By R.L. Bynum
Derek Dixon’s emergence over the last three games has given North Carolina a steadying presence in the backcourt and another source of confidence as the Tar Heels move deeper into ACC play.
The freshman leads the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio in league games (4.2) and has started each of the last three games, delivering multiple three-pointers and double-figure scoring each time. It’s a stretch that has coincided with his most consistent minutes of the season.
His latest step forward came Saturday in UNC’s 85–80 win at Virginia, where he hit two 3-pointers, scored 11 points, and dished out a game-high seven assists, tying the most by a Tar Heel this season.
Coach Hubert Davis said Dixon’s development has been built on confidence and fundamentals, with an expanding impact on both ends of the floor.
“Derek is a very confident player, very fundamentally sound, very skilled. Can really shoot the basketball,” Davis said Monday at the ACC coaches Zoom press conference. “He’s a big guard that, from a defensive standpoint, can guard a number of different positions.”
He was a game-high +22 against Virginia, which was more evidence of his impact on both ends. Dixon only had one turnover against the Cavaliers and hasn’t had more than two in any game this season. He’s gone from shooting 35.9% from the floor and 37.8% from 3-point range in 17 games coming off the bench to 46.4% and 56.2% in three games as a starter.
“With the extended minutes, I feel like he’s done a really nice job, and he’s become more vocal throughout the year, which naturally comes because you just feel more comfortable with your teammates, with your coaches, and just has a great personality, not just off the court, but on the court as well,” Davis said.
Dixon, who has committed only 13 fouls in 368 minutes, had never played more than 27 minutes before logging 30 minutes at California and 33 at Virginia.
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Dixon’s passing in transition reminded many fans of Kendall Marshall’s artistry. Those included pitch-ahead passes for transition buckets by Caleb Wilson and Jarin Stevenson. Davis downplayed the idea that those plays were flashy and anything more than the simple plays he wants his team to make, which he calls “singles.”
“Those are things that we work on every day in terms of pitching the ball ahead, whether it’s to our wings running wide or our bigs running down the middle of the floor,” Davis said. “Those are things that we practiced in practice, and it was nice to get Caleb and Jarin some easy layups in transition in the second half. I thought that was huge for us.”
Despite Dixon’s recent run as a starter, Davis resisted labeling him strictly as the team’s point guard, emphasizing versatility and multiple ball handlers while acknowledging that he’s “very happy” with Dixon’s season.
“Do I like multiple ball handlers out there? Absolutely yes,” Davis said. “I don’t put guys in particular categories, in terms of point guard, shooting guards, small forward, they’re basketball players, and Derek is a basketball player.”
For Dixon, the growth has been about sharper reads and attacking opportunities, particularly after halftime adjustments on Saturday.
“I think just after the first half, we kind of understood the looks they were giving us,” Dixon said after the game. “I had to be a little bit better coming off the ball screens, making decisions, and just getting inside and attacking.”
He also pointed to pace and awareness as staples of UNC’s approach.
“It’s always a point of emphasis every day for us to run,” Dixon said. “Be fast, run down the middle of the floor.”
Dixon said playing fast helped him find teammates for easy baskets, including a late pocket pass off a ball screen for a pivotal Wilson bucket.
As Dixon continues to stack productive starts, UNC is seeing a guard who is more assertive, more vocal, and increasingly comfortable orchestrating the offense.
Multiple contributors fueled the Tar Heels’ success at Virginia. But Dixon’s steady rise has given the Tar Heels another reliable option at the controls and another player who turns the plays worked on in practice into tangible, game-changing results.
