Lessons Learned from the UNC basketball program's much needed win over SMU

Effort, Effort, Effort

Tar Heel fans will enjoy the win, of course. But what they might enjoy even more was what a total team effort this game was.

The Tar Heels defended the taller Mustangs defiantly, even desperately. SMU averages 84.1 points per game, and UNC held them to 67 points, and just 24 in the first half! Carolina swarmed on defense, were quick with their double-teams, and hyper aware of their switches.

And remember how we talked about how UNC was finally able to run? What gets fast breaks started better than anything? Good defense. Check out this block from Drake Powell that led to an RJ Davis And-1:

This type of hard nosed basketball will be needed for UNC to stack enough ACC wins to keep them on the right side of the bubble. Let's see if they can keep up that fire when they head to Raleigh this weekend.