UNC Basketball: Tar Heels make program history in win over Duke

Four UNC basketball players combined to make program history in the team’s upset victory over No. 4 ranked Duke. 

In Hubert Davis’ first year as the UNC basketball program’s head coach, we’ve seen how he likes to utilize a small rotation, especially with the absences of some key contributors.

Sometimes, we question (and rightly so) how much playing time the starters are getting. Often, we see the starters playing 35+ minutes, as we even witnessed guys play entire games!

Of course, these are athletes that can handle the challenge, but you do wonder if they are feeling the wear and tear, especially towards the end of the regular season.

However, the decision to stick to a shorter rotation paid dividends against Duke, as the starters were the main offensive output towards the team’s upset victory.

The combination of Armando Bacot (23 points), Caleb Love (22), RJ Davis (21), and Brady Manek (20) combined for 86 of the Tar Heels’ 94 total points. Not only is it staggering that four players combined for 91 percent of the team’s offense, but the group of players accomplished something that has never been done in program history.

For the first time in Carolina basketball history, four players have scored 20 or more points in the same game. It’s rather shocking that this marks the first instance in which this has occurred.

The quartet has essentially carried the offensive load this season, which makes it even more surprising that they haven’t accomplished the feat earlier. However, they picked a great night to do it, as their stellar performance helped them spoil a night that was supposed to end in Duke’s favor.

Coming off this huge performance, Hubert Davis and the UNC basketball program will now focus their attention on the upcoming ACC tournament. Davis hopes that his guys can continue their success as they make their way towards the NCAA tournament.

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