North Carolina

UNC at Notre Dame: Three Things Learned

Published

2 years ago

February 23, 2023

Look, it’s been a mattress February for UNC. The Tar Heels have been 1-5 within the month earlier than final evening’s recreation, and so they have been enjoying a workforce that had nothing to lose in Notre Dame. UNC shot poorly, had arguably the worst first half for them within the fashionable period of faculty basketball, and nearly misplaced to a workforce that has a complete of two wins within the convention.

Regardless of all of this, they discovered a technique to come away with a victory. They took a halftime deficit, turned it round, and held it on the finish. That’s…progress.

Imagine it or not, final evening’s recreation is instructive for the Tar Heels in a number of methods, and a minimum of affords a small ray of hope as there are simply three video games left within the common season. Let’s see what they’re.

You don’t need to attempt to hit a 3

We’ve all seen it by now, when an opponent simply throws everybody they’ve at Armando Bacot, it leaves different gamers open on the high of the arc. They fight a shot, they miss the shot, and since it’s an extended rebound the opposite workforce is ready to use that to run the ball all the way down to the opposite finish.

What if, and stick with me right here, you employ that house for one thing different than a three-point shot?

The Tar Heels shot 2-23 from three final evening, with Caleb Love being the one one in a position to knock something down from deep. When the remainder of the squad is 0-17, although, possibly you ought to think about different methods to attain. Within the second half, issues turned when Carolina began utilizing the house that Notre Dame gave them on the ground for different issues — Pete Nance had room to feather some superb passes to Bacot down low, RJ Davis was in a position to drive towards the basket, as was Leaky Black and the aforementioned Nance.

After a half that noticed them shoot 18.5% total, they jumped up and shot a a lot better 42.9% within the second, even with all of the misses from three. Additionally they had eight assists within the second half after none within the first, and after solely seven offensive rebounds within the first half, they’d sixteen within the second. Why? Nearer pictures. Misses within the paint aren’t going to journey as far, and because the protection turns to attempt to get the ball as a substitute of guarding Bacot, Bacot has room to work. He both can get the board himself, or others are free to maneuver in and seize them.

The Tar Heels might have lastly had the sunshine click on on with how they will make groups pay for doubling and tripling Bacot. Open guys are going have a ton of room to maneuver the ball nearer and on the very least, will power the protection to scramble. That opens up a ton of choices and might be the important thing to saving their season.

This win is best than you might assume

Look, I fell into the identical lure a number of of us, together with Vegas, did after they noticed Notre Dame was 2-14 within the ACC coming into the sport. The primary half didn’t precisely do them any favors, both, nevertheless it wasn’t till the graphic got here up late within the recreation that I noticed simply how unlucky the Irish had been.

Earlier within the 12 months they’d misplaced by solely three at NC State, two to Georgia Tech, six to Virginia Tech, 4 at Duke, and simply two at UVA. This was a workforce that hadn’t given up, and even in a down 12 months, beating North Carolina on your house ground can go an extended technique to salvage your season. Additionally they have a candidate for ACC Freshman of the 12 months in JJ Starling. Imagine it or not, they really began 6-1 and beat Michigan State within the ACC-Large 10 Problem. Mike Brey is an efficient coach and a few faculty will snap him up shortly both this season or subsequent, relying on when he desires to get again on the sideline.

So Notre Dame, whereas dangerous this season, has been a handful in a number of their video games. It was a minimum of just a little heartening to see Carolina come out of the locker room within the second half and play impressed basketball to show their eight level deficit round fairly shortly. After all, you must marvel why they couldn’t have began that means. Nonetheless, there have been a number of instances we’ve seen this Carolina workforce fold down the stretch, and on this one they stood sturdy, and did what they wanted to with the intention to take dwelling the win. After seeing them fail to try this means too many instances this month, it was good to see they a minimum of might try this.

Saturday’s recreation just isn’t going to be enjoyable

Carolina’s offense is terrible proper now and UVA’s hasn’t been a lot better. Mix that with UVA’s propensity to restrict possessions and we might be in for a rock struggle that hasn’t been for the reason that days of The Flintsones.

