After a weeklong layoff, the University of North Carolina’s Tar Heels will return to the court on Friday, November 22, for a matchup against the University of Hawai’i in Honolulu.
The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Hawai’ian time, translating to 12:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday morning.
The team traveled to Honolulu on Wednesday and will head to Maui on Saturday to participate in the Maui Invitational, which takes place from November 25-27.
Currently, the Tar Heels hold a record of 2-1, with victories against Elon and American bracketed around a close three-point loss to top-ranked Kansas.
In contrast, the Rainbow Warriors are off to an impressive start, boasting a 4-0 record with all wins coming at home. Their last game resulted in a 73-68 victory against Weber State on November 17, marking their return to action.
In a recent match against American, Carolina initially trailed 18-13 within the first eight minutes but rallied impressively to outscore the Eagles 94-37, achieving their largest margin of victory (52 points) since the 2008-09 season.
The team’s scoring efforts have been spearheaded by a trio of guards: R.J. Davis, Elliot Cadeau, and Seth Trimble. This dynamic trio has combined for an impressive average of over 49 points per game, with Davis leading the pack at 17.7 points per game.
Davis has made a strong start to the season despite a slow start from beyond the arc, shooting 18 for 20 from the free-throw line and averaging 3.3 more points per game compared to the same period last season. As the top scorer for UNC with 53 points, he has surpassed his scoring from the first three contests of the previous year by ten points.
Both Cadeau and Trimble have also contributed significantly, each scoring in double figures for all three games thus far—this marks a noteworthy milestone for both as it is the first time they have achieved this feat early in the season.
Carolina’s offensive statistics highlight their effectiveness: they are currently averaging 95.3 points per game, displaying dominance with a +9.0 rebounding margin, and achieving an impressive free-throw shooting percentage of over 80% in all three contests. Notably, they also maintain a 2.0 assist-to-error ratio (51 assists to 26 turnovers).
This season marks the 115th year of Carolina Basketball, a program with a rich history, including seven national championships (with six coming from the NCAA Tournament). Additionally, they have made 21 appearances in the Final Four—holding the record for the most NCAA Tournament games won (133) and appearing in the NCAA Tournament a remarkable 53 times.
The Tar Heels have held the No. 1 seed in the tournament a record 18 times and have won a staggering 33 regular-season ACC titles and 18 ACC Tournament championships. Ten former players have also secured a spot in the Naismith Hall of Fame, showcasing the program’s long-standing excellence.
Currently, Carolina holds the second-highest winning percentage (.734) and the third-most wins (2,374) in college basketball history.
Under the guidance of Hubert Davis, in his fourth season as head coach at his alma mater, the program has flourished, achieving an 80-32 record. Davis, honored as the 2022 National Coach of the Year and a strong contender for the 2024 Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year, has earned a remarkable 78 wins through his initial three years—second most for a Carolina head coach and notable within the Power 4 Conference.
The distinguished history of Carolina’s coaching staff is highlighted by the fact that it is the only major program in the U.S. with six coaches who are all alumni.
Former coach Dean Smith, who led the program for over three decades, is remembered for his impact on the game, with Hubert Davis playing under him from 1988-92.
The Tar Heels finished the previous season with a strong 29-8 record, securing their 33rd regular-season ACC title with a 17-3 record and achieving a No. 1 seed in the NCAA West Regional, where they advanced to the Sweet 16.
This season, the Tar Heels have rejuvenated their roster, bringing back five players from last year—including two starters—and adding ten newcomers comprised of five freshmen and five transfers.
Noteworthy returnees include Honorary ACC Player of the Year R.J. Davis, All-ACC Freshman honoree Elliot Cadeau, along with guards Seth Trimble, Jae’Lyn Withers, and Jalen Washington.
Key departures from last year include Armando Bacot, who holds the title of Carolina’s all-time leading rebounder and second-leading scorer, as well as Harrison Ingram, the second-round pick by the San Antonio Spurs, and Cormac Ryan, who has extensive college experience with 152 games played.
