...and this was a character win.

As i said Monday, this was a hungry State team with a guy who has been unconscious in recent games. They came ready to play, and when everything they threw up seemed to go in, they got cocky --- but predictably, when things turned against them in the second half, they got chippy --- typical Keatts team:

- There were 2 adjustments that turned this one at the half. First was defensive effort. Yeah, they made a stupid pct in the first, but there were also too damn many good looks. Welp, they got almost NO good looks in the second half, and big credit for silencing Horne and friends, and THAT was renewed effort. Our perimeter guys --- Cormac, Seth, RJ and Eliot were on them like stink on a dookie, this DESPITE state's incessant ILLEGAL handoff butt-screens and push-offs. Actually seeing a couple of those called helped.

- Speaking of effort, my ONLY complaint on that after halftime was letting them get to the offensive glass. Granted, it was utter mayhem under there but gotta close out good defensive possessions.

- The other adjustment was one I was begging for out loud --- let #2 take them off the dribble(!!!). There was nobody on that team that can keep EC outta the paint, and with them swarming and beating on RJ, yeah... young fella took em to school (depite taking a pounding himself).

- Speaking of #2, yeah, Ingram had a nice game but if Holly Farms was still the ACC sponsor, Eliot "gets the chicken" hands down. 15 and 7 (he actually had 8, but what else is new) and hoo buddy at that transition laser to Ingram --- that is Marshall/Cota stuff. Moreover though, our fortunes absolutely revolved around whether or not he was on the floor

- Speaking of that, my other complaint was guys not finishing thru contact. Case in point, when State adjusted back and started doubling Cadeau at the top, Mando had a chance for a field day, and sure enough the roll dimes were there from EC, but c'mon big fella. Sure that earlier missed dunk was anger trying to make a statement, but that last layup? YIKES... and it turned into a 5-point turnaround at a key time.

- In Mando's defense, he put up with a cheap-shot fest in a physical game. And RJ had to be the classic "tough little nut" today and came up big when we needed him.

- Speaking of physical, We cashed in when we got to the line --- 23/27 with our 5-men going 7/7.

- Good and effective use of the bench (silly arguments I keep seeing about it notwithstanding)

- Finally --- on the "we can't have nice things" perspective --- as i said above, really strong halftime adjutments to turn this one around (I also liked the token pressure. Sure, it was only 24 but it took State outta their preferred rhythm and shortened their clock). WITH THAT SAID... in the spirit of Jon Stewart's return, Hubert, meet me at Camera 3: STATE DOESN'T LIKE TO BE SPED UP. They cannot hang when we play at our tempo. Playing slow plays into their hands. Look... we stormed back and got a working lead, and then you take the damn air outta the ball too soon... and we're talking about at the under-8 (!) WTF? We should be pushing tempo even off made shots. Wanna slow it down in the last couple of minutes? Sure. But please stop micro-managing late. Forget the NBA stuff. You have a veteran team, a closer in RJ and a savant PG. Let em run thru our transition iterations and they'll still be able to execute a called play......

Anyway...... There was "trap game" written all over this one and I knew State would come to play, so on a day when we were only 6/16 from 3, defense came to rhe rescue, as we held those cocky jabronies to 25 in the second half. However, it's March now --- time to play OUR game for 2 halves, each and every time!....

Discussion
On Senior Night in Chapel Hill, UNC absolutely dominated a listless Notre Dame, beating them by half 41-25 and 43-26. The Heels scored 1.01 points per possession on 45% FG shooting. Outside of bad 60% FT shooting, it was an average night shooting the ball. One factor that kicked up the offensive efficiency was UNC's excellent control of the ball, just 7% Loss of Ball.

Offense isn't what did it, though. UNC's defense or ND's ineptitude was the story of the game. ND scored just 0.65 points per possession, the 3rd worst by an opponent this season (UVA was 0.62 and UC Riverside was 0.634). It was the 79th worst-performing opponent in the last 1021 games.

We saw a hungry UNC team that looks like it is ready for a March run! There are 4 players capable of scoring 20+ points, and the team is playing good defense. The big concerns are keeping both Cadeau and Bacot out of foul trouble.

Next up is a Duke team that seems to have found its Duke identity as of late. If this doesn't get your blood boiling, I don't know what will:

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NA

RJ was named the NATIONAL Player of the week by the AP

RJ AP Player of the Week

NFM

CAROLINA 84, NOTRE DAME 51
MARCH 5, 2024
ROY WILLIAMS COURT AT THE DEAN E. SMITH CENTER
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.

UNC Scoring Leader: RJ Davis 22
UNC Rebound Leader: Harrison Ingram 14
UNC Assist Leader: Davis 6
Team Records: Carolina 24-6, 16-3 ACC; Notre Dame 12-18, 7-12 ACC

• Carolina clinched at least a share of the regular-season ACC championship, a league-record 33rd title, its first since 2018-19.
• The 33-point win was Carolina’s largest since beating Syracuse by 36 on Jan. 17.
• UNC led by 38 points, its largest lead since a 39-point lead over Syracuse on Jan. 17.
• UNC finished the home schedule 14-1.
• Carolina held Notre Dame to 25.0% shooting (7 of 28) in the second half. It was the second game in a row the Tar Heels held the opponent under 30% from the floor in the second half (NC State shot 22.2% on March 2).

• Notre Dame shot 30.5%, the 14th game this season UNC held the opponent below 40%. UNC is 12-2 in those games.
• Carolina is 50-13 in Senior Day/Night games since Dean Smith’s first season as head coach in 1961-62.
• Five Tar Heels scored in double figures. UNC is 5-0 when five or more players score in double figures.
• It was the 17th time in 19 games this season UNC led an ACC team by double digits.
• UNC went on a 19-point scoring run in the second half that tied the second-largest run of the season. It was the largest since going on a 22-0 run against Florida State on 12/2/23.

• It was the 18th time in 31 games UNC had at least one 10-0 run.
• Carolina led by 16 at halftime, its largest halftime lead since Jan. 17 (17 points vs. Louisville).
• Carolina shot 51.6% from the floor in the first half, the second game in a row and 11th time overall UNC shot 50% in the first half.
• UNC outrebounded its opponent for the 19th consecutive game, its longest streak since outrebounding 26 consecutive opponents in 2007-08. The Tar Heels are 16-3 in those 19 games.
• Notre Dame scored 51 points, the sixth time Carolina held an opponent below 60 points this season.

• Carolina made 11 three-pointers, the most since it made 12 at Syracuse on Feb. 13.
• Carolina made only six turnovers, the 13th time this season it made fewer than 10. UNC is 11-2 in those games.
• Carolina had an offensive rating of 123.8, its highest since the Virginia Tech game and the 11th time this season at 120 or better.
• The Tar Heels defense had an efficiency rating of 75.2, the 18th game this season under 100 and the fifth time under 80. UNC is 18-0 when it has a defensive efficiency rating below 100.

• Armando Bacot set the all-time ACC record playing in his 162nd game. It was his 161st career start (he has started as many games as any other player ever played in ACC history). He broke Virginia guard Kihei Clark’s all-time games played record. Clark played at UVA from 2018-23.
• RJ Davis had 22 points and six assists. It was the 21st time he led (or co-led) UNC in scoring and 14th time he led (or co-led) both teams.
• UNC is 8-1 this season when Davis has five or more assists.
• RJ Davis passed Walter Davis for 17th in UNC history in assists. RJ has 410; Walter had 409 from 1973-77.
• Davis had his 19th 20-point game this season, most by a Tar Heel since Justin Jackson had 19 in 2016-17.

• It was the 27th straight game Davis scored in double figures, longest since Bacot had a 28-game stretch in 2021-22, 2022-23.
• It was Davis’ 100th career game scoring in double figures.
• Davis made at least one three for the 35th straight game, the third longest streak in UNC history.
• It was Davis’ eighth game this season with at least 20 points and five assists.
• Davis was a plus 43, the highest plus/minus by a Tar Heel this season (previous was Davis’ plus 36 vs. Charleston Southern).