Critically, if Carolina wasn’t in a position to get out of the 20’s in opposition to this Notre Dame squad, it might not get out of the 20’s in the entire recreation on Saturday.

UVA, in the meantime, is coming in with the wheels beginning to wobble for them. I discussed their recreation earlier than final evening’s was a squeaker over these Irish, earlier than that they barely pulled off a win in opposition to Louisville. Plus, they’d fortunate no-call in opposition to Duke that noticed them win in time beyond regulation. It felt like final evening’s loss to Boston Faculty had been constructing for a bit, nevertheless it was a recreation that noticed them shoot solely 32% for the whole recreation, and 19% from three, and so they solely mustered 48 factors total.

That is all a means of claiming to plan accordingly. Caffeinate your self, put tape in your eyes to maintain them open, and in case you’re going to be on the Smith Middle don’t let UVA’s fashion rock you to sleep. It’s the largest recreation of the season, their probability at one of the best victory they will have, and it’ll be rather a lot completely different than the primary one the place Armando Bacot was damage throughout the first minute.

Hopefully BC put some issues on tape that Carolina can reap the benefits of. In that case, the Tar Heels will dwell to struggle one other day.

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North Carolina

Thaddeus Dixon Joins in Husky Exodus to North Carolina

Published

4 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Thaddeus Dixon Joins in Husky Exodus to North Carolina

In a postseason recruitment that was raw and revealing at times, where decorated cornerback Thaddeus Dixon suggested in social media postings that University of Washington football fans wanted him to come back more than the coaches, apparently received all the assurances he needed at North Carolina.

On Saturday, the senior defensive back from Long Beach, California, told On3 he would join the Tar Heels for his final season of college football, adding to a growing list of one-time UW players and coaches headed to Chapel Hill.

So far, the departing group includes linebacker Khmori House, safety Peyton Waters, wide receiver Jason Robinson Jr., defensive coordinator Steve Belichick and defensive analyst Armond Hawkins, all moving from Montlake to the ACC.

The 6-foot-1, 187-pound Dixon would have given the Huskies three highly accredited corners, joining fellow UW starter Ephesians Prysock and Arizona transfer Tacario Davis, to fill out a secondary that could have had few equals this coming season, and still might.

BREAKING: Washington star transfer CB Thaddeus Dixon has Committed to North Carolina, he tells @on3sports
The 6’1 195 CB totaled 69 Tackles, 16 PD, 1 FF, & 2 INT in 2 seasons with the Huskies
Ranked as a Top 10 Player in the Portal (No. 2 CB) per On3https://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/bePHJU7wP7
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 18, 2025

Dixon reportedly took recruiting visits to Mississippi and North Carolina, and fielded overtures from Michigan, before settling on the Tar Heels.

The disconnect for Dixon appeared to show up when the Huskies landed a portal commitment from the 6-foot-4, 190-pound Davis, a second-team All-Big 12 pick this past season, presumably to take his vacated spot.

The 6-foot-4, 193-pound Prysock and Davis teamed together at Arizona in 2023, with both earning All-Pac-12 honorable-mention accolades.

Dixon originally was supposed to run out of college eligibility when the season ended, hence the Huskies went looking for cornerback help, but the NCAA gave the veteran an extra year when it changed the rules governing players with junior-college backgrounds. He came to the UW from Long Beach Community College.

One of the Huskies’ top individual success stories this past season, Dixon went from a back-up player in 2023 to unseat returning starter Elijah Jackson, who opened all 15 games for the national runner-up team.

Thaddeus Dixon soaks up the moment after an Apple Cup interception. / Skylar Lin Visuals

Moving into the lineup, Dixon started 12 of 13 games and received All-Big Ten honorable-mention honors for Jedd Fisch’s coaching staff. He had a team-best 10 pass break-ups, an Apple Cup interception and several textbook tackles in the open field. He’s easily made himself into an NFL prospect.

With three accomplished cornerbacks, the Huskies could have picked two starters and put the odd man out at nickelback.

Dixon clearly wasn’t going to go that route at the UW, likely figuring his past performance should have provided him with more cornerback guarantees.

