UNC Basketball Moments After – UNC vs. California 79-53 Win

UNC Tar Heels Basketball Team Puts the Clamps on the Golden Bears and Cruises to Victory

by Derrick Clyburn

The North Carolina basketball team faced off against the California Golden Bears on Wednesday night in the Smith Center. They started the game with energy, effort, and intensity on both ends of the floor, but it’s the Tar Heels defense that has changed the identity of this team. It seems that they have bought in on the defensive side of the ball after struggling for most of the season and it’s paying dividends on the court. UNC held Cal’s Andrej Stojakovic the ACC’s leading scorer at 24.2 points per game to 2 points in the first half.

The Tar Heels attacked the passing lanes on defense, leading to early offense as they pushed the ball up the court for fast-break baskets and isolation plays for easy buckets. Elliot Cadeau and Ian Jackson led the way with 12 and 8 points respectively. The only issue for North Carolina was that they allowed the Golden Bears to corral ten first-half offensive rebounds with Mady Sissoko getting the majority of them and scoring 12 points. Otherwise, UNC would have been able to extend the lead and put the game away before intermission.

In the second half, North Carolina continued to be aggressive on both sides of the ball and extended its lead to as much as 28 points, led by 12 second-half points from Ian Jackson. The Tar Heels defense harassed Cal’s Andrej Stojakovic and he could never get comfortable. He struggled all game long and had a season-low 6 points on 3-13 shooting from the field. UNC held the Golden Bears to 34.8% shooting from the field and 12% from the 3-point line. This allowed the Tar Heels to run away with the game. North Carolina had three players in double-figures led by Ian Jackson with 20 points and 7 rebounds.

UNC Stats

Final

	1	2	T
CAL	29	24	53
UNC	39	40	79

UNC Bright Spots  

Ian Jackson had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. 

Elliot Cadeau had 15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. 

Seth Trimble had 12 points 6 rebounds, and 3 steals. 

Needs Work  

The Tar Heels need to sustain playing at a high level for longer game stretches. They must be consistent with their effort, energy, and intensity, able to extend leads, and not relax when they think they are in control of the game. They did a better job tonight.

North Carolina has to continue to crash the boards as a team. They play smaller lineups and must stay conscious of boxing out and going for the loose ball. Opponents go through stretches where they seem to get a lot of offensive rebounds.

Final Observations 

North Carolina improved to 12-6 on the season and is showing signs of progress as a team. The Tar Heels are playing much better defense and communicating on both ends of the floor. It seems that the mantle has been transferred from RJ Davis to Ian Jackson as the top bucket-getter. Ian Jackson is a more natural, efficient scorer.

Hopefully, Coach Davis can continue to help this team develop more chemistry and play to its strengths, which are trapping, pressing, and pushing the tempo on offense. Jalen Washington has really stepped up on defense. He is doing a better job of anchoring the defense, especially from the help side. Washington has 13 blocks in the last four games. Next up is Stanford on Saturday at 2:15 pm on The CW.