• Harrison Ingram had 14 rebounds, the sixth time since January 1 he had 14 or more.
• Ingram had his 10th double-double of the season and 15th of his career.
• Ingram had his 100th career steal.
• Bacot (14 points) scored in double figures for the 121st time in his career.
• Bacot made two three-pointers for the first time in his career.

• Bacot (2,230 points) passed Georgia Tech’s Matt Harpring (2,225) and Virginia’s Ralph Sampson (2,233) for 16th in ACC career scoring.
• Bacot played in his 72nd home game as a Tar Heel and his 71st in the Smith Center (one in Carmichael Arena).
• Bacot’s first game as a Tar Heel was against Notre Dame on 11/6/2019. Cole Anthony scored 34 for UNC in that game.
• Cormac Ryan, playing against his former team for the first time, scored 14, his 16th game in double figures this season.
• Jalen Washington hit two threes, his first since at Syracuse (Feb. 13) and seventh and eighth of the season.

• Washington scored in double figures (10) for the fourth time this season, fifth time in his career and first time since Syracuse on Jan. 13.
• It was the third time Washington made two threes in a game – also vs. UC Riverside and Charleston Southern.
• Seniors Duwe Farris, Rob Landry and Creighton Lebo joined Bacot and Davis in the starting lineup. UNC led 2-0 when they checked but of the game.

UNC-Notre Dame
• Carolina is 30-9 against the Irish, including 14-5 since Notre Dame joined the ACC in 2013-14.
• The Tar Heels are 10-1 in Chapel Hill, including 9-1 in the Smith Center.
• The Tar Heels have won three in a row, five out of six and 12 of the last 14.
• The 33-point win was Carolina’s largest over the Irish in Chapel Hill. The previous high was 29 (85-56) on 2/23/1993.

Next Game: Saturday, March 5 at Duke (6:30 p.m.)

Thank you to Armando Bacot for your 5 years of giving your all in blood, sweat and tears. People know about his NIL but very few know about time he has given to visiting kids in local hospitals in the surrounding area.

Thank you Cormac Ryan for being the vocal leader of this years team both off and on the court. Hope to see you as a head Coach some day.

Thank you to Farris, Lebo, Landry and Wojcik for the time you gave in practice to make the top eight scholar/athletes get better. Fans may not understand but rest assured the coaches and their teammates know how important these TEAMMATES are…

After a terrible start to the season the fighting Irish have been playing much better as of late winning 5 of their 6 including wins over Clemson and Wake Forest so I do not expect a blow out but a solid win at home. Hopefully Carolina is not looking past the Irish to facing Duke on Saturday.

Saving the best for last if indeed this is R J Davis’s last time running thru the tunnel at the Dean Dome I hope he goes out a winner with a big scoring game.

Just hope the top 8 players escape the contest tonight without getting injured and then get ready for Duke and March madness…

ODDS
-16.5 UNC
Over/Under 138.5


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Notre Dame Fighting Irish​

12-17, 7-11 CONF

ACCN
3/5
7:00 PM

9

North Carolina Tar Heels​

23-6, 15-3 CONF




Every effort will be made to make sure that the ODDS are posted approximately 24 hours before the game based from the Vegas links. Vegas does not normally issue the odds until approximately 24-28 hours before the game. The odds posted in the thread will normally be slightly different from the odds listed in the Vegas links. Your selection must be posted before the game starts. If you want to change your pick, please issue a revision to your original pick.


