I think about that a lot because no one in my opinion this season has actually stepped up verbally and held other teammates and themselves accountable.

It only seems logically that Davis and withers being 5 year players would step up and lead by example but that has not been the case. Coach Davis during an interview last week said this is the quietest squad he has ever been around.

Last season the transfer theguard from Notre Dame was unquestionably the leader in the Locker Room and on the court and many teammates spoke of his leadership qualities but this season there has been no fire and brimstone from anyone.

Some may remember a couple of years ago when the team like this years squad was underperforming Bacot went off in the locker room on his teammates saying “if you don’t want to be here don’t show up”. Several of his teammates got offended and decided in the off season to transfer out instead of trying harder to improve.

Many would say it is Coach Davis’s job to raise Hell to try and motivate the team but I say it is the entire team’s responsibility to hold each other to a higher standard. Someone needs to light a fire even if it is a underclass and have a player’s only meeting so everyone knows their job and the goals of the team.

Do you agree or disagree that a player needs to emerge as the leader not just on the court but also in the locker room…

UNC 102, BOSTON COLLEGE 96 (OT)
JANUARY 25, 2025
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.

UNC Scoring Leader: RJ Davis 22
UNC Rebound Leader: Seth Trimble 12
UNC Assist Leader: Davis 5
Team Records: UNC 13-8, 6-3 ACC, Boston College 9-11, 1-8 ACC

• Carolina is 1-1 this season in overtime games and 69-63 all-time in OT games.
• This was the ninth time UNC scored 100 or more points in an overtime game and the first time since a 4OT loss to Alabama on 11/27/2022.
• Carolina is 11-10 in OT games in the Smith Center, winning in OT in the Smith Center for the first time since beating Syracuse on 2/28/2022.
• Jalen Washington tied his career scoring high with 18 points (also vs. American this season). Carolina is 4-0 this season and 8-1 in his career when he scores in double figures.
• Washington scored 12 first-half points. His previous high point total for a half this season was 10 in the second vs. American. He tied his career best for points in a half – also 12 in the first half against Charleston Southern on12/29/2023 and first half at Virginia on 1/10/2023).
• Washington tied his career high with seven field goals (also vs. American).
• Seth Trimble had his second career double-double with 18 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. He grabbed a career-high and game-high five offensive rebounds.

• RJ Davis led UNC with 22 points and had five assists, five rebounds and zero turnovers.
• Carolina is 16-2 over the last five seasons when Davis has at least 20 points and five assists.
• It was Davis’ 42nd career 20-point game (UNC 32-10).
• Carolina scored a season-high 58 points in the paint (which does include free throws).
• Carolina shot 55.6% from the floor, its third-best percentage this season (59.0% vs. American and 57.1% vs. Campbell).
• Carolina is 7-1 this season when it shoots 50% from the floor.

• Carolina was 26 for 33 from the free throw line. The 26 made free throws were the most since making 27 against Dayton.
• Carolina is 5-2 this season when it makes 20 or more free throws.
• The teams combined for 91 first-half points, which equaled the most in any game this season with Kansas on November 8 (the Jayhawks led 53-38).
• Carolina shot 58.1% in the first half, its highest percentage in a first half this season, and its highest since 2/26/2022, when it shot 60% in the first half vs. NC State.
• Carolina led 46-45 at half. It was the third straight game UNC led by one or two points at the half.
• Carolina has led at halftime in eight of its nine ACC games.
• Drake Powell did not start for the first time since Maui but was a team-best plus 13 and forced a key five-second call on a baseline out of bounds play that led to Carolina tying the game at the end of regulation.
• Ven-Allen Lubin started for the fifth time and first game since UCLA.
• The lineup of Cadeau-Davis-Jackson-Trimble-Lubin started for the first time this season.

UNC-Boston College
• Carolina improved to 24-6 overall vs. Boston College, including 22-5 against the Eagles in ACC play. Carolina is 9-3 against Boston College in the Smith Center.
• This was the first the teams played an overtime game.
• BC made 14 of 24 three-pointers. The Eagles’ percentage (.583) was the sixth highest by an opponent in Smith Center history and the best since Pitt shot 58.8% in beating Carolina on 2/16/2022.
• The Eagles’ 14 three-pointers tied the most by an opponent this season (also Dayton).
• BC had 20 assists, most against Carolina this season.

Next Game: at Pitt, January 28, 9 p.m., ESPN