UNC Basketball closes out 2024 (and non-conference play) against Campbell

Following a win over UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic, can the Tar Heels build some momentum heading into ACC play?

CBS Sports Classic: North Carolina v UCLA
CBS Sports Classic: North Carolina v UCLA | Luke Hales/GettyImages

The UNC basketball program has one more game to play in 2024.

North Carolina will match up with Campbell to close out non-conference action on Sunday night. This will be the Tar Heels first game since their exciting comeback victory over UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden on December 21.

The question remains: can the UNC basketball program build some momentum before they head to Louisville on New Year's Day to resume conference play?

2024-2025 Season

North Carolina Tar Heels

Overall record: 7-5
Conference Record: 1-0
Home Record: 4-1
Away Record: 1-1
Neutral Site Record: 2-3

Campbell Fighting Camels

Overall record: 5-7
Conference Record: 0-0
Home Record: 2-3
Away Record: 3-4
Neutral Site Record: 0-0

Key Players

North Carolina

RJ Davis (Gr. Guard) – 18.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists
Seth Trimble (Jr. Guard) – 14.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Ian Jackson (Fr. Guard)- 12.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.6 assists

Campbell

Jasin Sinani (Sr. Guard) – 12.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Nolan Dorsey (Sr. Guard) – 9.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Terren Frank (Sr. Forward) – 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists

Keys to Victory for North Carolina

Personally, I think this would be a fantastic game for the UNC basketball program to work on gaining an early lead and not looking back.

I don't know about you, but the double-digit deficits and early holes the Tar Heels put themselves in are getting annoying.

It's time this team figures out how to get going right out of the gate while not taking their foot off the gas.

Something to Watch for

In the CBS Sports Classic, Hubert Davis went to a different looking lineup to begin the second half of play.

While Davis doesn't seem shy to do this type of thing based on matchups and who may or may not have the hot hand, the question needs to be asked:

When is Ian Jackson going to transition into the starting lineup?

At this point, based on his recent play, the move seems inevitiable.

Projected Starters

No. 3 Elliot Cadeau (So. 6’1)
No. 4 RJ Davis (Gr. 6’0)
No. 7 Seth Trimble (Jr. 6’3)
No. 9 Drake Powell (Fr. 6’6)
No. 22 Ven-Allen Lubin (Jr. 6’8)

Schedule

Schedule