Walker Kessler (22), Nassir Little (23), Day’Ron Sharpe (21) and Coby White (23). … RJ Davis enters the season shooting 85.0% from the free-throw line, which is the best career percentage in program history, topping the 84.8% of Shammond Williams (1994–98). … This is the third meeting with Radford. UNC beat the Highlanders 101–58 in the first round of the NCAA tournament on its way to the 2009 national championship and also won 95–50 in the Smith Center on Dec. 4, 2016. … In online rankings, Radford is No. 168 on kenpom.com, No. 152 on barttorvik.com and No. 176 on teamrankings.com. … Radford, which went 21–15 last season and lost 63–56 to Charlotte in the College Basketball Invitational semifinals, is picked to finish second in the Big South. The Highlanders beat Division III Mary Baldwin in a Nov. 1 exhibition game 114–54. … Radford has eight program wins over Power Five schools, including a 62–59 victory at No. 17 Texas on Nov. 11, 2018. … Redshirt senior 6–1 guard DaQuan Smith (led the team in scoring last season at 13.9 points per game) and senior 6–5 guard Bryan Antoine (11.9) made the preseason All-Big South team. … Wes Durham and Dan Bonner will be on the ACC Network call of the game. … Pete Chilcutt, one of four former UNC stars who will be filling in for Eric Montross this season, will be the analyst on the Tar Heel Sports Network for Monday’s game.

DateMonth/dayTimeOpponent/event
(current ranks)		TV/
record
October
24FridayL, 78–76vs. No. 10 BYU in SLCExhib.
29WednesdayW, 95–53vs. Winston-Salem St.Exhib.
November
3MondayW, 94–54vs. Central Arkansas1–0
7FridayW, 87–74vs. No. 17 Kansas2–0
11TuesdayW, 89–74vs. Radford3–0
14FridayW, 97–53vs. N.C. Central4–0
18TuesdayW, 73–61vs. Navy5–0
Fort Myers Tip-Off
25TuesdayW, 85–70vs. St. Bonaventure6–0
27ThursdayL, 74–58vs. No. 9 Michigan State6–1
DecemberACC/SEC
Men’s Challenge
2TuesdayW, 67–64at Kentucky7–1
—————————
7SundayW, 81–61vs. Georgetown8–1
13SaturdayW, 80–62vs. USC Upstate9–1
16TuesdayW, 77–58vs. East Tennessee
State		10–1
CBS Sports Classic
in Atlanta
20Saturday3 p.m.vs. Ohio StateCBS
—————————
22Monday8 p.m.vs. East CarolinaACCN
30Tuesday7 p.m.vs. Florida StateESPN2
January
3Saturday2:15at SMUThe CW
10Saturday6 p.m.vs. Wake ForestACCN
14Wednesday9 p.m.at StanfordACCN
17Saturday4 p.m.at CaliforniaACCN
21Wednesday7 p.m.vs. Notre DameESPN2
24Saturday2 or 2:30at No. 23 VirginiaESPN or
ESPNU
31Saturday2 p.m.at Georgia TechACCN
February
2Monday7 p.m.vs. SyracuseESPN
7Saturday6:30vs. No. 3 DukeESPN
10Tuesday7 p.m.at MiamiESPN or
ESPN2
14Saturday2 p.m.vs. PittsburghESPN
17Tuesday7 p.m.at N.C. StateESPN or
ESPN2
21Saturday1 p.m.at SyracuseABC
23Monday7 p.m.vs. No. 11 LouisvilleESPN
28Saturday6:30 or 8:30vs. Virginia TechESPN or
ESPN2
March
3Tuesday7 p.m.vs. ClemsonESPN or
ESPN2
7Saturday6:30at No. 3 DukeESPN
10–14Tues.-Sat.ACC
tournament		Spectrum Center,
Charlotte
No.ClassPlayerPos.HgtWgt
8FreshmanCaleb Wilson (5 star)46–10215
5FreshmanIsaiah Denis (4 star)CG6–4180
3FreshmanDerek Dixon (4 star)CG6–5200
40SophomoreIvan Matlekovic57–0255
11SophomoreJonathan PowellG6–6190
2SophomoreJames Brown 56–10240
1SophomoreZayden High46–10230
44JuniorLuca Bogavac
(BO-guh-VAHTS)		W6–6215
4JuniorJaydon Young26–4200
13RS juniorHenri Veesaar
(VEH-sar)		57–0225
0JuniorKyan Evans16–2175
15JuniorJarin Stevenson46–10215
7SeniorSeth Trimble26–3200
Walk-ons
25SophomoreJohn Holbrook46–8230
32JuniorEvan Smith26–1195
6RS seniorElijah Davis26–3205

Former UNC players who transferred

PlayerClass next seasonPos.HgtWgtNext school
Elliot CadeauJuniorPG6–1180Michigan
Jalen WashingtonSeniorC6–10235Vanderbilt
Ian JacksonSophomoreG6–4190St. John’s
Cade TysonSeniorF6–7200Minnesota
Ven-Allen LubinSeniorC6–8230N.C. State
DateMonth/dayTimeOpponent/event
(current ranks)		TV/
record
October
24FridayL, 78–76vs. No. 10 BYU in SLCExhib.
29WednesdayW, 95–53vs. Winston-Salem St.Exhib.
November
3MondayW, 94–54vs. Central Arkansas1–0
7FridayW, 87–74vs. No. 17 Kansas2–0
11TuesdayW, 89–74vs. Radford3–0
14FridayW, 97–53vs. N.C. Central4–0
18TuesdayW, 73–61vs. Navy5–0
Fort Myers Tip-Off
25TuesdayW, 85–70vs. St. Bonaventure6–0
27ThursdayL, 74–58vs. No. 9 Michigan State6–1
DecemberACC/SEC
Men’s Challenge
2TuesdayW, 67–64at Kentucky7–1
—————————
7SundayW, 81–61vs. Georgetown8–1
13SaturdayW, 80–62vs. USC Upstate9–1
16TuesdayW, 77–58vs. East Tennessee
State		10–1
CBS Sports Classic
in Atlanta
20Saturday3 p.m.vs. Ohio StateCBS
—————————
22Monday8 p.m.vs. East CarolinaACCN
30Tuesday7 p.m.vs. Florida StateESPN2
January
3Saturday2:15at SMUThe CW
10Saturday6 p.m.vs. Wake ForestACCN
14Wednesday9 p.m.at StanfordACCN
17Saturday4 p.m.at CaliforniaACCN
21Wednesday7 p.m.vs. Notre DameESPN2
24Saturday2 or 2:30at No. 23 VirginiaESPN or
ESPNU
31Saturday2 p.m.at Georgia TechACCN
February
2Monday7 p.m.vs. SyracuseESPN
7Saturday6:30vs. No. 3 DukeESPN
10Tuesday7 p.m.at MiamiESPN or
ESPN2
14Saturday2 p.m.vs. PittsburghESPN
17Tuesday7 p.m.at N.C. StateESPN or
ESPN2
21Saturday1 p.m.at SyracuseABC
23Monday7 p.m.vs. No. 11 LouisvilleESPN
28Saturday6:30 or 8:30vs. Virginia TechESPN or
ESPN2
March
3Tuesday7 p.m.vs. ClemsonESPN or
ESPN2
7Saturday6:30at No. 3 DukeESPN
10–14Tues.-Sat.ACC
tournament		Spectrum Center,
Charlotte

Photo via @UNC_Basketball

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Published by R.L. Bynum

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