Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Cole Anthony GOES OFF at Madison Square Garden

By Blake Cockrum

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 24: Alec Burks #18 and Derrick Rose #4 of the New York Knicks double team Cole Anthony #50 of the Orlando Magic in the first half at Madison Square Garden on October 24, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 24: Alec Burks #18 and Derrick Rose #4 of the New York Knicks double team Cole Anthony #50 of the Orlando Magic in the first half at Madison Square Garden on October 24, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
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Former UNC basketball standout Cole Anthony put on a career performance against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Cole Anthony had a rough start to the 2021-22 NBA season last week when he averaged just 10 points, five assists and 3.5 rebounds per game in losses to the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks. His lack of production was despite the fact that he played a combined 62 minutes in the two games, and put up a multitude of shots.

It goes without being said that Anthony’s 6-for-26 shooting performance from the floor and 3-for-14 mark beyond the three-point line isn’t the way that he or the Magic organization had hoped his second professional season would begin. Not only that, but he turned the ball over seven times in the two games — both blowout losses.

Then Sunday night happened, and it was a completely different Cole Anthony that took the court against the Knicks that had beaten him and the Magic by 25 points just two days prior. In a career performance for the second-year point guard from the University of North Carolina, Anthony scored a team-high 29 points and pulled down a career-best 16 rebounds. He also dished out eight assists — narrowly missing his first career triple-double — and turned the ball over just once in 35 minutes of play.

Perhaps, more importantly, though, Anthony shot the ball much better than he did last week. He hit 9-of-16 shots overall, and 5-of-9 from three-point range. He also connected on 6-of-7 from the free throw line in the 110-104 Orlando victory. Also worth noting is that Anthony, despite struggling mightily in both of the team’s games last week, showed no loss of confidence or enthusiasm out there on the court Sunday night.

Anthony, who spent much of his youth in Manhattan, New York and attended Archbishop Molloy High School before transferring to Oak Hill Academy, was passed over by the Knicks in the 2020 NBA Draft in favor of Dayton’s Obi Toppin. So, it’s fitting that Anthony put on an absolute show against them at Madison Square Garden in a game that Toppin scored just two points off the New York bench.

Here’s hoping that Anthony puts together more performances like he did on Sunday night, and answers any questions as to whether or not he’s the starting point guard in Orlando this season.

Next. Harrison Barnes' red-hot start continues. dark

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on Cole Anthony, and UNC basketball alumni throughout the NBA.

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