Going into the 2022-23 college basketball season, Hubert Davis’ team was ranked No. 1 In the preseason polls and were the favorite to win it all come April. But the Tar Heels stumbled a bit late in November, losing four-straight games and dropping out of the rankings.
They eventually returned to the rankings but it was short-lived once again after another loss. Now, going into February the Tar Heels have won four-straight games and are 7-3 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. It appears as if they are starting to find their groove at the right time, similar to what they did last season.
Andy Katz wrote on four teams that had struggles early on in the year but are regrouping and are primed to make a run. One of those teams was the North Carolina Tar Heels:
The Tar Heels came into the season ranked No. 1 And began 5-0. Then the trouble started. A surprise upset by Iowa State, the epic 103-101 four-overtime loss to Alabama, a 12-point whacking at Indiana, another loss at Virginia Tech. From top-ranked to a 5-4 record. Ouch.
They’ve gone 9-2 since, and are two games off the lead in the ACC. They just beat North Carolina State as Armando Bacot had his 61st double-double to pass Billy Cunningham’s school career record of nearly six decades ago and his 1,221st rebound to go by Tyler Hansbrough’s Carolina career mark. Such fun days weren’t happening much a month ago.
The news is good when the Tar Heels take care of the basketball and defend. In their victories, their assist-turnover ratio is plus-37 and they have outscored their opponents 220-160 in points off turnovers. In their defeats, the ratio is minus-15 and they have been outscored 99-53. Also, the team that was 310th in the nation in scoring defense after the losing streak has not allowed its past five opponents to reach 70.
You can read more of what Katz said about UNC here.
February will be a tough test for the Tar Heels and that starts early on next week. They host Pitt on Wednesday and then head to Durham for a road game against Duke.
They still have NC State, Virginia, Clemson, Miami and another game against the Blue Devils left this season. With 10 total games left, UNC is going to need to close strong to get a favorable seed for the NCAA Tournament.
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