UNC Basketball shows toughness in win over Michigan

In a very physical contest, the UNC basketball program stood up to the challenge, as they defeated Michigan in the Jumpman Invitational.

The Michigan Wolverines were looking for a fight.

Unfortunately for them, the UNC basketball program was not backing down from the challenge.

In a very physical contest, North Carolina came out on top, as they held on for a four-point victory in the inaugural Jumpman Invitational.

Things got chippy in the first half, as it began when Hunter Dickinson blatantly elbowed Armando Bacot in the face on a shot attempt. After the referees failed to review the play, things started to get worse, as Dickinson once again was in the middle of the problem.

After Caleb Love drew a foul, Dickinson kicked the Tar Heels junior guard, leading to four technical fouls being assessed.

I guess Dickinson and the Wolverines haven’t watched much of North Carolina basketball, as it’s a bad decision to make Love and the Tar Heels angry.

From that point, the Tar Heels came out with a ton of fire, which was sparked by the physical gameplay. The leader in this one for North Carolina was Bacot, who was absolutely dominant once again.

For the second straight season, Bacot got the best of Dickinson, as he recorded a game-high 26 points. RJ Davis (19 points) and Love (18 points) were the only other Tar Heels in double-figures, as both guards caught fire at points that helped the Tar Heels swing the momentum in their favor.

Just one point shy of a double-double, Leaky Black made a ton of winning plays in this game. From big blocked shots to saving the basketball from going out of bounds, Black did a little of everything (as he often does), as his role in this game is one that deserves a ton of credit and recognition.

Although the Tar Heels did struggle mightily at the free throw line, it fortunately did not get in the way of them securing a victory in this contest.

You have to give North Carolina a ton of credit: Michigan was physical from the onset, a style of play that could intimidate some opponents. However, the UNC basketball program never backed down, as this was a fight that they were not willing to lose.

Now riding a four-game winning streak, the Tar Heels will have a break before conference play fully kicks off on December 30 at Pittsburgh.

For now, the UNC basketball program can not only enjoy the holidays but can also rest up and get ready for the upcoming ACC schedule.

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