GAME INFO:
January 26, 2022
7:00pm Tip Off
Dean Smither Center (Capacity: 21,750)
Chapel Hill, NC
TV: ACCN
UNC is given a 90.7% chance to win by ESPN
Records:
UNC: 13-6 (5-3 in ACC)
Boston College: 8-10 (3-5 in ACC)
Last Time Out:
UNC: Beat Virginia Tech 78-68
Boston College: Lost at Wake Forest 57-87
SERIES INFO:
Team Leaders
Points:
UNC: Bacot (16.8 PPG)
Boston College: M Ashton-Langford (13 PPG)
Rebounds:
UNC: Bacot (11.7)
Boston College: T. Bickerstaff (7.7)
Assists:
UNC: Love (3.4)
Boston College: M. Ashton-Langford (3.2)
Virginia Tech Notes
Caleb Love had 22 points on 5-14 shooting, 3-8 from 3, 9-11 FT, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 TOs, 1 steal
RJ Davis had 15 points on 3-9 shooting, 1-4 from 3, 8-9 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 TO, 1 block, 1 steal
Brady Manek had 15 points on 5-12 shooting, 4-8 from 3, 1-2 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 TO, 1 block, 1 steal
Armando Bacot had 14 points on 7-19 shooting, 19 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 TOs, 1 block
Leaky Black had 10 points on 3-5 shooting, 2-4 from 3, 2-2 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 TO, 1 block, 3 steals
TEAM STATS:
36.5% FG (23-63)
40% 3PT (10-25)
84.6% FT (22-26)
43 rebounds
13 assists
7 turnovers
4 blocks
6 steals
Only 6 second chance points on 16 offensive rebounds
Only 2 bench points came off of free throws from Justin McKoy
Love and Davis combined to go 8-23 from the field, 4-12 from 3, 17-20 FT, 7 assists, 3 TOs
Virginia Tech only had 7 points of 7 Carolina turnovers
The Virginia Tech game wasn’t always pretty, but it was a hard fought win. And we don’t get to say that very often. This team is a completely different team at home. It’s pretty insane. It’s so mental with this team, but for some reason we decide to play with effort and energy and it magically translates to wins. The starters were absolutely gassed at the end of the game, but they found a way to win and that is hopefully something to build off of.
There were several stretches where we went extended minutes without a basket. Yes, this is somewhat concerning, but we actually decided to play defense. So Tech would chip into the lead or go up by like 3 instead of the game getting out of hand. Virginia Tech is also a lot better team than their record shows. I know it’s not a win to get super hyped over, but it’s a well coached team with some solid players. Actually fighting for a win and earning it should mean something.
Some people may jump on me for this, but I liked Manek’s hard foul on Cattoor. He made a legitimate play on the ball, but the foul made Cattoor think twice about driving into the lane. I’m also okay with Bacot’s technical. There was finally some fight. You take what you can get.
Defensive communication is still an issue. Early in the game, the Hokies got a couple of easy buckets because two of our guys didn’t communicate on defense.
Davis and Love struggled from the field despite both having double digit games. What stood out to me, and it’s bolded above, they combined to go 17-20 from the free throw line. That shows that they decided to attack the rim when their shots weren’t falling. Love is so much better when he attacks the paint, and obviously the team is better for it. Manek and Black both got wide open 3’s off Love’s drives. The offense got stagnant at times against Virginia Tech where the guards would just pass or dribble around the perimeter when Tech applied ball pressure. This has been a problem throughout the year. Our guards have to continue to attack.
Bacot also struggled around the rim for a second straight game. His shooting percentage was low for as many high percentage shots that he got. We also only managed 6 points off of 16 offensive rebounds. When you aren’t shooting well, you have to take advantage of second chance opportunities. The Heels get a chance to correct these things when they take on Boston College on Wednesday night in the Smith Center
The first time the Heels took on Boston College, the Eagles were coming off of a Covid pause and it showed. The Heels cruised to a 91-65 win in Chestnut Hill. This was the game in which Garcia suffered a concussion, so we beat this team without Garcia. I’m guessing he won’t be available considering he flew back to Minnesota for a family illness. Prayers up to him and his family. Love had 22, Bacot had 18, and Davis and Manek both contributed 17 points in the first game. We shot over 50% from the field for the game and almost 48% from 3. For Boston College, Zackery had 13 points and Ashton-Langford had 12. This team is run through those guards as well as Langford Jr. Their rotation is as follows:
STARTERS:
T. J Bickerstaff F (JR 6-9) (6)
J. Karnik C (SR 6-9) (5)
J. Zackery G (FR 6-2) (9)
D. Langford Jr. G (SO 6-5) (9)
M. Ashton-Langford G (Grad. 6-3) (15)
BENCH:
Q. Post F (JR 7-0) (9)
K. Jones G (FR 6-4) (1)
G. Thompson F (FR 6-8)
B. Galloway G (Grad 6-2) (3)
F. Scott F (Grad 6-8)
A Kenny F (JR 6-6)
Every player above saw time in the first matchup. Post started in place of Bickerstaff. They have an 8-9 man rotation with the 9th man seeing limited minutes. Post and Galloway are the main contributors off the bench and them plus the starters are really the main rotation. The numbers besides their names in parentheses are the game in which each player has scored in double figures. Bickerstaff has only had 1 double figure game since the first matchup. I was really expecting Bickerstaff to come alive at some point after a slow start to the season. It hasn’t happened yet. Karnik and Zackery have each only had 2 more.
The Eagles have a mix of experienced players and younger guys. Their rotation features 2 graduate students.
Langford Jr leads the team in minutes at 34.7 a game. Ashton-Langford and Zackery average over 30 a game. Bickerstaff averages over 25. Galloway and Karnik both average 20. Post averages 19.4. Jones averages 11.4. Scott and Thompson both average between 5-10 minutes.
So obviously expect a heavy dose of Eagle guards as all 3 starting guards will play the majority of the game. The Heels should once again have a size advantage despite the 7-footer, Post. This should benefit the Heels on the offensive end, but the Eagle forwards will shoot the ball from behind the arc which has proven to be a problem for our bigs so far this year. The Eagles aren’t a team that shoots the 3 a bunch and definitely doesn’t rely on it, but if our bigs play off theirs on the perimeter then there is a potential for that to hurt us. The sample size of each big isn’t huge, but they will shoot the 3 nonetheless. 3 point percentages for relevant players are below:
3 Point Percentages
Zackery 47.8% (22-46)
Karnik 36% (9-25)
Ashton-Langford 31.9% (22-69)
Galloway 28% (21-75)
Bickerstaff 30.8% (8-26)
Langford 30% (3-10)
One thing that jumps out is that Langford Jr has only attempted 10 3-pointers all year. He gets his points by getting in the lane. Our guards have struggled to stop dribble penetration at times this year. The guards do present some matchup problems. RJ Davis is a small guard and will end up guarding a bigger guard no matter who gets what assignment. Zackery is the best 3 point shooter but is the shortest guard. He still has a couple of inches of RJ, but I'm guessing he will be Davis’ assignment to begin with. Black probably matches up against Langford Jr, and Love gets Ashton-Langford. Manik probably gets Karnik and Bacot matches up with Bickerstaff.
McKoy was the first guy off the bench against Virginia Tech and Johnson was the first guy off the bench against Wake Forest. Walton rounds out the slim 8 man rotation. With a short turnaround after the Virginia Tech game, I really think (or hope) this game presents an opportunity for the freshmen to see some minutes. Both Styles and Dunn were putting up 3’s in the Smith Center after the Virginia Tech game. We need to preserve some legs for the NC State game. That is going to be a dog fight no matter what.
Again this game can be as easy or hard as we make it. The keys to this game remain the same as others. When we limit turnovers, we give ourselves a better chance to win. Our best offense is still getting the ball down low. We have to show up on the defensive end, Good things happen when we do. Ball movement and good shot selection are key to efficient offensive sets.
SCHEDULE NOTES:
Beat Notre Dame early in the year (73-57)
Lost at Pitt 69-67
Lost to Georgia Tech 76-81
Won at Clemson 70-68
Lost at Louisville 54-67
Beat Virginia Tech 68-63
Lost at Wake Forest 57-87
Latest KENPOM: UNC is 38th, Boston College is 142nd
Latest NET rankings: UNC is 46th, Boston College is 172nd
THINGS TO WATCH:
Rotation (This is never not going to be in this section. I touched on it above a little bit, but who is the first guy off the bench? Dunn really needs to start taking some of Walton’s minutes. I doubt we get Garcia back for this game, but I guess we shall see)
Secondary break (Hubert Davis made this a point of emphasis in the one practice before the Virginia Tech game. Love and Davis looked to play faster but were still under control most of the game. We definitely aren’t up to Carolina standards when it comes to pace, but we looked better in the Virginia Tech game. It also doesn’t provide the defense an opportunity to get set.)
Love/Davis driving the basketball (When these two don’t drive our offense remains stagnant around the perimeter. We are a better team when these guys decide to go to the basket. It leads to more free throws for 2 good free throw shooters and it opens up 3’s for guys like Manek. It needs to be a continued point of emphasis.)
Converting Around the Rim (We missed a lot of easy baskets around the rim against Virginia Tech and our shooting percentage showed it. Same with the Wake Forest game. 6 second chance points on 16 offensive rebounds is a lot of wasted opportunities. We need to convert around the basket to make our life easier.)
Energy and Effort (Again it’s no secret we play at home and feed off the crowd. You could hear the crowd getting into the game last night. What size crowd will show up for a midweek game against a lower tier ACC opponent? And do we continue the usual effort and energy that we play with at home?)
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