North Carolina
Lucas: No Stopping – University of North Carolina Athletics
SYRACUSE—It all kept coming back to defense.
In the aftermath of Tuesday’s 86-79 loss at Syracuse, Hubert Davis quickly identified what he saw as the biggest issue in the defeat:
“Tonight,” he said on the Tar Heel Sports Network, “we weren’t able to guard them one on one.”
He was right, of course. The Orange shot an incredible 62.5 percent from the field. It’s just the second time since 1985 that a Tar Heel opponent shot at least 62 percent.
It felt like a three-point barrage, but it was just as damaging inside the arc. Sure, they did hit eight of 17 three-point attempts, just over 47 percent accuracy. And then, after Carolina had fought all the way back to finally take a one-point lead and finally have a decent defensive possession, they did get what felt like a soul-crushing three-pointer banked in by JJ Starling with 6:45 to play.
The Tar Heels would never lead again after that basket.
But that was a fluky three points. What wasn’t fluky was the way Syracuse consistently scored in the second half, converting nine-of-13 from two-point range in the final 20 minutes.
“They were running middle ball screens,” Davis said. “At the end of the day, they were going one on one against us and were able to score.”
There were other concerns. On one of the rare sequences when the Tar Heels were able to force a missed Orange field goal, with the visitors trailing by four and 2:05 remaining, Carolina couldn’t secure the defensive rebound. That possession turned into yet another trip to the free throw line for Syracuse, where they stretched the lead again.
That was one of four Tar Heel turnovers in the final 2:02 of the game. It’s very hard to win a close game that way. It’s very hard to win a close game on the road that way. It’s very, very hard to win a close game on the road while the opponent shoots 62.5 percent that way.
The eye-popping offensive numbers were almost exclusively a product of breakdowns from the Carolina half-court defense. Remember, this is a team that was suffocating opponents just a month ago. That isn’t happening anymore.
The box score says Syracuse had nine fast break points. That’s not really true. The Orange had two fast break points for the first 39 minutes of the game, then piled up seven late from free throws that were considered “fast break” tallies.
So, in other words, Syracuse put up 86 points, and did it almost exclusively in the half court.
“You have to take a challenge of an individual one-on-one matchup and win that,” Davis said. “You have to be physical and impactful on the ball without fouling.”
Again, Syracuse piled up some late free throws through the Tar Heels fouling to extend the game. But even before that sequence, they held a 17-11 edge in free throws attempted (on the way to attempting 25 for the game).
It’s worth noting that those figures are part of the fewest free throws the Tar Heels have attempted in a game this season—Carolina never made it into the bonus in the second half, a sign of a lack of aggression attacking the rim. But that doesn’t have anything to do with defense, which is what the head coach really wanted to talk about.
“The stretch where we won ten games in a row, our defense was tight,” he said. “Not that it’s not tight right now, but it needs to be tighter.”
Frustratingly, it’s now three straight midweek losses and any lead in the Atlantic Coast Conference has evaporated.
But Davis didn’t want to talk about any big-picture items as snow started to fall on yet another cold Syracuse night.
“It’s the little details of being in the right position, talking on defense, boxing out, and defending without fouling,” he said. “We have to clean up those little things that make big things happen.”
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.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
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
Posted
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.
Follow
-
New Hampshire6 minutes ago‘Not cosmetic’: NH lawmaker wants state to cover GLP-1 drugs for weight loss – Concord Monitor
-
New Jersey12 minutes agoThe Maple House Is Planning To Open In Two Locations In New Jersey This Year
-
New Mexico18 minutes agoASU baseball to host New Mexico State, Baylor
-
North Carolina24 minutes agoThree Underrated UNC Football Seniors To Watch in 2026
-
North Dakota30 minutes agoFinley, North Dakota without water after watermain leak.
-
Ohio36 minutes agoBonnie Sue Reed-Tilton-Hetzel, East Liverpool, Ohio
-
Oklahoma42 minutes agoIowa State wrestling adds Brayden Thompson from transfer portal
-
Oregon48 minutes agoOregon Ducks Recruiting Target Darius Johnson Announces Finalists