By R.L. Bynum
Five days after his former UNC backcourt mate RJ Davis scored a career-high 36 points against Wake Forest, Caleb Love matched that on Saturday night.
Love’s career-high came in an 87–78 road victory over Oregon two days after the No. 9 Wildcats (15–5, 6–3 Pac-12) lost at Oregon State 83–80 when Love scored 23 points and two 3-pointers.
Love was 12 of 18 from the floor and 5 of 8 from 3-point range against the Ducks.
“I was just trying to play within the offense and let my teammates create for me,” Love said.
Love topped his previous best scoring game, which was 34 points on Nov. 27 last season in Carolina’s 104–101 four-overtime loss to Alabama in Portland. The big difference is that he needed 36 shots in that game and only 18 on Saturday.
It was his third career game with at least 30 points. He netted 30 in Carolina’s 73–66 NCAA tournament victory over UCLA in the 2022 NCAA Sweet 16. It was his seventh career game with at least five 3-pointers and third this season.
Three former Tar Heels were on the court for Minnesota’s 83–74 victory at Penn State.
Dawson Garcia scored 20 points with four rebounds and three assists for the Gophers (13–7, 4–5 Big Ten). Puff Johnson had four points and D’Marco Dunn two points for the Nittany Lions (9–11, 3–6).
Tyler Nickel scored 11 points and three 3-pointers and dished out three assists as host Virginia Tech (13–7, 5–4 ACC) knocked off Georgia Tech 91–67.
Kerwin Walton contributed seven points before fouling out in No. 25 Texas Tech’s 85–84 home victory over No. 15 Oklahoma. The Red Raiders are 16–3 overall and 5–1 in the Big 12.
Kennedy Todd-Williams had 11 points, nine rebounds and eight assists Thursday as host Ole Miss beat Florida 81–70. The Rebels (14–5, 4–2 SEC) host Tennessee at 3 p.m. Sunday (ESPN)
Destiny Adams collected 11 points and seven rebounds in Rutgers’ 73–62 Saturday loss at Wisconsin. The Scarlet Knights (6–16, 0–9 Big Ten) have lost 11 consecutive games.
Dontrez Styles had three points and four rebounds in Georgetown’s 83–76 Saturday loss at Providence, the fifth consecutive loss for the Hoyas (8–12, 1–8 Big East).
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Junior | UNC 2023–25 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting point guard ahead of sophomore L.J. Cason
Season statistics — 21 games, 21 starts, 10.1 points, 44.7 FG%, 42.0 3P%, 69.0 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.6 turnovers
Team record: 20–1, 10–1 Big Ten; Rank: No. 3
Tuesday: 75–72 win vs. No. 5 Nebraska — Started; 32:55, 7 points, 2–8 FG, 2–6 3FG, 1–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 fouls, 8 turnovers, 2 steals, +9
Friday: 83–71 win at No. 7 Michigan State — Started; 30:19, 17 points, 5–8 FG, 3–5 3 FG, 4–5 FT, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 turnovers, +4
Next game — 6:30 Thursday vs. Penn State, FS1
Trayanna Crisp, Mississippi State guard
5–8 | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 22 games, 22 starts, 9.5 points, 40.5 FG%, 39.6 3P%, 87.2 FT%, 2.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists
Team record: 16–7, 3–6 SEC
Thursday: 77–62 win at No. 15 Tennessee — Started; 32 minutes, 15 points, 4–9 FG, 3–7 3FG, 4–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 fouls, 2 turnovers, 3 steals, +18
Sunday: 88–80 loss vs. Missouri — Started; 32 minutes, 35 minutes, 18 points, 6–15 FG, 6–13 3FG, 1 rebound, 3 fouls, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal
Next game — 6:30 Thursday at No. 2 South Carolina, SEC Network
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Junior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Roster situation — One of four forwards competing for time
Season statistics — 22 games, 2.1 points, 44.0 FG%, 2–5 3FG, 75.9 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 8 blocks, 6 steals
Team record: 16–6, 8–2 American
Tuesday: 75–65 win at Wichita State — 16 minutes, 2 points, 1–3 FG, 4 rebounds, 1 foul, 3 turnovers
Next game — 3 p.m. Saturday vs. UTSA, ESPN+
Ian Jackson, St. John’s guard
6–5, 195 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter, sharing time in a point-guard-by-committee mix
Season statistics — 22 games, 15 starts, 11.0 points, 43.5 FG%, 36.7 3P%, 88.9 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Team record: 17–5, 10–1 Big East; Rank: No. 25
