2. The Heels are now 6-0 for the first time since 2016-17. That season went pretty well. And Tuesday brought a solid win: St. Bonaventure entered the game 12-8 in the program’s last 20 games against Power 4 or Big East opponents, with none of those 20 games being at home. Boneys is a capable program.
3. For the big day henry vissarWho set his career high in rebounds with 13 points and set his career high in scoring with 24 points. He was the most impressive player on the court all evening, including defensively, where he made a few steals and contested several other passes.
4. Vissar’s rebounding was important because it helped Carolina limit one of St. Bonaventure’s best offensive strategies – shooting the offensive glass. The Bonnies came into the game ranked as the sixth-best team in the country based on offensive rebound percentage, but the Heels limited them to just 10 on 41 missed shots – well below their season average. Vissar was a big part in setting that tone early by hitting the defensive boards, an area he said he worked tirelessly with assistant coaches on. sean may,
5. A big part of the UNC lead was a dominant performance at the free throw line. Carolina was 21 of 27 at the stripe, while St. Bonaventure was just 5 of 8. Free throws are usually only talked about when you miss them, but the Heels’ 78 percent shooting was a key part of the win. Caleb WilsonWho had a ho-hum double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds, going 10-for-10 at the free throw line.
6. Pace-changing stretch in the first half. Carolina jumped out to a 24–14 lead, but then watched the Bonnies go on a 14–4 run to get back into the game – all of which was accomplished with a large group of Tar Heel reserves on the court.
7. A big part of that Bonaventure push was UNC’s carelessness with the ball. The Heels turned it over 11 times in the first half, resulting in 10 points. Caleb Wilson And luka bogavac Carolina had two of its three leading scorers in the first 20 minutes, but none scored after 11:39. Of course, they weren’t alone – as a team, Carolina made only three field goals in the final eight minutes of the half. In the second half he improved significantly in his ball handling and made only two errors.
8. derek dixon That improved second half was key to the game. When the new person was put into action kyan evans Picked up his fourth foul midway through the second half. Dixon, who was -9 in the first half, produced a much better figure of +3 in eight minutes of the second half. This included five points and two assists for the rookie.
9. St. Bonaventure broke a recent streak by shooting more than 41 percent from the field. Carolina was the fourth-best team in the country in defensive field goal percentage, and the previous three opponents had struggled below 35 percent from the field. Darryl Simmons in particular hit some tough shots for his 22 points.
10. The second-ever game between these two programs was played on Tuesday. The second was a 91–72 Tar Heel victory in the 1968 East Regional (Larry Miller had 27 points and 16 rebounds in that game).
11. One of the most unusual fans in the stands Tuesday: former Duke standout Carlos Boozer, who may be better known these days as the father of current Duke standouts Cameron and Kayden Boozer. Older Boozer is no closet Tar Heel fan who wanted to see his favorite team play in Fort Myers; He is currently a scout for the Utah Jazz and lives in Miami.
12. Thursday’s game against Michigan State is important for several reasons. Of course, the Tar Heels get a chance to play against the best programs in the country. And although the event is not officially a tournament format, it will be a chance to go undefeated in a multi-game Thanksgiving event for the first time since winning the Maui Invitational in November 2016.
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