Instant reactions to UNC basketball blowing out Campbell in final non-conference matchup

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Dec 29, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard RJ Davis (4) shoots as Campbell Fighting Camels forward Colby Duggan (2) defends in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The North Carolina Tar Heels had little trouble with the Campbell Fightin’ Camels on Sunday night in the Dean Dome, dominating them 97-81 in their final non-conference basketball game.

UNC (8-5, 1-0 ACC) and Campbell (5-8) traded punches early in their first-ever matchup, but North Carolina ran away with a 57-point second half. 10 different players scored for the Tar Heels, including all five starters in double-figures, led by 20-point performances from Ian Jackson (26) and RJ Davis (23), with the latter surpassing Marcus Paige for the most 3-pointers in UNC history.

UNC shot an efficient 57.1 percent from the field as a team, which included a 35.7% mark from deep. Jackson made 9-of-16 shots (56.2%) to lead North Carolina in his first start, while Davis, Elliot Cadeau, Drake Powell and Jalen Washington also shot over 50% in the starting lineup.

The Tar Heels learned of Seth Trimble’s absence just moments before tip-off, but his loss didn’t have a major impact. I didn’t expect UNC to allow 81 points to a struggling Camels squad, a figure that would be less with Trimble in the lineup, but North Carolina’s most efficient offensive performance of 2024 was the perfect counter.

Coming into Sunday off a 76-74 upset of UCLA, the Tar Heels needed a big win over Campbell for a major confidence booster heading into ACC play. UNC will get a couple days off before heading to the Bluegrass State, where it faces a much-improved Louisville squad on Wednesday, January 1, 2025 for a 6 p.m. tip-off.

We expected a dominant performance from North Carolina tonight – which players delivered. Continue reading below for a few of our reactions from tonight’s victory.

RJ Davis’ shooting slump is finally over

Dec 29, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/instant-reactions-unc-basketball-blowing-120000013.html

Author : Tar Heels Wire

Publish date : 2024-12-30 12:00:00

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