Tuesday: 68–56 win vs. DePaul — Started; 25 minutes, 8 points, 3–11 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1–2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 foul, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 2 steals
Next game — 8 p.m. Friday vs. No. 3 UConn, Fox
Puff Johnson, Ohio State
6–8, 190 pounds | Graduate | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Reserve
Team record: 14–7, 6–5 Big Ten
Season statistics — 3 games, 2.3 points, 40.0 FG%, 1–2 3FG, 2–3 FT, 1.7 rebounds
Monday: 84–78 win vs. Penn State — 13 minutes, 2 points, 1–3 FG, 0–1 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 turnover
Saturday: 92–82 loss at Wisconsin — 12 minutes, 5 points, 1–2 FG, 1–3 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 turnover
Next game — 8:30 Thursday at Maryland, FS1
Teonni Key, Kentucky forward
6–4 | RS senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting forward
Season statistics — 15 games, 15 starts, 11.3 points, 53.6 FG%, 1–12 3FG, 66.7 FT%, 6.7 rebounds, 1.3 blocks
Team record: 18–5, 5–4 SEC; Rank: No. 16
Sunday: 93–73 win at Arkansas — Started; 32:08, 15 points, 5–12 FG, 5–10 FT, 10 rebounds, 1 foul, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal, 1 block, +14
Next game — 7 p.m. Thursday vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 250 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting center
Season statistics — 23 games, 23 starts, 13.4 points, 68.7 FG%, 30.0 3P%, 70.1 FT%, 7.0 rebounds
Team record: 17–6, 8–2 ACC
Tuesday: 84–83 win at SMU — Started; 27:44, 11 points, 4–7 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3–8 FT, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, +8
Next game — noon Saturday vs. Virginia Tech, The CW
Plays UNC —7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, ESPN or ESPN2
Tyler Nickel, Vanderbilt wing
6–7, 220 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting forward
Season statistics — 22 games, 22 starts, 16.6 points, 50.7 FG%, 45.0 3P%, 83.9 FT%, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Team record: 19–3, 6–3 SEC: Rank: No. 18
Saturday: 71–68 win vs. Ole Miss — Started, 28:15, 5 points, 2–7 FG, 1–5 3FG, 2 rebounds, 4 fouls, 2 assists, +2
Next game — 3:30 Saturday vs. Oklahoma, SEC Network
Paulina Paris, SMU guard
5–9 | Senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting guard
Season statistics — 19 games, 11 starts, 9.6 points, 39.7 FG%, 23.6 3P%, 69.7 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Team record: 8–14, 1–9 ACC
Thursday: 83–54 loss at Clemson — Didn’t start; 21 minutes, 7 points, 3–10 FG, 1–3 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, 1 turnover, 1 steal, -19
Next game — 7:30 Thursday vs. Wake Forest, ACCN Extra
Plays UNC — 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at Carmichael Arena, ACCN
Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS junior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Roster situation — Reserve minutes
Season statistics — 21 games, 3.0 points, 51.1 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 58.8 FT%, 2.2 rebounds, 15 assists, 9 blocks, 4 steals
Team record: 11–12, 4–6 Southern Conference
Thursday: 78–73 loss at Furman — 12 minutes, 4 points, 2–2 FG, 3 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal
Sunday: 88–74 win at Western Carolina — 8 minutes, 4 points, 1–2 FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 3 fouls, 1 assist, 2 turnovers
Next game — 8 p.m. Thursday vs. The Citadel, ESPN+
Cade Tyson, Minnesota wing
6–7, 180 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 22 games, 22 starts, team-leading 19.8 points, 49.2 FG%, 38.7 3P%, 81.2 FT%, 5.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Team record: 11–12, 4–8 Big Ten
Wednesday: 76–73 win vs. No. 7 Michigan State — 38 minutes, 17 points, 4–12 FG, 3–7 3FG, 6–7 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Next game — 2 p.m. Sunday vs. Maryland, Big Ten Network
Jalen Washington, Vanderbilt center
6–9, 240 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–25 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Backup center
Season statistics — 22 games, 3 starts, 8.9 points, 58.0 FG%, 25.0 3P%, 72.3 FT%, 5.4 rebounds, 1.3 blocks
Team record: 19–3, 6–3 SEC: Rank: No. 18
Saturday: 71–68 win vs. Ole Miss — Started, 16:21, 4 points, 1–1 FG, 2–3 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 fouls, -2
Next game — 3:30 Saturday vs. Oklahoma, SEC Network
Photo via @ArizonaMBB
tarheeltribune.com 