UNC Tar Heels Basketball Team Avenges Upset Loss

by Derrick Clyburn

The Tar Heels basketball team got “Revengence” coined by Joel Berry. Wofford did not have the hot 3-point shooting of a year ago. That’s what it would take to upset UNC for the second time. It was a hostile environment for the season opener. Playing on the road against the team that upset you last year is not an easy task, but North Carolina used their veteran leadership to get them through the adversity. Luke Maye led all scoring with 24 points and 7 rebounds. Sophomore big man Garrison Brooks had a career-high 20 points to go along with 5 rebounds.

UNC Game Stats

#8 North Carolina      33      45      78

Wofford                   26      41      67

North Carolina  FG    3PT     FT   REB  AST STL  BLK TO   PF   PTS

1. Maye                    7-13  2-5     8-9     7       3       0       0       1       3       24
2. Brooks                9-15  0-0     2-3     5       0       0       0       2      2       20
3. Johnson             6-9    5-7     0-0     8       2       1       0        3       1       17
4. Williams             0-3   0-3     0-0     6       5       0       0       3       2       0
5. White                  3-9    1-5      1-1      2       4       0       0       3       2       8
6. Little                    3-5   1-2     0-0      2       3       1        2        1       0       7
7. Manley               0-1   0-0     0-2      2       0       0       0       0       1       0
8. Robinson          0-1   0-0     0-0      1       1       0       0        1       1       0
9. Woods                1-1   0-0     0-0      1       2       2       0        1       1       2
10. Black                  0-1   0-0     0-0      1       0       0       0       1       1       0

TEAM        29-58   9-22   11-15   39    20     4       2      16     14    78

50.0%   40.9%   73.3%

Wofford       FG    3PT     FT    REB   AST STL BLK  TO  PF   PTS

1. Jackson       5-11   0-2     0-1     9       0        2       0       1       4       10
2. Aluma          0-0    0-0     0-0     7       1        0       1       0       2        0
3. Magee         7-23  3-16    4-4    0       0       0       0       3       0       21
4. Hoover        3-12   2-7     4-4     1       0         2       0       0       1       12
5. Murphy       5-8    3-6     2-2     3       8         1       0       3       1        15
6. Goodwin     1-2    0-0     0-0     2       0       0       0       0       3        2
7. Pegram       2-2    1-1     0-1      4       0        0        1       0        2        5
8. Larson        0-2   0-2     0-0     0       1         0       0       1        2        0
9. Theme-Love 0-1 0-1   0-0     0       0       0        0       0      0       0
10. Hollowell   0-1    0-1     0-0      1        0       1        0        1       1       0

TEAM        24-63 9-36 10-12  33   10    6       2       9      15      67

38.1%   25.0%   83.3%

UNC Bright Spots

Luke Maye had 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Garrison Brooks had a career-high 20 points and 5 rebounds.

Cameron Johnson had 17 points, 8rebounds, and 2 assist.

Needs Work

UNC’s interior defense from the bigs walling off the post player when they make moves to the basket has to improve. The Tar Heels creating an identity for this years team and defining what their roles will be. The point guard play was solid from Coby White and Seventh Woods, but they need to keep getting better running the offense and scoring from their position group.

Final Observations

North Carolina had a great test for their first game. A true road game in a hostile environment will help this team handle adversity as they have a tough schedule to navigate. The freshmen Nassir Little, Coby White, and Leaky Black all contributed and showed promising signs that will impact this season.