Tar Heel Triumphs: The Spirit of UNC Athletics

1. A very challenging defeat for the Tar Heels, losing 72-71 to Stanford on a last-second attempt by Duke transfer Jaylen Blakes. This marked the first occasion Carolina lost at the Smith Center while leading at halftime since February 8, 2020, against Duke.

2. A late alteration by the Cardinal proved significant, as they reverted to a zone defense with 2:20 left on the clock. By that time, Carolina had only racked up four turnovers. They immediately surrendered their fifth, allowing Stanford to score and seize the lead. Though limited in number, Stanford capitalized efficiently on Carolina’s mistakes—turning five turnovers into 11 points.

3. Stanford’s towering player Maxime Reynaud showcased his reputation, netting 25 points alongside his 13 rebounds. However, Blakes also posed a considerable threat in the second half, contributing 10 points and seven assists (finishing with 20 points). He was a key player in eight of Stanford’s 13 field goals in the second half. It was clear Reynaud held a size advantage over this specific Carolina squad, yet Blakes’s performance against a guard-heavy team was unexpected.

4. Carolina once more struggled from beyond the arc, making just five of 18 attempts. That amounts to 27.8 percent, giving Stanford an opportunity on a day when the Cardinal shot 7-for-22 from long range. The Cardinal effectively limited Carolina’s fast break opportunities, with the Heels managing only 11 fast break points; much of the second half, apart from the final possession, was contested in the halfcourt. Carolina’s most effective offense occurred at the free throw line, converting 20 of 24 attempts.

5. Part of those challenges stemmed from an underwhelming performance by Ian Jackson, who shot 1-for-8 from the field and 0-for-5 from three-point range. This illustrates his significance to Carolina’s offensive strategy. When he fails to score, the Tar Heels tend to struggle offensively.

6. Offensive highlights from a day when scoring was a struggle: RJ Davis achieved 19 points on 15 attempts (including 3-for-7 from three, which was commendable), while Elliot Cadeau added 12 points along with five assists. Cadeau faced foul trouble in the first half, enabling Davis to gather five assists during that period (which matched his overall game total).

7. The final possession for Stanford resembled the closing moments at Notre Dame, but this time, the opposition succeeded. Blakes managed to cover the entire court and find a good shot, which he made.

8. Ven-Allen Lubin had one of his standout performances at Carolina, playing 24 minutes, scoring 13 points, and securing five rebounds. Despite Reynaud’s impressive stats, Lubin held his ground against him in the second half, compelling Reynaud to attempt three-pointers—of which he made only three out of twelve—but one was crucial late in the game. Lubin played a role in a Carolina bench effort that outscored Stanford 23-1.

9. If you tuned in on television, you might have wondered about the vacant seats for a game that had been sold out for a long time. This issue highlights the delicate predicament the ticket office encounters—students did not utilize nearly their entire distribution of tickets. However, it is impossible to predict this beforehand, resulting in some tickets going unused (and unsold) even though it was a high-demand game. It’s a complicated challenge. The goal is to fill the arena with students as much as possible. Saturday’s situation was exceptionally rare and likely appeared confusing on television, but it is not anticipated to reoccur.

10. Saturday also commemorated the 39th anniversary of the first game held at the Smith Center. On January 18, 1986, the Tar Heels triumphed over Duke, 95-92, in an inaugural matchup that had been delayed for several months. The anticipated first game in the Smith Center was meant to be against UCLA; however, construction delays postponed the opening.

11. A good number of Tar Heels were present for the game. Carolina alum Cooper Alan—part of a large family of Tar Heels associated with the basketball program—sang a wonderful national anthem. Former UNC quarterback Sam Howell was seated behind the scorer’s table, and familiar figures from the basketball program were in attendance: Roy Williams, Marcus Ginyard, Brice Johnson, and Luke Maye. New football coach Bill Belichick was also at the game and engaged in a moment with Williams before the tip-off, while longtime MLB star Kyle Seager attended as the featured speaker for the baseball First Pitch banquet. Yet, amid all those notable attendees, the loudest cheer of the day was for the military Hero of the Game, Hal Kushner. Look him up.

12. This clearly was a game that Carolina needed to win, amplifying the importance of Tuesday night’s match against Wake Forest.