Aftermath: Ingram and Bacot Launch the Tar Heels, Taking Round 1 against the Blue Devils

 

(Photo Courtesy Jim Hawkins/Inside Carolina) 

Starters 

Elliot Cadeau - 23 MIN, 7 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST, 1-9 FG, 0-4 3PT, 5-7 FT

R.J Davis - 38 MIN, 17 PTS, 2 REB, 5 AST, 5-14 FG, 2-3 3PT, 5-6 FT

Cormac Ryan - 32 MIN, 9 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST, 3-7 FG, 2-5 3PT, 1-3 FT

Harrison Ingram - 38 MIN, 21 PTS, 13 REB, 1 AST, 8-12 FG, 5-9 3PT, 0-0 FT

Armando Bacot - 36 MIN, 25 PTS, 10 REB, 5 AST, 10-13 FG, 0-0 3PT, 5-7 FT

Bench 

Seth Trimble - 19 MIN, 10 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 5-9 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT

Jae'Lyn Withers - 10 MIN, 2 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, 2-2 FT

Jalen Washington - 4 MIN, 2 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT

Chapel Hill - After stellar performances by Harrison Ingram and Armando Bacot, on top of UNC's elite defensive outing, the #3 Tar Heels find themselves topping their rival, the #7 Duke Blue Devils, 93-84. This was the first time since the 2018–2019 season that the two squads were ranked for another segment of arguably the greatest rivalry in all of sports.

A Pair of 20 & 10 Double-Doubles for Ingram and Bacot 

In their loss to the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta, the Dallas, Texas, native completed the game by only making three of his 14 shot attempts. Harrison Ingram finished the game with only 8 points.

 

Last night, in his first game in the UNC-Duke rivalry, he did not disappoint. Ingram dropped 21 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 8-12 from the field and an outstanding 5 of 9 from the three-point line. This scoring total marks his career-high in Carolina Blue, as Ingram's efforts were on full display through his 38 minutes of action. From his steal in the lane for a transition bucket, to his monster block on Tyrese Proctor, or his loose-ball grab on the deck that ended with a corner three by Cormac Ryan to put the Heels up 77-64, the amount of versatility in his game is unmatched.

 

Armando Bacot has been unusually quiet in their previous outings; however, he adds a huge performance alongside Ingram's, scoring 25 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and contributing on the playmaking side with five assists. Bacot revived his game, going back to the inside bull-ball that we are all accustomed to seeing out of him. The Richmond, Virginia, native was able to outwork his opponent, Kyle Filipowski, establishing his position on the inside and reaching for his bag containing various kinds of post moves. Even though Bacot's play was electric, it is not something unfamiliar by any means.

RJ Davis Clicks during the Second Half

UNC's leading scorer, RJ Davis, did not have much to show for in the first half, as he only scored four points through the first 20 minutes.

 

The second half was a different story.

 

Davis came alive, and it was only a matter of time before he got the ball rolling. He finished the game with 17 points and five assists on 5 of 14 field goal shooting, 2 of 3 behind the arc, and 5 of 6 from the free throw line.

 

Davis scored 13 loud points during the second half, and with every make, the crows erupted.

 

Unfortunately, the only thing that did not go Davis' way was an elbow to the face by his teammate Seth Trimble off a rebound. Davis was able to walk off on his own power and continued to finish the game out.

The Name of the Game for the Tar Heels: Defense

North Carolina continues to surge on the defensive end, and they came up huge against the Blue Devils.

 

The Heels secured nine total steals to go along with three blocks and 11 forced turnovers. From the help defense in the paint to shot-clock violations as well as jumping the lanes for steals, UNC was able to get the job done in a multitude of ways.

 

Despite allowing 84 points, they were able to get timely stops when it mattered most to alter any comeback Duke was trying to make down the stretch.

Coach Davis and his staff have made significant strides towards getting their squad in the right position defensively in order to win ball games.

 

A recipe for success.

The Tigers Come into Chapel Hill

North Carolina will stay at home a little longer as the Clemson Tigers (14-7, 4-6 conference) make their way to the Dean Smith Center. The last time these teams met, the Tar Heels came out victorious by a score of 65-55.

 

The game is this Tuesday, February 6th, at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN.