North Carolina
Hubert Davis identifies North Carolina's three-point defense struggles vs Miami
Hubert Davis and the North Carolina Tar Heels survived a comeback attempt by Miami on Monday to secure an ACC victory.
Afterwards, Davis touched on the Tar Heels defense throughout the game. Evidently, he believes his team could’ve done a better job, especially defending the three-point shot, but he’s still happy that North Carolina was able to secure a win.
“We were leaving them open,” Davis said, during his postgame press conference, regarding UNC’s three-point defense. “I mean, [Kyshawn] George is one of the best shooters in the country. Tremendous size, and he was in a rhythm to start off the game, and didn’t feel anything — he didn’t feel our defensive presence at all. All year, I don’t know, that has to be the first time he’s made four threes in a game, but it is what it is. He’s a great player. After hitting two, they’ve got to respond, and they were able to make some threes. So they’re a really good basketball team.
“Even though they were without two of their starters, they wen’t to the Final Four last year. They’ve got NBA players on their team. They’ve got competitors, and we knew that it would be a tough game against them.”
While Miami’s been disappointing throughout the season, they can still turn it on when they want to, and could’ve secured an upset against North Carolina. Davis is thankful that didn’t come to fruition, and the team was able to make history in the process.
During the victory, star guard RJ Davis. finished with 42 points, the most ever scored at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill. Tyler Hansbrough previously held the record with a 40-point performance against Georgia Tech in 2006. It’s unlike any performance the UNC head coach has seen.
“I told him after the game ‘I’ve seen a number of performances here at Carolina and also in the NBA. Very few have I seen the type of performance he had tonight.’ I was really proud of him,” Davis said during his postgame press conference.
Going for 42 points is something to celebrate, no matter the occasion. But North Carolina will be thankful for all of them considering how close things got against Miami. Late-game turnovers nearly killed the Tar Heels when Miami began to apply some pressure.
After advancing to 22-6, North Carolina will enjoy this victory before turning their attention to Saturday’s game, an in-state showdown with the NC State Wolfpack. We’ll see if they can keep up their winning ways against their hated compatriot.
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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