The New Look Heels Impress In Exhibition, Winning 117-53 Against St.Augustine's

North Carolina rolls past St. Augustine's in exhibition game | Raleigh News & Observer

(Photo Courtesy Robert Willett/News & Observer)

Starters 

R.J Davis - 24 MIN, 22 PTS, 1 REB, 3 AST, 8-14 FG, 5-10 3PT, 1-1 FT
Cormac Ryan - 14 MIN, 10 PTS,0 REB, 2 AST, 4-6 FG, 2-4 3PT, 0-0 FT
Paxson Wojcik - 26 MIN, 8 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST, 3-9 FG, 2-6 3PT, 0-0 FT
Harrison Ingram - 25 MIN, 16 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST, 6-11 FG, 2-4 3PT, 2-2 FT
Armando Bacot - 21 MIN, 13 PTS, 10 REB, 4 AST, 3-6 FG, 0-1 3PT, 7-9 FT

Bench 

Elliot Cadeau - 22 MIN, 7 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST, 3-6 FG, 0-2 3PT, 1-1 FT
Zayden High - 20 MIN, 10 PTS, 11 REB, 1 AST, 4-6 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT
Jalen Washington - 16 MIN, 14 PTS, 5 REB, 0 AST, 5-8 FG, 2-3 3PT, 2-4 FT
James Okonkwo- 13 MIN, 4 PTS, 5 REB, 0 AST, 2-4 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT
Creighton Lebo - 7 MIN, 11 PTS, 0 REB, 2 AST, 4-5 FG, 3-4 3PT, 0-0 FT
Duwe Farris - 6 MIN, 2 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT
Rob Landry - 6 MIN, 0 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0-02 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT


The Starting 5 For UNC 

Throughout the pre-season with all the movement in and out of the program, one of the big questions leading all the way up to last night was who's going to start for Coach Davis in his third year. 

Well, the answer was: R.J Davis, Cormac Ryan, Paxson Wojcik, Harrison Ingram, Armando Bacot

A lineup filled with experience ranging from many different schools besides UNC as Ryan, Wojcik, and Ingram are all transfers. 

These five did not disappoint as you can tell by the final score at the end of the contest. 

The Sideline Was Active All Night Long 

Arguably one of the biggest problems many people believed Coach Davis had during his first two seasons was the usage of his bench. Looking back to the first season as head coach the core group of R.J Davis, Caleb Love, Leaky Black, Brady Manek, and Armando Bacot who all became known as the "Iron Five" by the end of the season played extreme amounts of minutes. A season later, Davis stuck to a certain number of guys besides the starting 5 but was still not enough to spread the minutes as he did last night against St. Augustine's. 

Davis and the staff showed amazing bench activity, probably the most so far during a game being the head man as you could see players getting up and down preparing to check into the game. An aspect that was so dearly hoped for by many from Coach Davis. 

It felt very weird almost seeing R.J Davis and Armando Bacot logging only 24 and 21 minutes when the game was said and done. Although, that is a testament to the depth and talent that this roster consists of which is absolutely amazing for the season ahead. 

Switching and Going The Full Length Of The Court 

The Tar Heels showed versatility on the defensive end as they made numerous switches through all five positions, showing the ability to communicate and be dynamic. These abilities were lacking a lot of the time last season as seen throughout the games. 

Another interesting key to the game worth noting was UNC picking up full-court, sending pressure right off the inbound. 

It seems like Coach Davis has made it a huge emphasis to ramp up the defense this past off-season. This will only benefit Carolina in the future contests to come. 

The Carolina Fast-Break Appeared In Glimpses

The famous saying "Carolina Basketball" lays around the fast, up and down, electric play-style. The kind of basketball that was not very evident during the first two seasons for Coach Davis and company. 

It was a sight to see the Tar Heels running and gunning the way they did last night against St. Augustine's, the brand of basketball that led to National Championships in the past. 

The Unknown 

Seth Trimble and Jae'lyn Withers did not enter this game due to injuries. The question of whether or not they will be ready for the next matchup is left to be undetermined. 

Hopefully, both of them can be fully healed by then because that will make this UNC squad that much better. 

Home Opener To Being The Regular Season 

The home opener for UNC to begin their 2023-2024 march starts on Monday, November 6th at 7:00 p.m. ET against Radford.  

The last two times UNC played against Radford were back in 2016 and 2009. 

Both times UNC won the National Championship that same season. 



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