Five Key Insights from UNC’s Victory Against Miami by Sean & Sherrell
Sean Moran and Sherrell McMillan, analysts at Inside Carolina, joined host Joey Powell on The Postgame show to provide their insights on North Carolina’s 75-71 victory over Miami. Here are their five main observations following the Tar Heels’ advancement to 14-3 in ACC play:
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS OF RJ DAVIS’ IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE
Moran remarked, “It was an exceptional display and came at a crucial moment, considering the game’s outcome and the performance of the rest of the team. Following the challenging Virginia game, seeing him bounce back and make his shots was significant. He’s having a remarkable season, and it’s truly enjoyable to watch him play. Every point was vital.”
McMillan added, “R.J. Davis has now made 90 three-pointers this season. Only eight players in Carolina history have achieved that feat in a single season, and three of them were from the 2021-22 team: Davis, Caleb Love, and Brady Manek. Davis is just 15 threes away from tying Justin Jackson’s record for most threes in a single season. With at least five games remaining, there’s ample opportunity for him.”
UNC’S CHALLENGE IN CLOSING OUT GAMES IS EVIDENT
McMillan noted, “The final five minutes were extremely challenging. It was quite rough. They’ve encountered significant difficulties in closing out games. It’s concerning because this isn’t a young team. They’re making errors that you wouldn’t expect from players with 4-6 years of experience. That’s worrying. There’s enough evidence to confirm it’s a problem. Armando Bacot only had four shot attempts. It’s not like they weren’t attempting to involve him; they just weren’t executing well. There’s a lot to rectify. It seemed like they were mesmerized by R.J.’s performance and forgot there were still four minutes left. Miami never stopped competing.”
THE IMPORTANCE OF RETURNING TO TRANSITION PRINCIPLES FOR UNC
Moran suggested, “They need to revert to some of those fundamental Dean Smith principles. Make the initial pass and anticipate receiving it back. Watching transition play when they have an advantage, and there’s no passing involved, is incredibly frustrating. Regardless of the player, it’s frustrating and contrasts with their half-court style of sharing the ball and cohesion. I’d like to see improvement in that area. It has been challenging to witness over the past few years.”
UNC RECEIVED THE DESIRED CONTRIBUTION FROM JAE’LYN WITHERS
McMillan concluded, “Twelve minutes seemed just right for him. His performance tonight exemplifies the role they envision for him: providing energy, strong defense, rebounding, and ensuring he’s involved in the fast break. This is what they require from him. He made crucial plays for UNC down the stretch, grabbing a vital rebound and sealing the game with free throws after missing four in a row. This is the contribution Carolina needs from him.”
