With the new year came a new identity for North Carolina, one that has caused fits for Atlantic Coast Conference opponents.
The Tar Heels (12-6, 5-1 ACC) have won four straight, holding each opponent to a lower point total than the previous with a stout defense to stay near the top of the conference standings.
“I desperately want them to see and experience what this team will look like,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “If we fully commit to becoming the best defensive team, rebounding team and taking care of the basketball.”
UNC will need that defensive prowess on Saturday when it hosts Stanford in Chapel Hill, N.C.
The Cardinal (11-6, 3-3) are led by Wooden Award contender Maxime Raynaud, who ranks 10th in the nation with 20.5 points per game and third with 11.5 rebounds entering Friday.
Raynaud comes off a season-low-tying 14 points in Wednesday’s 80-67 loss at Wake Forest, but Stanford coach Kyle Smith said the 7-foot-1 forward’s decision-making “is getting really complete” as he serves as the Cardinal’s quarterback on the floor.
“That stuff he’s starting to figure out, and he’s starting to let the game come to him a little more,” said Smith, whose team has lost four of its last six games. “That’s dangerous, because his skill set’s ridiculous, and now his feel’s starting to evolve.”
The Tar Heels are used to locking down star players, though. In its 79-53 home win on Wednesday, UNC held California’s Andrej Stojakovic — among the top 25 scorers in the nation at 19.5 ppg — to a season-low six points.
“That’s also something we have talked about is leading scorers coming in, we want to do a good job on them defensively,” Davis said. ” … That’s a step forward for us (Wednesday) and that’s something to be encouraged and something to build confidence moving forward.”
Stanford guards Jaylen Blakes (14.5 ppg) and Oziyah Sellers (14.3) average career-high scoring marks, creating an interesting matchup with UNC’s Ian Jackson (15.7) — who has scored 20 or more points in six of the last seven games — and RJ Davis (17.2).
But it’s the Tar Heels’ defense that could become the deciding factor. And history is on their side, as well, having never lost to the Cardinal in 13 all-time meetings.
–Field Level Media
