North Carolina got healthy on Wednesday in its 91-69 win over Notre Dame in Chapel Hill, with an easy win predicated on improvement on the defensive end.
After an extended stretch in which the Heels (15-4, 3-3 ACC, NET: 27) allowed opponents to shoot 50 percent from three, at volume, UNC held the Irish to an 8-of-25 (32.0%) night from behind the arc.
And that’s against a Notre Dame team that ranks 70th nationally in three-point shooting (35.9%), so, it’s not nothing.
I didn’t see anything from coach Hubert Davis about the D on threes from his postgame; maybe the Carolina media hasn’t picked up on that?
I’d be shocked if Davis and his staff hadn’t noticed.
Rotation
The UNC offense revolves around 6’10” freshman Caleb Wilson (19.8 ppg, 10.4 rebounds/g, 1.4 blocks/g, 58.4% FG, 25.0% 3FG, 7.7 FTAs/g).
Wilson is a load around the rim – he draws 6.9 fouls per 40 minutes, which ranks in the Top 100 nationally.
That could be trouble in one-on-ones with thin seven-foot Virginia freshman center Johann Grunloh; don’t be surprised to see the thicker option in the middle, seven-foot senior Ugonna Onyenso, get more minutes going against Wilson in the post, if Grunloh struggles early.
The other Carolina big, seven-foot Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar (17.1 ppg, 9.2 rebounds/g, 1.2 blocks/g, 64.1% FG, 48.1% 3FG, 4.6 FTAs/g), also a load.
Should be a fun matchup between Veesaar, who like Wilson is a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and Thijs de Ridder, who despite putting up good numbers (16.1 ppg, 6.2 rebounds/g, 53.3% FG, 38.9% 3FG), is still being viewed right now as a borderline second-round or undrafted free agent guy.
With a ton of NBA scouts in the house on Saturday, de Ridder can go get himself some bread.
Seth Trimble is the other UNC guy in their Big Three: the 6’3” senior averages 14.0 points, on 45.7 percent shooting from the field, and 29.0 percent shooting from three.
Contributors
- 6’6” junior Luka Bogavac: 9.5 ppg, 38.6% FG, 30.2% 3FG
- 6’10” junior Jarin Stevenson: 6.5 ppg, 3.7 rebounds/g, 43.0% FG, 25.5% 3FG
- 6’2” junior Kyan Evans: 5.7 ppg, 3.2 assists/g, 35.5% FG, 32.5% 3FG
- 6’5” freshman Derek Dixon: 5.5 ppg, 39.5% FG, 41.4% 3FG
- 6’6” sophomore Jonathan Powell: 4.9 ppg, 38.1% FG, 34.3% 3FG
- 6’4” junior Jaydon Young: 2.4 ppg, 38.2% FG, 35.7% 3FG
Analytics
Data: KenPom; rankings: among 365 D1 teams
Offense
North Carolina: 1.229 PPP (28)
Virginia: 1.248 PPP (17)
Defense
North Carolina: 1.030 PPP (52)
Virginia: 0.977 PPP (17)
Tempo
North Carolina: 67.9 (164)
Virginia: 65.5 (290)
Bench minutes
North Carolina: 32.1% (194)
Virginia: 36.0% (103)
Keys to Odom Ball
Data: KenPom; rankings: among 365 D1 teams
Threes (offense)
North Carolina: 34.1% (173)
Virginia: 37.1% (32)
Threes (defense)
North Carolina: 33.8% (171)
Virginia: 28.9% (12)
Rebounds (offense)
North Carolina: 34.5% (69)
Virginia: 40.6% (4)
Rebounds (defense)
North Carolina: 72.8% (44)
Virginia: 69.6% (159)
Turnover rate (offense)
North Carolina: 14.6% (41)
Virginia: 15.8% (101)
Turnover rate (defense)
North Carolina: 13.7% (343)
Virginia: 16.4% (221)
Game Details
North Carolina (15-4, 3-3 ACC, NET: 27) at Virginia (16-2, 5-1 ACC, NET: 13)
Time: noon ET
TV: ESPN2 (Dave O’Brien/Cory Alexander)
Forecast
KenPom: Virginia 80-71
BartTorvik: Virginia 80-69
ESPN BPI: Virginia +6.2
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Chris Graham
