It was the final game of 2024, and the Tar Heels turned in one of their best performances of the season, beating Campbell 97-81, in the first-ever meeting between the two in-state programs. Ian Jackson continued his impressive play, leading the team with 26 points, after earning his first start at Carolina. He had help though, as RJ Davis added 23 points, on his best perimeter shooting game of the season, going 5-10 from behind the arc. His perimeter prowess was fitting, as tonight, he passed Marcus Paige, for the program’s all-time leader in made three-point field goals. Furthermore, Elliot Cadeau recorded his first double-double, as a Tar Heel, scoring 12 points, and handing out 12 assists, in 34 minutes of action. Drake Powell and Jalen Washington both added double figures, to ensure that all 5 starters scored in double figures, on a night where they shot 57% from the field.
It wasn’t the blowout it turned out to be from the start, as Campbell stayed close throughout the first half, and only trailed by 11, 40-29 at the half. In the second half, Carolina would outscore the Fighting Camels, 57-52, but they built a lead as big as 29 at the under-8 mark in the second half. One reason Carolina’s offense was so efficient, was in large part due to their ability to get to the rim, and score inside, where they outscored Campbell 48-30. Not only did UNC dominate on the interior from a scoring perspective, but they also did so on the glass, out-rebounding the opponent, 37-25, as Jae’Lyn Withers led the team in rebounding, with 7 boards off the bench, in 10 minutes of action.
Seth Trimble may not have played tonight, but you can tell that Carolina has spent a lot of time, adjusting to a more guard centric lineup, and offense, making the game easier for Davis, and Cadeau. Ian Jackson’s NBA-scoring like ability puts so much pressure on the defense, and it should open up scoring chances for his backcourt mates, and a frontcourt that needs as much help as possible.
There’s no denying that Carolina was supposed to win the game, and in the manner that they did, but it was important that they played well, in the last tuneup before 19 straight ACC games, and it’s fair to say they did that in more ways than one with the win tonight. Here is what to take away from the final win of the non-conference season, and the final win of 2024:
History for RJ Davis: RJ Davis returned to Chapel Hill, yes to return to the Final Four, but also to write his name further into the UNC record books, and he did tonight, surpassing Marcus Paige, for the most made threes in UNC Basketball history. He also made his way inside the ACC’s top 10 in terms of all-time scoring and did so looking like the All-American he was last season, guiding UNC to an ACC regular season title, and a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Davis has been mired in a season-long shooting slump, but it appears like ever since the Florida game, Davis is returning to his All-American mold, and that’s exactly what this team needs ahead of the start of ACC play.
Elliot Cadeau: No player benefited more from tonight’s game than Elliot Cadeau, who recorded a 12-point, 12-assist double-double, and for the first time since before leaving for Hawaii, looked like the player he was in the first three games, where he averaged 17 points, and 8 assists. More importantly, after turning it over 3 times in the first half, he didn’t turn it over in the second half. A big key for Carolina turning its season around, leis on the shoulders of Elliot Cadeau, and he looked like the player that Hubert Davis promised him to be all off-season long.
Ian Jackson Shines: A freshman 8 miles down the road may be getting all the headlines, but Ian Jackson is starting to make a name for himself, after another 20-point performance, tonight he led UNC with 26 points, on 9-16 shooting. Jackson is the most talented player on the roster, and ever since the second half of the Florida game, he has looked like Carolina’s best player. Nobody on the roster can create offense for himself like Jackson, and his ability to pressure the rim is opening up scoring chances for everyone involved.
No Clear Picture 5: While Carolina is getting comfortable playing with 4 guards, they still don’t have a set rotation at the 5 spot, Jalen Washington got the start over Ven-Allen Lubin tonight, and he produced an efficient 10 point, 5 rebound effort, in 14 minutes. Him starting over Lubin is rightful to be questioned, but it shows how desperate Hubert Davis is to have his his size and length on the floor, even if Washington isn’t as good as Lubin is at cleaning up the glass or providing an inside scoring presence. Ty Claude also played 10 minutes tonight, and Jae’Lyn Withers saw minutes at the 5 when UNC went really small. It was always going to be a by-committee approach in the frontcourt this season, and that’s even more evident, as we get ready for ACC play.
Turnovers: After turning it over 18 times against UCLA, Carolina looked like the team we saw in the opening games of the season, as they turned it over just 7 times tonight. With more ball handlers on the floor, the decision-making should go up, and the turnovers down, and that’s what we saw tonight.
Second Half Defense: If there’s anything to nitpick it’s the fact that Carolina allowed a bottom tier CAA opponent to score 52 points in the second half, and shoot 61% from the field. The Fighting Camels did score 30 points in the final 7 minutes, but that was after UNC had built a 29-point lead. Expect that to be brought up in the practices leading up to Wednesday’s night game against Louisville.
Up Next: Carolina begins ACC play on Wednesday night, when they travel to Louisville to kick off 19 straight conference games. Tip is set for 6 PM on the ACC Network.
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