NCAA College Basketball Odds, Betting Lines & Point Spreads

NORTH-CAROLINA Odds: Schedule, Matchups, & Stats - VegasInsider​

Get the latest North Carolina Odds, see their recent and upcoming schedule, matchups, injuries, stats, and team news.
www.vegasinsider.com


Contest 5: Early Season Non-Conference Contest (only games that UNC participating )
Winners: Top 6 players win 3-month subscription to Premium

• Battle for Atlantis (Possible opponents - Arkansas, Memphis, Michigan, Texas Tech, Villanova)
• Tennessee (ACC/SEC Challenge)
• UConn (Jimmy V Classic)
• Kentucky (CBS Sports Classic)
• Oklahoma (Jumpman Invitational)

Contest Rules:
Contest #1: Total points through first 15 games
Contest #2: Reset: Total points starting game 16 through end of regular season
Contest #3: Final Four Pool Bracket (Top 64 players)
Contest #4 Grand Prize: Total points ACC and NCAA tournaments games through title game (contest continues even if UNC eliminated) Top 15 Players in Contest #1 and #2.
Contest #5 Early Season Non-Conference Contest ( See games above)

Bullet Points!
Bullet points (3) will automatically be added for any player that forgets to post a prediction for a game. Thus, as long as a player posts a prediction for at least one game, he will receive 3 points for all games that he fails to make a prediction. This is applicable even if he does not make his first prediction until the last game of the contest. Bullet Points will be automatically added. You do not have to request them.

Points Awarded Per Game
36 pts--Max points, Quadruple points game
27 pts--Max points, Triple points game
18 pts--Max points, Double points game
12 pts--Partial points, Quadruple points game
9 pts--Partial points, Triple points game
6 pts--Partial points, Double points game
3 pts--automatic points for any game missed (you failed to make a prediction) in first 20 games
Special Note: The single point games have been eliminated

Grand Prize (Contest #4)
Post Season Contest
Top 15 players in Contest #1 and # 2
ACC and NCAA Tournaments games through title game (contest continues even if UNC eliminated)
Prizes: Large Flat Screen TV, Laptop or Tablet (winner option)

Contest #1 Prizes
1st Place - 1-Year Subscription to Premium, plus miscellaneous prize
2nd Place - 6-Month Subscription to Premium, plus miscellaneous prize
3rd Place - 3-Month Subscription to Premium
4th Place-- 3-Month Subscription to Premium

Contest #2 Prizes
1st Place - 1-Year Subscription to Premium, plus miscellaneous prize
2nd Place - 6-Month Subscription to Premium, plus miscellaneous prize
3rd Place - 3-Month Subscription to Premium
4th Place-- 3- month Subscription to Premium

Contest #3 Prizes
1st Place - 3-Month Subscription to Premium

Double Winners—subscriptions can be stacked not to exceed 1 year premium subscription.

Prediction Contest Results Through NC State (Contest #2)
Check your results!
2 more games

Top 15 advance to Grand Prize Contest.

Incredible he's had 45 teammates:

Anthony Harris
Leaky Black
Cole Anthony
Andrew Platek
Brandon Robinson
Jeremiah Francis
Garrison Brooks
Sterling Manley
Walker Miller
Shea Rush
K.J. Smith
Justin Pierce
Brandon Huffman
Christian Keeling
Ryan McAdoo
Caleb Ellis
Robbie O’Han
Caleb Love
RJ Davis
Day’Ron Sharpe
Walker Kessler
Puff Johnson
Kerwin Walton
Creighton Lebo
Duwe Farris
Dontrez Styles
D’Marco Dunn
Dawson Garcia
Rob Landry
Will Shaver
Justin McKoy
Jackson Watkins
Brady Manek
Seth Trimble
Jalen Washington
Tyler Nickel
Pete Nance
Beau Maye
Zayden High
Elliot Cadeau
Cormac Ryan
Paxson Wojcik
Jae’Lyn Withers
James Okonkwo
Harrison Ingram

Best rivalry ever?

UNC. Duke. Tickets dropping Wednesday 03.06 only in the Autograph app

There will be 4 ticket packages; each ticket package is $32 and includes 2 tickets in Section 3 Row O + Section 2 Row N. Full drop details in the Autograph app.

· Referral Code: THI
· Referral link: https://link.ag.fan/thi

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