The UNC basketball program has a quick turnaround this week, as they'll play their final Monday game of the regular season.
After defeating Virginia on Saturday afternoon in Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels head to Tallahassee to take on Leonard Hamilton and the Florida State Seminoles.
This might be the last time the Tar Heels face off against a Hamilton-led team, as he will step down as Florida State's head coach at the end of the 2024-2025 season. Unless the two programs meet up in the ACC Tournament, this will be the final time North Carolina will face Hamilton, the man who has led the Seminoles since 2002.
Hopefully, his successor doesn't attract rosters full of length and athleticism, something the Tar Heels have certainly struggled with in the past.
2024-2025 Season
North Carolina Tar Heels
Overall record: 17-11
Conference Record: 10-6
Home Record: 11-2
Away Record: 4-6
Neutral Site Record: 2-3
Florida State Seminoles
Overall record: 16-11
Conference Record: 7-9
Home Record: 10-4
Away Record: 2-7
Neutral Site Record: 4-0
Key Players
North Carolina
RJ Davis (Gr. Guard) – 17.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists
Ian Jackson (Fr. Guard) – 13.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists
Seth Trimble (Jr. Guard) – 11.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals
Florida State
Jamir Watkins (Sr. Guard) - 18.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Malique Ewin (Jr. Forward) - 14.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Daquan Davis (Fr. Guard) - 8.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists
Keys to Victory for North Carolina
Florida State has a clear size advantage in this one, so of course it will be important for North Carolina's front court to stay out of foul trouble as much as possible.
For the UNC basketball program, it's important that they continue their success offensively. When this team scores 80 or more points, they hold an 11-3 record, with two of those losses coming against teams who were ranked in the top 10 nationally when the matchup occurred.
North Carolina has to continue doing what it's been doing: forcing stops on the defensive side of the ball, getting out in transition and making sure the ball stays moving on the offensive end of the floor.
Something to Watch for
Even though he's scored 12 or more points in each of the UNC basketball program's previous three games, the fifth-year graduate student hasn't been very efficient shooting the basketball.
Over that span, Davis has connected on just 13 of his 43 shot attempts, including just four of 21 from beyond the arc. While he still remains close to automatic at the free throw line, it feels like Davis is pressing a bit, forcing up some questionable shots.
North Carolina doesn't need him to be perfect. The Tar Heels simply need him to make the right play.
Davis' shots will fall; he's proven that time and time again. However, when he's struggling from the floor, he needs to use his presence to impact others, as teams focus a lot of attention on him wherever he is on the floor.
In order for this team to make a push toward the NCAA Tournament, they need Davis to be efficient and effective. We'll have to wait and see if Monday's game gets the Tar Heels' star back on track.
Projected Starters
No. 3 Elliot Cadeau (So. 6’1)
No. 4 RJ Davis (Gr. 6’0)
No. 9 Drake Powell (Fr. 6'6)
No. 22 Ven-Allen Lubin (Jr. 6’8)
No. 24 Jae'Lyn Withers (Gr. 6'9)