By R.L. Bynum
Tyler Nickel’s trip back to the Smith Center didn’t produce a victory for his Virginia Tech team, but he reminded the Tar Heels of his perimeter shooting prowess.
In No. 7 UNC’s 96–81 victory Saturday, Nickel scored 14 points and four 3-pointers. But the 6–7 220-pound sophomore wing also contributed in other ways, with a career-high three blocks and a steal on a day that Destiny Adams, Caleb Love, and Justin McKoy also scored in double figures.
“That’s my boy right there,” UNC senior guard RJ Davis said. “Just to see him be able to have the opportunity to thrive, he played really well today. I knew we couldn’t let T-Nick get hot. But you know, it is always good to see him. I am proud of him for his efforts and the way he is playing this year. I talked trash to him a little bit, but he is still family. He is still my brother.”
Nickel knocked in three of Virginia Tech’s six first-half 3-pointers and scored the only Hokies 3-pointer in the second half when they made only 1 of 12 attempts.
“Sometimes it’s just how the game is,” Nickel told The Roanoke Times. “You go through cold stretches, have unfortunate nights, unfortunate halves, whatever the case is. We kind of just got collectively cold, and I can’t really attribute it to anything specifically. We got good looks, but just couldn’t hit them.”
The four 3-pointers Saturday at the Smith Center matched his total in all home games last season for Carolina. It was Nickel’s third career game with at least four 3-pointers, all this season, after making four on Dec. 9 in a 71–50 win at Valparaiso and five in an 87–72 home win Jan. 10 over Clemson when he scored a career-high 24 points.
“He has had a good year for us,” Virginia Tech coach Mike Young said. “He’s a good basketball player. He is awesome to coach and very conscientious. I did not say a word to him about coming back here.
“I am sure he would tell you that he had a great experience here and thought he had better opportunities at our place to play a lot of minutes, and that’s certainly come to fruition,” Young said. “I am proud of his effort today and all year, through thick and thin. He’s a good one.”
If playing time was Nickel’s main reason for transferring, it’s been a good decision.
He only played more than 19 minutes once last season for UNC, with 25 minutes against, ironically, Virginia Tech in an 80–72 loss on Dec. 4, 2022. He’s played more than 19 minutes 22 times this season.
Seeing former teammate Armando Bacot get into a groove in the second half and finish with 25 points was no surprise to Nickel.
“Armando is a great player,” Nickel told The Roanoke Times. “When he gets to that baseline or he gets close to the basket, it’s really hard to do much. He’s an All-American for a reason and a really talented guy.”
When Nickel first entered the game, according to the North State Journal, Bacot told him that he was going to “put you on the ground.” Nickel took it as just trash talk.
“I’m pretty sure he was kidding,” Nickel told the North State Journal. “He’s always messing around, so it was light-hearted.”
Adams notched her seventh career double-double, all this season, with 18 points and 10 rebounds Saturday in Rutgers’ 61–43 home loss to Wisconsin.
It was the second consecutive double-double in Big Ten play for Adams, who has double-digit points in 13 consecutive games and at least 10 points 23 times this season for the Scarlet Knights (8–20, 2–13 Big Ten).
While No. 5 Arizona dominated inside in a 105–60 home win over rival Arizona State on Saturday night, Love only played 28 minutes, collecting 15 points, three 3-pointers, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Jaden Bradley had 21 points and Oumar Ballo added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Wildcats (20–5, 11–3 Pac-12), who the NCAA tournament committee slotted as the fourth No. 1 team in its early bracket reveal on Saturday.
Kennedy Todd-Williams registered her fourth career double-double but first this season on Sunday, collecting 16 points, a season-high 11 rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocks in a 75–71 Ole Miss overtime home victory over rival Mississippi State.
The Rebels (18–7, 8–4 SEC) rallied from an eight-point deficit in the final five minutes of regulation to win back-to-back overtime games for the first time in program history.
