Looking to validate their selection into the 2025 NCAA Tournament, North Carolina dismantled San Diego State, 95-68, in a game that wasn’t even that close, as Carolina advanced out of the First Four, and into the actual tournament field, where they’ll take on Ole Miss on Friday afternoon. RJ Davis led the way, scoring 26 points, on 6-6 shooting from the outside. Davis was one of four Tar Heels to score in double figures, followed by Seth Trimble’s 16 points off the bench, combined with Ven-Allen Lubin’s 12, and Jae’Lyn Withers’s 10. Carolina shot 52% from the field, and 59% from behind the arc, a reminder they did this all against the best field goal percentage defense in the country.
Believe it or not, it wasn’t always easy for UNC, as they turned the ball over four times in their first six possessions, and held just a 13-11 lead, before going on a 20-2 run, that effectively ended the game. Sam Diego State was hoping to get a boost with the return of Magoon Gwath, the Defensive Player of the Year in the Mountain West, but you could tell he wasn’t 100%, and Carolina attacked him both with multiple screens, in addition to letting Lubin attack him in the post, drawing multiple fouls. The simple fact is that for as good as SDSU was defensively this season, they haven’t seen an offense of this caliber, and had no answers for Carolina’s athleticism, shot-making, and physicality.
For as much praise as Carolina’s offense is going to get, and rightfully so, you have to credit Carolina’s defense for the way last night’s result was determined. UNC held the Aztecs to 65 points, including just 23 in the first half, in a game, where they shot just 40% from the field, and 30% from behind the arc. The Tar Heels were relentless in running off misses, getting the ball down the floor, getting multiple shots at the rims, and either finishing or drawing fouls. Back in the preseason, Hubert Davis talked about being the fastest team in the country, and they have looked the part over the last month and a half.
Hubert Davis was emphatic that his team didn’t have to send a message after all the backlash they received for making the tournament field over some of the at-large schools that were left out, but they sure played like it. There is a confidence that exists right now, that feels a lot like 2022, when Carolina made a run to the Final Four. Here’s what to take away from what Carolina is hoping is just the start of a successful run this March:
Historic Offense: Carolina made 14 threes, the most ever in an NCAA Tournament, and they shot 59% from the field, on those 14 makes. RJ Davis led the way, with 26 points, on 6-6 three-point shooting, tying the record for most threes made in the NCAA Tournament. Carolina became the first team in NCAA tournament history to score 95 points, and shoot at least 50% from the floor (52.6%), 50% from three-point range (58.3%), and 85% from the free throw-line (87.5%).
Cadeau in Control: How long Carolina plays into the month of March will depend on the play of Elliot Cadeau, and it appears that he has restored some confidence in how he played down the stretch against Duke. Last night, Cadeau scored 9 points and handed out 12 assists, the sixth time he had a double-digit assist game. In the first half, Cadeau scored or assisted on 11 of UNC’s 14 field goals.
Turnovers: It was a rough start for Carolina, who turned it over 4 times in their first 6 possessions, and it looked like it was going to be one of those games. But after the slow start in that department, Carolina wouldn’t turn the basketball over the rest of the half, as they built a 47-23 lead. When this team takes care of the basketball, they play offense at as high a level as any team in the country.
Trimble Sets the Tone: When the Tar Heels heard their name called on Selection Sunday, the entire room cheered, except for Seth Trimble, who was already locked in on the task at hand. His energy changed the tide for Carolina last night, as he was relentlessly playing defense in the half-court, while constantly attacking the rim, on his way to scoring 16 points. When Carolina gets the guard play it got last night, from Davis, Cadeau, and Trimble, there isn’t a better backcourt in the country, and the trio could fuel UNC to a deep postseason run.
Up Next: Carolina is back in NCAA Tournament action on Friday, when they take on Ole Miss at approximately 4 PM, on TNT.
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