Keeping It Heel
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Defense the key in UNC basketball program’s victory

By Nick Delahanty

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 15: R.J. Davis #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels moves the ball against the Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs during their game at the Dean E. Smith Center on November 15, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels won 72-66. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 15: R.J. Davis #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels moves the ball against the Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs during their game at the Dean E. Smith Center on November 15, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels won 72-66. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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The UNC basketball program did something on Sunday afternoon that none of James Madison’s prior opponents were able to do.

Coming into Sunday’s anticipated matchup against James Madison, the talk surrounded how good the Dukes’ offense has been through the team’s first four games.

James Madison was averaging over 100 points per game and has been one of the nation’s best offensive units.

However, they ran into the UNC basketball program on Sunday, an experienced group ready to take on the challenge of slowing their offense down.

Behind a stellar performance from senior big man Armando Bacot, North Carolina concluded its four-game homestand with a double-digit victory over James Madison.

The Tar Heels were outstanding in the first half of play, as they entered the half with a 19-point lead.

Not only did North Carolina shoot just under 52 percent from the floor over the first 20 minutes of action, but they also held the high-powered offense of the Dukes to under 30 percent from the floor. The first 20 minutes showed good defense and even better ball movement, as the Tar Heels were very active offensively and were able to find the open man, a key to the team’s shooting success.

However, it wasn’t as pretty in the second half, as the Tar Heels played a little selfish basketball. They made just 12 of 32 shots in the final 20 minutes of play, including a very disappointing 1-9 from three-point land. This came after the Tar Heels knocked down seven of their 16 first-half attempts.

As mentioned earlier, Bacot was a force to be reckoned with. He finished with 19 points and a career-high 23 boards, as he looked like the dominant preseason All-American that we all expect him to be. In the process, he also made some UNC basketball history by recording his 50th career double-double. 

RJ Davis was fantastic in this one, as he led all scorers with 21 points. Hubert Davis’ team got a huge boost with the return of Puff Johnson, who scored six points over 13 minutes of action in his season debut.

Vado Morse, the Dukes’ leading scorer, made just three of his 17 shot attempts. Sharpshooter Noah Freidel, who was shooting 47 percent from three-point range this season, missed all 11 of his shot attempts, including 9 from beyond the arc.

For the first time all season, James Madison was challenged by a steady defensive attack, and couldn’t capitalize as they’ve done prior to this game.

The UNC basketball program will now focus its attention on their Thanksgiving contest, as they’ll play their first true road game of the season by taking on Portland in the Phil Knight Invitational.

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