Unsung Heroes for Coach Davis: Jae'Lyn Withers and Seth Trimble Against #9 Duke on Saturday Night

 

(Photo Courtesy Grant Halverson/GettyImages)

By JEREMIAH ARTACHO 

Durham, N.C. --- Saturday's win by #7 North Carolina, 84-79, was starred by Notre Dame transfer Cormac Ryan and featured his six three-pointers and drives in the lane, resulting in free throw opportunities. All of that resulted in his 31-point outburst that lifted the Tar Heels over the #9 Duke Blue Devils (24-7, 15-3 conference). RJ Davis and Armando Bacot did enough to make a contribution, not having their best games exactly. Harrison Ingram was being that chippy guy he discussed with reporters this past Thursday during the pre-Duke press conference. And Elliot Cadeau quietly orchestrated the offense while making his shifty finishes around the rim. 

 

The starters were great, no question about it; however, the bench came up big time in a game where being the outright ACC regular-season champions was on the line. 

 

The Louisville transfer, Jae'Lyn Withers, and the sophomore from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Seth Trimble, played their roles to absolute perfection. 

 

Off the bench, both guys introduce a very athletic, bouncy nature to Coach Davis' offensive play style. Withers got all of his points around the rim, literally. One came off a missed shot on the block by Bacot as he tapped it in using the glass, and another putback followed an air-ball by Ingram as the first half winded down. 

 

During the second half, Withers displayed end-to-end action, getting a block on one end, then trailed all the way down the floor, soaring in to lay in Trimble's missed layup that came off the glass. Withers provided his knack of always being in the right spots on the court, translating into easy buckets. Besides his scoring total, he also had eight rebounds, four of them offensive. 

 

Trimble was able to get his scoring done by driving and maneuvering his way to the free-throw line area for his signature pull-up jumper. Adding on six points as well, along with four rebounds, an assist, and two steals. And as always, Trimble applied his great ball pressure to Duke's guards around the perimeter, giving those guys a hard time getting anything going. 

 

With the postseason starting this coming week for Carolina, a deep run will take more than just the first five. Production off the bench will be key, as this will allow the starters to get much-needed rest throughout the games. 

 

There are so many pieces for this team that make them a true national title contender. A mixture of experience and youth gives North Carolina fans a feel-good vibe heading into whoever stands in the way. 

 

Unlike the national champion run two years ago, during the 2021–2022 season, a team that featured former UNC guard Caleb Love, RJ Davis, Leaky Black, Brady Manek, and Armando Bacot. This roster doesn't need an "Iron Five" to take them to the last Monday of college basketball. 

 

North Carolina will play the winner of #8-seeded Virginia Tech and #9-seeded Florida State. That game starts at noon this coming Wednesday, March 13th. Coach Davis and his team will play the day after, March 14th, at noon as well. 

 

The Heels have beaten both squads this season, the Hokies once (96-81) and the Seminoles twice (78-70 at home, 75-68 on the road).