If UNC basketball has turned a corner this season, Tar Heels may need to thank Pitt
Should North Carolina begin consistently playing the way many expected when it earned the preseason No. 1 ranking, it could again have Pitt to thank for reaching that potential.
The Tar Heels’ loss to the Panthers after losing a nine-point lead in the second half is quite possibly the turning point they needed. Pitt offered a similar jolt of reality last season when it upset Carolina in Chapel Hill. After that loss, the Heels went on a run that ended just seconds shy of winning the national title.
UNC guard R.J. Davis said he “100 percent” could draw parallels between how the team reacted from after last year’s loss and what’s happened, so far, this season.
“We’re kind of tired of letting teams back into the games and not giving our full 100 percent effort because we know we’re super talented,” Davis said. “But it’s more about playing with that enthusiasm every night. We lost last year against Pitt and again this year, it kind of changed a little bit and it’s kind of like a turning point.”
It showed in the way the Heels (10-5, 2-2 ACC) closed out in their win over Wake Forest on Wednesday. Carolina clamped down defensively in the game’s final 10 minutes, limiting the Demon Deacons to 42 percent shooting from the field and forcing five turnovers.
UNC coach Hubert Davis said he looked at that as a defensive blueprint to which he hopes the Heels continue to adhere, starting with Saturday’s game against Notre Dame.
He pointed to several reasons why the defense was so much better during that stretch, including their ball pressure and rotations. Davis cited an example of Caleb Love’s block, in which he came from the weak side of the defense to defend a lob and sure basket by Matthew Marsh. It led to a run out and an Armando Bacot dunk and Davis called it the “play of the game.”
“That last 10 minutes defensively probably was one of the best, if not the best, stretch defensively that we played all year,” Hubert Davis said. “And my hope is that we can be encouraged by that and continue to do that for an entire game.”
It should be noted that freshman guard Seth Trimble was on the floor during that defensive stretch in place of starting forward Pete Nance.
Nance played just two minutes against Wake before leaving the game with a back injury he suffered in the loss at Pitt. Hubert Davis said Nance was able to practice in the time leading up to Wake, so he doesn’t think it will be a big factor moving forward.
“His back has improved every day and, having at times had issue with my back, it’s a day-to-day thing,” Davis said. “So if he feels good enough to play (against Notre Dame), he’ll play, if not, he won’t, but he’s improving every day.”
Tipoff time + TV channel for Saturday’s game
The game will start at 9 p.m. on Saturday and will air on ESPN2.
How to stream UNC vs Notre Dame game online
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Game day details: UNC vs Notre Dame
Teams: UNC Tar Heels vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Where: Dean E. Smith Center, Chapel Hill
Date: Saturday, Jan. 7
Time: 11:30 a.m.
TV: ESPN2
Series history: The Tar Heels lead the overall series 27-9. The Fighting Irish won the only meeting last season 78-73 Jan. 5, 2022 in South Bend, Ind.