North Carolina
Defensive problems persist in Elon’s loss to North Carolina A&T
From the opening possessions, it was clear that Elon University men’s basketball’s matchup against North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University would be set in the paint.
The Aggies attacked early, scoring on their first four possessions. Elon never had the chance to settle defensively, handing the Phoenix a lopsided defeat, which head coach Billy Taylor called “unacceptable” on the defensive end.
“We’ve had a lot of good moments with this team, and tonight was just not one of them,” Taylor said. “Our effort defensively was just unacceptable, attention to detail, discipline just really disappointing, and our lack of confidence in terms of the Interior, the rebounding was just unacceptable.”
Despite the defensive lapses, Elon managed to stay within striking distance early thanks to graduate student Chandler Cuthrell’s aggressive play. The forward drew multiple fouls, keeping the Phoenix alive with shots from the free-throw line.
Taylor said the Aggies’ constant pressure at the rim wreaked havoc for the Phoenix.
“It started with their ability to attack the paint,” Taylor said. “We just didn’t take enough pride individually to play the kind of physicality that we need to have. We tried different guys, different combinations, and we just couldn’t find the answer.”
A&T’s runs came in bursts. After Elon briefly grabbed the lead with a step-back 3-pointer from sophomore Bryson Cokley, the Aggies responded with a 7-0 run.
Junior Mujahiid Burton hit a 3-pointer of his own for A&T. He launched his shot a few steps from half-court, turning his back to the rim and celebrating before the ball even swished. The shot topped the Aggies’ run, foreshadowing the offensive dominance to come.
A&T entered halftime with a 53-41 lead.
Elon showed flashes of coming to life. Junior Randall Pettus III opened the second half with a flurry of 3-pointers to chip at the lead. Freshman Demarco Johnson also chipped in, sinking his 5th 3-pointer of the season.
Elon also opened the second half with graduate forward Kacper Klaczek, who missed the last seven games with an injury. Taylor said the veteran’s impact extends beyond scoring, even in a rusty return.
“It was good to have Kacper out there for some quality minutes,” Taylor said. “His mentality was a little amped up early, missed a couple shots he normally converts. But we need his physicality, his toughness, his rebounding. He does so much for our team, more than just making shots.”
Frustrations showed as Elon continued to struggle defensively. Klaczek fouled Burton as he sank an acrobatic lay-up. He then chirped at the referees afterward, giving the Aggies two more free throws in a swing that put the game out of reach for the Phoenix.
“For a fifth-year guy, it’s just an undisciplined moment,” Taylor said. “In tight games, you can’t make selfish decisions like that. You’ve got to have the discipline to walk away and move on to the next play.”
Elon trailed by double-digits for the majority of the second half. The Aggies didn’t miss a shot for the last 12 minutes of the game. The Phoenix offense turned sloppy, according to Taylor, forcing up bad shots and relying on 1-on-1 isolated possessions.
The Phoenix fell 102-82. It’s the first time Elon has let up 100 points this season, against an Aggies team that ranked 7th offensively in the CAA.
“We took this opportunity for granted tonight,” Taylor said. “We didn’t compete at a high level, and it bit us.”
With just three games remaining in the regular season, the loss comes at a critical stretch for Elon. The team now falls to a 14-14 record on the season, 6-9 in conference play. Taylor said that the focus now shifts to responding with urgency on the road.
“We’ve got to get back to our identity,” Taylor said. “We’ve got a lot in front of us. We’re still playing for seeding. We’ve got to bring a tough mentality, and go play in some tough places to win.”
Elon next plays at Towson University on Feb. 25 in Towson, Maryland.
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
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Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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