UNC Basketball Moments After – UNC vs. NC State 63-61 Win

UNC Tar Heels Basketball Team Escapes With a Victory Against Their In-State Rivals Closing the Door on the Wolfpack With a Block

Derrick Isaiah Clyburn

UNC and NC State faced off on Saturday night in the 248th matchup between the two North Carolina basketball schools. It was a very ugly first half for both teams. NC State shot 22% from the field and North Carolina shot 38% in the first half. Only 25 points combined between the two teams were scored through the first 12 minutes of the game with both teams struggling to get the ball in the basket. Carolina played sluggish through most of the half but finished the half strong. The Tar Heels went on a 12-3 run to go into halftime with a six-point lead over the Wolfpack. 

In the second half, the Heels had a much better flow offensively. UNC moved the ball well and had tremendous success attacking the basket to score or to collapse the defense allowing them to pass it out for a wide-open shot. However, costly turnovers and defensive lapses by the Tar Heels kept NC State in the ball game. Whenever Carolina took care of the ball and was focused defensively, they extended their lead a little bit. Ian Jackson picked up his scoring in the second half and carried the offensive load for the Heels with 16 of his 21 points coming after halftime.

North Carolina’s lead never went above 9 as NC State battled the entire game to keep it close. This would lead to a nail-biter in the closing minutes of this game. NC State guards Michael O’Connor and Marcus Hill hit clutch shots for the Wolfpack to tie the game on a couple of occasions while Freshman UNC guard Ian Jackson would respond with key baskets for the Heels. With 40 seconds left and the game tied at 61, North Carolina received possession of the ball. Elliott Cadeau drove the ball downhill into the teeth defense collapsing the defenders and passed it over his head to a wide-open Jalen Washington for a dunk to give the Tar Heels the lead. NC State would get the final possession of the game, and NC State guard Jayden Taylor would drive the ball to the basket for a layup before UNC Center Jalen Washington came over for a game-saving block, sealing a 63-61 win over the Wolfpack for North Carolina. 

UNC Game Stats

Final

	1	2	T
UNC	26	37	63
NCSU	20	41	61

UNC Bright Spots  

Ian Jackson had 21 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. 

Jalen Washington had his first career double-double with 11 points, 12 rebounds, and added 3 blocks. 

RJ Davis had 11 points, 4 assists, and 2 rebounds. 

Needs Work  

The Tar Heels must start games with a higher level of intensity, energy, and effort on both ends of the floor and sustain it for longer stretches of the game. They must be consistent with extending leads and not relax when they think they are in control of the game. Every play and possession matters.  

The Heels must also be better on the boards. Everyone on the floor has to crash the glass because of the lack of size they possess. This must be a priority on every defensive possession. UNC gave up 16 offensive rebounds to the Wolfpack, which is unacceptable and it has a lot to do with effort, boxing out, and just wanting it more than your opponent. 

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. This will make them a more consistent offensive threat that opposing defenses will have to account for and it will make it easier for the guards and wings to get more quality shots at the rim and on the perimeter. They must also emphasize moving the ball more offensively and not get caught up playing one-on-one basketball.  

Defensively, this team needs to be much better on the perimeter defending against dribble penetration and with their help-side defense. They cannot afford to get lazy defensively and not give their all on that end of the floor. They must be better at navigating screens, contesting shots, and defending the paint as well. It all starts with communication. The better they communicate, the better they will be able to defend and stay connected defensively 

Final Observations 

The Tar Heels improved to 11-6 on the season and are now on a three-game winning streak. Carolina has won 39 of the last 46 matchups against NC State and continues to own them. When UNC is locked in defensively and is playing an unselfish style of basketball on offense they play their best basketball. Guys are buying into their roles, and the team has established more of an identity on both ends of the floor. Ian Jackson has become the outright go-to guy offensively for the Heels and other guys are learning how to play off him pretty well.

The key to consistency for Carolina going forward will be to increase their attention to detail on both ends of the floor, limit turnovers, share the ball offensively, and bring a high level of intensity, effort, and energy to every game defensively. This team’s best basketball is still in front of them and they are moving in the right direction. The coaching staff will need to continue to stay on the players about their starts to games and being able to sustain a consistent high level of play for 40 minutes. Next up is California on Wednesday, January 15 at 7:00 P.M. on the ACC Network.