UNC Basketball program wraps up Maui Invitational in third-place game vs. Michigan St

After losing to Auburn in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational, Hubert Davis and the UNC basketball program have one more opportunity to get back on track before heading home.

The Tar Heels will square off with Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans on Wednesday night in the third-place game of the event. While it's not the trophy the UNC basketball program hoped they'd earn, they'd much rather head back to Chapel Hill following a win.

North Carolina is 7-3 all-time against the Spartans, winning seven of the last eight matchups. The latest matchup between the two historic programs came during this year's NCAA Tournament, a game in which the UNC basketball program, the No. 1 seed in the West Region, pulled away to defeat Michigan State by a score of 85-69 in their second round clash. The Tar Heels trailed by as many as 12 points early before finishing the first half on a 23-3 run to take control and a nine-point lead at intermission.

Let's remember: these two teams will meet a year from now on Thanksgiving, so playing against the Spartans might just become a trend moving forward.

2024-2025 Season

North Carolina Tar Heels

Overall Record: 4-2
Conference Record: 0-0
Home Record: 2-0
Away Record: 1-1
Neutral Site Record: 1-1

Michigan State Spartans

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

Key Players

North Carolina

RJ Davis (Gr. Guard) - 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists
Seth Trimble (Jr. Guard) - 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Elliot Cadeau (So. Guard) - 14.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists

Auburn

Jaden Atkins (Sr. Guard) - 12.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Frankie Fidler (Sr. Forward) - 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists
Jace Richardson (Fr. Guard) - 10.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists

Keys to Victory for North Carolina

The UNC basketball program needs to get out to a hot start.

This is easier said than done, but this group needs to come to the realization that they can't mount a double-digit comeback on every night. From the opening tip, this group has to be ready to play, and it starts with the frontcourt.

North Carolina clearly has to do a better job on the glass. While Elliot Cadeau and RJ Davis aren't afraid to crash the boards, Jalen Washington, the tallest player on the floor for the UNC basketball program, can't record just two boards over 17 minutes of action. That's unacceptable.

How do you get off to a quick start? Well, for starters, controlling the pace would help. Michigan State's defense likes to slow things down and make you work for your baskets. North Carolina must do whatever they can to make sure this doesn't become a half-court style game.

Something to Watch For

The trio of Cadeau, Davis and Seth Trimble have done a great job of getting to the free throw line this season, but didn't display that on Tuesday night.

They combined to take four free-throw attempts (missing three), as it was an uncharacteristic night given what we've seen from them.

Can the guards create penetration to the rim, forcing Michigan State defenders to foul them?

If North Carolina wants to win this game, they better hope they can.

Projected Starters

No. 3 Elliot Cadeau (So. 6'1)
No. 4 RJ Davis (Gr. 6'0)
No. 7 Seth Trimble (Jr. 6'3)
No. 13 Jalen Washington (Jr. 6'10)
No. 24 Jae'Lyn Withers (Gr. 6'9)