| Team | League | Overall | NET* | WAB* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Duke | 17–1 | 29–2 | 1 | 2 |
| No. 10 Virginia | 15–3 | 27–4 | 13 | 11 |
| Miami | 13–5 | 24–7 | 32 | 28 |
| No. 19 North Carolina | 12–6 | 24–7 | 23 | 19 |
| Clemson | 12–6 | 22–9 | 36 | 33 |
| No. 24 Louisville | 11–7 | 22–9 | 14 | 25 |
| N.C. State | 10–8 | 19–12 | 35 | 45 |
| Florida State | 10–8 | 17–14 | 69 | 74 |
| California | 9–9 | 21–10 | 65 | 49 |
| Stanford | 9–9 | 20–11 | 59 | 51 |
| SMU | 8–10 | 19–12 | 39 | 50 |
| Virginia Tech | 8–10 | 19–12 | 53 | 52 |
| Wake Forest | 7–11 | 16–15 | 64 | 81 |
| Syracuse | 6–12 | 15–16 | 83 | 92 |
| Pittsburgh | 5–13 | 12–19 | 109 | 146 |
| Notre Dame | 4–14 | 13–18 | 93 | 121 |
| Boston College | 4–14 | 11–20 | 159 | 217 |
| Georgia Tech | 2–16 | 11–20 | 167 | 210 |
* — Through Sunday games
Saturday’s results
No. 1 Duke 76, No. 19 North Carolina 61
Boston College 77, Notre Dame 69
Clemson 79, Georgia Tech 76
No. 24 Louisville 92, Miami 89
Florida State 92, SMU 78
Stanford 85, N.C. State 84
Wake Forest 80, California 73
Pittsburgh 71, Syracuse 69, OT
END OF REGULAR SEASON
ACC tournament
Spectrum Center | Charlotte
Tuesday through Saturday
| Date | Time/ scores | Month/day | Opponent/event (current ranks) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | Exhibitions | |||
| 9 | W, 88–70 | Friday | vs. No. 21 USC in Greensboro | |
| 18 | L, 76–58 | Sunday | vs. Indiana in Indianapolis | |
| 27 | 7:30 | Tuesday | vs. Charlotte | ACCN Extra |
| November | Regular season | |||
| 2 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. Western Carolina | ACCN |
| 6 | 7 p.m. | Friday | vs. Wofford | ACCN |
| 10 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. Wyoming | ACCN |
| 13 | 7 p.m. | Friday | vs. Georgia | ESPN2 |
| 20 | 9 p.m. | Friday | vs. Marshall | ACCN |
| 23 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. Monmouth | ACCN |
| 27 | 7 p.m. | Friday | Dick Vitale Invitational vs. West Virginia in Charlotte | ESPN |
| December | ||||
| 1 | 7:30 | Tuesday | ACC/SEC Challenge vs. No. 12 Arkansas | ESPN |
| 6 | 3 p.m. | Sunday | vs. Butler | ESPN2 |
| 12 | Noon | Saturday | at Georgetown | Peacock |
| 15 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | Tobacco Road Classic vs. N.C. State in Greensboro | ESPN2 |
| 19 | 2:30 | Saturday | CBS Sports Classic vs. No. 23 Kentucky in New York | CBS |
| 21 | 8 p.m. | Monday | vs. The Citadel | The CW |
| 30 | 4 p.m. | Wednesday | vs. California | ACCN |
| January | ||||
| 2 | 4 p.m. | Saturday | at Boston College | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 5 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | at No. 11 Louisville | ESPN or ESPNU |
| 9 | Noon | Saturday | vs. N.C. State | ESPN2 |
| 13 | 7 p.m. | Wednesday | at Florida State | ESPN2 or ESPNU |
| 16 | 2:15 | Saturday | vs. Stanford | The CW |
| 19 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. No. 9 Virginia | ESPN |
| 23 | Noon | Saturday | at Syracuse | ESPN or 2 or U |
| 26 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. SMU | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 30 | 6 or 6:30 | Saturday | Nashville Hoops Showdown vs. No. 3 Illinois in Nashville, Tenn. | ESPN |
| February | ||||
| 2 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | at Notre Dame | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 6 | 2:15 | Saturday | vs. Georgia Tech | The CW |
| 8 | 6 p.m. | Monday | vs. No. 11 Louisville | ESPN |
| 13 | 5:30 | Saturday | at No. 2 Duke | ABC |
| 20 | 7 p.m. | Saturday | at Wake Forest | ACCN |
| 22 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. No. 14 Miami | ESPN |
| 27 | 7 p.m. | Saturday | at Virginia Tech | ESPN |
| March | ||||
| 2 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | at Pittsburgh | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 6 | 6 or 6:30 | Saturday | vs. No. 2 Duke | ESPN |
| 9–13 | Tues.-Sat. | ACC tournament in Greensboro |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
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