In terms of their performance in Hawai’i, this season marks the 15th time Carolina Basketball has played in the state and the first since 2016-17.
Historically, the Tar Heels have an impressive record of 16-1 in Honolulu, with a perfect 2-0 record in the Stan Sheriff Center.
Notable past encounters include a victory against Hawai’i, where UNC won 88-76 on December 22, 1994, and another triumph in the Sheriff Center on November 18, 2016, when fifth-ranked Carolina claimed an 83-68 victory.
In 2016, Isaiah Hicks was a key contributor, scoring 16 points and aiding with ten rebounds, while freshman Tony Bradley added 10 points, showcasing the team’s depth and ability to perform under pressure.
Overall, Carolina boasts an impressive 34-5 record in Hawai’i, including both Honolulu and Maui.
As for rankings, the Tar Heels have been consistent, holding their position at No. 10 in the Associated Press poll for the second consecutive week.
They have maintained a spot in the AP’s top 25 for 24 straight polls.
Starting the season ranked ninth in the preseason poll has become customary for Carolina, with historical context reflecting that when UNC begins the year in the top 10, they have finished in the same bracket in 32 out of 45 previous seasons.
Looking ahead to the upcoming 2024-25 season, Carolina’s schedule seems set to feature one of the toughest lineups yet, continuing a tradition of challenging competition.
The Tar Heels are anticipated to play seven games against current top-25 opponents, including notable fixtures against No. 1 Kansas on the road, No. 4 Auburn or No. 5 Iowa State during the Maui Invitational, and No. 7 Alabama at home.
Their in-conference games against No. 12 Duke (both home and away) and a neutral site showdown against No. 21 Florida reflects their high-caliber engagements this season.
Preseason accolades have identified the Tar Heels as a formidable team, as they were projected to finish second in the ACC, with R.J. Davis being recognized as the conference’s preseason player of the year during media day.
Davis is currently regarded as a candidate for several National Player of the Year awards and has been recognized by multiple media outlets as a preseason All-American.
Last year, Davis recorded a remarkable 784 points, ranking fourth in Carolina history, a figure unchallenged by a guard since Tyler Hansbrough’s impressive run in 2007-08.
This season, Davis has been on a significant scoring streak.
With an average of 15.2 points per game, he ranks eighth among Tar Heel guards historically, achieving an impressive career average of 18.9 points over the last three seasons.
A standout in free-throw performance, Davis has dominated at the line, having made 440 of 512 career free-throw attempts—an all-time best for Carolina.
Additional standout performances have come from Elliot Cadeau, who leads the team in plus/minus, showcasing both offensive prowess and defensive efficiency.
In his first three games, he has averaged 15.7 points and 7.7 assists, becoming a key player for the team.
Cadeau’s consistent performance has drawn comparisons to legendary Tar Heel point guards from past seasons, emphasizing the depth and potential of this year’s team.
Seth Trimble has also emerged as a scoring asset with two career-high games at the onset of the season, marking a significant improvement from last year.
Fifth-year grad student Jae’Lyn Withers has demonstrated his value as a leader on the boards, averaging 8.7 rebounds per game, further solidifying the team’s rebounding capabilities.
The array of statistical achievements, such as Carolina’s exceptional free-throw shooting, combined with outstanding performances from its star players, signals a promising season ahead for the Tar Heels.
With a focus on their contest against Hawai’i and upcoming matches in Maui, all eyes will be on this talented group as they strive for greatness on and off the court.
In terms of recent developments, the Tar Heels’ community showcased their commitment to charitable causes by raising over $70,000 for Hurricane Helene relief during a Blue-White scrimmage, underlining the program’s role in making a positive impact beyond basketball.
Upcoming games include a scheduled match on Thanksgiving against Michigan State next year in Fort Myers, Florida, as part of the Fort Meyers Tip-Off event.
With a blend of returning talent and promising newcomers, is sure to be an exciting season for Tar Heel fans as they watch their team compete at a high level against the best.
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