UNC Basketball Moments After – UNC vs. Hawaii 87-69 Win 

UNC Tar Heels Basketball Team Handles the Rainbows in a Tune-Up for the Maui Classic

by Derrick Isaiah Clyburn

The North Carolina basketball team traveled to face off against Hawaii on Friday night. The Tar Heels jumped on Hawaii early and got out to a 13-2 lead in the first few minutes of the game. In the early part of this season, the Tar Heels have been elite at getting downhill and constantly attacking the basket putting extreme pressure on opposing defenses. It was no different in this game as Hawaii had no answers for the Heels’ offensive attack. RJ Davis carried the offense in the first half with 14 points and 10 different tar heels got on the scoreboard as the Heels led by double figures for most of the half.

Hawaii wouldn’t go away and chipped away at Carolina’s lead after a scoring drought from UNC. North Carolina also couldn’t extend the lead because of their inability to finish defensive possessions with rebounds. Hawaii had 10 offensive rebounds, 12 second chance points, 20 points in the paint, and outrebounded the Heels 23-13 in the first half. Even with Carolina’s struggles on the boards, they still found themselves up 7 going into halftime.  

The Tar Heels came out of halftime and went on a 16-5 run in the first 4 and a half minutes of the second to go up 57-39. During this run, the Heels picked up their intensity, ball pressure, and effort defensively, forcing Hawaii into turnovers, which generated several fast-break opportunities for easy baskets. Carolina also changed their scheme defensively by double-teaming the post and digging at the ball to make Hawaii’s big men uncomfortable, disrupting what Hawaii did best offensively. UNC lived at the rim in this game with 44 points in the paint and led by as much as 21 after intermission. Elliott Cadeau was outstanding on both ends of the floor and had 12 of 17 points in the second half, helping the Heels take complete control of the game. 4 Tar Heels finished the game in double figures including RJ Davis, Elliott Cadeau, Seth Trimble, and Ian Jackson, and UNC picked up their third win of the season. 

UNC Game Stats

Final

	1	2	T
UNC	41	46	87
HAW	34	35	69

UNC Bright Spots  

RJ Davis had 18 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds. 

Elliott Cadeau had 17 points, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 rebound. 

Seth Trimble had 13 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals. 

Ian Jackson had 11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. 

Needs Work  

The Tar Heels must do a much better job on the defensive and offensive glass. Hawaii outrebounded them in both categories, which is unacceptable. With the Tar Heels not having much size inside, the guards and forwards will need to help rebound consistently.  

Coach Hubert Davis must do a better job of running plays for the Bigs, incorporating them more in the offense for more than just setting screens and rolling and crashing the offensive glass. Jalen Washington and Ven Allen Lubin are skilled enough offensively to have specific plays designed just for them and it will open up the offense even more, making them more unstoppable than they are. 

Final Observations 

The Tar Heels improve to 3-1 on the season. They are doing a great job early on in leaning into their identity and strengths, which is playing through their guards offensively and being as disruptive as possible defensively. RJ Davis had his first efficient game of the season shooting over 40% from the field. However, unlike last season, the Heels are not depending on RJ to do everything for them offensively. Seth Trimble and Elliott Cadeau have taken that next step offensively. Ian Jackson, Drake Powell, Jalen Washington, Jaelyn Withers, and Ven Allen Lubin are all capable scorers and have only shown glimpses of everything they can do offensively, which makes them even more dangerous.

UNC will need to get better on the glass and be more consistent with their effort and intensity defensively, but that is something the coaching staff will be sure to emphasize and make a priority for them going forward. Next up is the Maui Invitational, where Carolina plays three days in a row starting Monday, November 25 against Dayton at 11:30 P.M. on ESPN 2.