McKoy scored 14 points and two 3-pointers and had two rebounds, two assists and a steal in Hawaii’s 77–71 Saturday loss at UC Santa Barbara. The Rainbow Warriors (15–12, 7–8 Big West) had the ball down three with 12 seconds left, but McKoy missed a shot near the rim, and UCSB put the game away at the free-throw line.
Dawson Garcia had 14 points, eight rebounds and two assists Sunday in Minnesota’s 81–70 home win over Rutgers. The Gophers are 16–9 overall and 7–7 in the Big Ten.
Kerwin Walton had nine points on three 3-pointers in Texas Tech’s 82–74 Saturday loss at No. 10 Iowa State. The Red Raiders (18–7, 7–5 Big 12) are tied for fifth in the Big 12.
Dontrez Styles contributed eight points, two 3-pointers, five rebounds and two blocks as Georgetown’s losing streak reached 10 with the Hoyas’ 70–54 home loss Friday to Villanova. The Hoyas (8–17, 1–13 Big East) haven’t won a game since a 68–55 win on Jan. 6 against DePaul, which is 0–14 in the Big East.
Penn State (12–14, 6–9 Big Ten) is also struggling and has dropped three consecutive games after a 68–48 loss Saturday at Nebraska. D’Marco Dunn started and had nine points and three rebounds. Puff Johnson played nine scoreless minutes off the bench with two rebounds.
Will Shaver played two scoreless minutes in UAB’s 71–62 Sunday home win over North Texas.
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 — 21 games, 2.1 points, 45.5 FG%, 2–5 3FG, 75.9 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 8 blocks, 6 steals
Team record: 15–6, 7–2 American
Tuesday: 77–48 win vs. Florida Atlantic — 16 minutes, 6 points, 1–2 FG, 0–1 3FG, 4–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 foul, 2 assists, 1 block
Saturday: 74–69 2 OT win vs. Memphis — 8 minutes, 0–1 FG
Next game — 7 p.m. Tuesday at Wichita State, 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 — 21 games, 14 starts, 11.1 points, 44.4 FG%, 37.2 3P%, 90.7 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 16–5, 9–1 Big East; Rank: No. 25
Wednesday: 92–70 win vs. Butler — Started; 25 minutes, team-high 18 points, 5–11 FG, 3–6 3FG, 5–5 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 foul, 3 assists, 1 turnover, +19
Next game — 8 p.m. Tuesday at DePaul, Peacock
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 — 22 games, 22 starts, 13.5 points, 68.2 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 73.4 FT%, 7.0 rebounds
Team record: 16–6, 7–2 ACC
Tuesday: 88–68 win vs. Syracuse — Started; 26:14, 18 points, 8–8 FG, 2–2 FT, 9 rebounds, 2 fouls, 2 assists, +9
Saturday: 96–78 win at Wake Forest — Started; 28:10, 12 points, 5–8 FG, 2–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 1 foul, 3 assists, +12
Next game — 9 p.m. Tuesday at SMU, ESPN2
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
Tuesday: 80–55 win vs. Kentucky — Started, 28:20, 19 points, 7–14 FG, 2–6 3FG, 3–3 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 2 steals, 1 block, +14
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 — 21 games, 21 starts, 19.9 points, 50.0 FG%, 38.5 3P%, 80.1 FT%, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Team record: 10–12, 3–8 Big Ten
Wednesday: 67–63 loss at Wisconsin — Missed game with an ankle injury suffered in the Jan. 24 loss to Nebraska
Sunday: 77–75 loss at Penn State — 28 minutes, 17 points, 3–8 FG, 0–4 3FG, 11–12 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 fouls, 2 assists, 2 turnovers
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. No. 7 Michigan State, 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
Tuesday: 80–55 win vs. Kentucky — Started; 16:45, 0 points, 0–5 FG, 0–1 3FG, 9 rebounds, 5 fouls, 1 turnover, 1 block, +11
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 @HokiesMBB
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