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Theo Pinson’s career-best triple-double performance was the highlight as the NBA finished its regular season, and only five UNC alums will play in the postseason. Heading to the Eastern Conference play-in tournament are Coby White’s Chicago Bulls. Harrison Barnes’ Sacramento Kings, Cameron Johnson, Day’Ron Sharpe and the Brooklyn Nets, and Danny Green’s Cleveland Cavaliers all secured spots in first-round playoff series.
With the Dallas Mavericks resting all their regulars in their last game of the season, Theo Pinson got his first career start and took full advantage of the opportunity. Pinson produced his first career triple-double with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in 40 minutes, all career-highs, in the Mavericks’ 138–117 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Pinson, who also had a steal, is the only active Tar Heel with an NBA triple-double and the first to achieve one since Ty Lawson did it for Sacramento on April 11, 2017.
The final games of the NBA regular season can lead to some interesting decisions by teams that produce strange lineups for various reasons. However, it’s also a chance for some players to flourish. Starting for only the second time this season, Coby White had one of his best nights of the season and Theo Pinson missed a shot in the final minute that would have tied it in one of the oddest games on the final weekend.
Caleb Love is heading to Michigan. After three seasons at Carolina, Love announced on social media on Friday that he’ll continue his career with the Wolverines.
After working his way back from offseason knee surgery, there hasn’t been much of a reward for that for Danny Green — until Thursday night. On a night when both teams rested their starters, Green scored 21 points and five 3-pointers as the Cleveland Cavaliers rolled to a 118–94 road victory over the Orlando Magic. In addition to all five Orlando starters resting, sixth man Cole Anthony didn’t play.
Former UNC women’s basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell spoke out Thursday in favor of a North Carolina General Assembly bill that wouldn’t allow transgender athletes to compete on high school girls teams.
Even though the transfer portal is packed with players, rosters are still shuffling and the makeup of teams is still uncertain, that hasn’t stopped many outlets from coming out with way-too-early Top 25 men’s basketball rankings. Carolina falls about where you would expect in many of those lists.
On the day Carolina announced it would play in Hawaii in November 2024, Justin McKoy announced he’d head there next season. McKoy, who played two seasons at UNC after transferring from Virginia, announced on social media on Tuesday evening that he is transferring to Hawaii for his fifth college season.
Dontrez Styles, who said Tuesday morning he decided to leave UNC because he wants to play, has narrowed his choices to N.C. State, East Carolina, Georgetown and South Carolina, and hopes to decide by Sunday. He made the comments during the “Tuesdays with Trez” segment on “The Bryan Hanks Show” on WRNS 960 AM in Kinston.
Boston College center Maria Gakdeng has committed to North Carolina, Coach Courtney Banghart announced on Monday. The 6–3 junior will have two years of eligibility.
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