For the latest UW football and basketball news, go to si.com/college/washington

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North Carolina

Bill Belichick's girlfriend seemingly shuts down rumors coach will leave North Carolina for NFL

Published

11 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Bill Belichick's girlfriend seemingly shuts down rumors coach will leave North Carolina for NFL

Bill Belichick’s girlfriend on Thursday seemingly shut down any talk of her boyfriend leaving the North Carolina Tar Heels football program for a job in the NFL.

Jordon Hudson responded to rumors that suggested Belichick had one foot out the door when it came to his Tar Heels gig. Belichick had been rumored to be interest in coaching the Dallas Cowboys, but the head coaching job wasn’t open until he had already committed to North Carolina. CBS Sports reported that Belichick didn’t sign his contract with the school.

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Oct. 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey: Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and girlfriend Jordon Hudson enter the field before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Navy Midshipmen at MetLife Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

She posted a photo on her Instagram showing the two posing with a football and Belichick dressed in Carolina blue.

“Pictured: two people who are overtly committed to @uncfootball,” she wrote as the caption.

Michael Lombardi, who is the general manager of the North Carolina football program, also threw cold water on the rumors of Belichick jumping back to the pros.

EX-NFL COACH JON GRUDEN RIPS STATE OF COLLEGE SPORTS

Dec. 12, 2024; Chapel Hill, NC: Jordon Hudson, the girlfriend of Bill Belichick, in attendance at Loudermilk Center for Excellence. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

“Bill is recruiting in DC today, and Baltimore tomorrow. His focus is on North Carolina football, hiring staff members and developing the team. The NFL isnt a option so please stop making it one. Thank you,” he wrote on X in response to the CBS Sports report.

“The reception towards UNC and Coach Belichick has been amazing from every school we visit. We are going to fight to keep North Carolina players here and bring the best to Chapel Hill,” he added.

Belichick was hired as the Tar Heels’ coach in December. He called the job a “dream come true.”

Bill Belichick fields questions from media

The North Carolina Tar Heels’ new head coach Bill Belichick speaks to the media at Loudermilk Center for Excellence. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

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“I’ve always wanted to coach in college football,” Belichick said in his introductory press conference. “It just never really worked out. Had some good years in the NFL, so that was OK. But this is really a dream come true.”

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

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North Carolina man arrested for pandering – The Tribune

Published

19 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

North Carolina man arrested for pandering

Published 2:19 pm Friday, January 17, 2025

: Braceon Madison

Met up with Scioto County juvenile

A North Carolina man is in the Scioto County jail after he traveled by to Scioto County to meet up with a with a minor and then allegedly took videos of them participating in sexual acts.

Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman said in a press release that his office was contacted on Jan. 13 by a female wanting to report a juvenile runaway. A deputy responded and obtained information and the preliminary investigation revealed the juvenile had been in contact with Braceon Madison, 18, of Laurinburg, North Carolina.

Two days later, deputies got information that the runaway juvenile and Madison were seen at Burger King in Wheelersburg. Deputies found them and the juvenile female was taken to the Southern Ohio Medical Center for evaluation. The initial contact with Madison revealed no probable cause for an arrest.

Deputies obtained all the needed information to continue their investigation and released Madison. The investigation was then turned over to detectives.

As this was occurring, the detectives were contacted and advised that the Madison had shown up at the hospital requesting to see the juvenile. Detectives responded to the hospital and observed Madison walking away as they were nearing the hospital and he was detained.

Detectives interviewed the juvenile and her guardians and they learned that Madison and juvenile met through Facebook on Dec. 24, 2024.

The two remained in contact and Madison traveled by bus from North Carolina to Portsmouth.

Upon his arrival, he obtained a ride to Wheelersburg and was snuck into the juvenile’s residence. The two then took off on foot and they located a building on Ohio River Road where they stayed for a few nights before being found.

Thoroughman said the detectives learned through the investigation that Madison had taken videos and pictures on his phone of a juvenile participating in sexual acts.

On Jan. 15, deputies arrested was Madison and charged him with eight counts of second-degree felony pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor and is currently being held in the Scioto County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

Thoroughman stated that this is still an ongoing investigation that will result in more charges being presented to the Scioto County Grand Jury on a later date.

Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091.

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