Jae'Lyn Withers.... SHEESH!
Behind seven three-pointers from the fifth-year graduate student, the UNC basketball program took care of business against Notre Dame in the second round of the ACC Tournament on Wednesday afternoon in Charlotte.
The game wasn't close for very long, as North Carolina essentially took full control essentially three minutes into the game. By the time the clock showed 15 minutes remaining in the first half, the Tar Heels already connected on five triples, taking a 17-5 lead into the media timeout.
From there, the UNC basketball program simply continued to pour it on.
Withers set a new career-high in points (21), falling just one rebound shy of a double-double. North Carolina feasted in the post, as Ven-Allen Lubin had a strong double-double performance (17 points, 10 rebounds).
While the backcourt duo of Elliot Cadeau (3 points) and RJ Davis (13 points) only connected on four shots total from the floor, the duo were outstanding in terms of facilitating the basketball. Cadeau finished with 10 assists while Davis added six of his own, turning the basketbal over just a combined three times.
That's EXACTLY what the UNC basketball program needs if they aim to make a deep run in this tournament (and potentially beyond).
One of the major keys defensively was slowing down sophomore guard Markus Burton, and North Carolina did just that. Drake Powell drew the assignment guarding Burton, as his size and athleticism was too much for the 5-foot-11 guard to handle. Burton finished with just 11 points on three of 11 shooting, as the nation's third-leading scorer couldn't get anything going against North Carolina.
Let's all remember: the Tar Heels struggled against the Fighting Irish during the regular season. This game shows that this is a much different team, especially given that the new-look starting lineup has seemed to click for this group down the stretch.
Now, the focus turns to Wake Forest, as the UNC basketball program advances to face the Demon Deacons in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon.