Heel Tough Blog: St. Bonaventure Preview (Fort Myers Tip-Off)

@UNC_Basketball

After a week off, the Tar Heels return to action this evening against St. Bonaventure, in the first of two games in the Fort Myers Tip-Off. The Tar Heels have raced off to a 5-0 start, headlined by a win over Kansas back in the first week of the season, but at the season turns three weeks old, Carolina is set to play their first game away from Chapel Hill this season. Caleb Wilson has exploded onto the national scene, averaging a double-double, at over 20 points per game, and 10 rebounds, while shooting over 67% from the field, and 40% from behind the arc. He has established himself as the best player on a revamped roster that features 11 newcomers and lost senior guard Seth Trimble, a week into the season. With Trimble sidelined, Henri Veesaar has also established himself as a consistent contributor for Carolina, while Kyan Evans and Luka Bogavac continue to find their footing since arriving in Chapel Hill, and this week will be a big test for them individually. 

The Bonnies also arrive in Florida with a perfect 5-0 record, having beaten the likes of Bradley, Canisius, Siena, Youngstown State, and Robert Morris. They do have three players on their roster that average more than 14 points per game, headlined by Darryl Simmons II, and his 18.8 points per game. The other double-digit scorers are Frank Mitchell (16.0) and Cayden Charles (14.4). While the competition hasn’t been as tough as what they’ll see tonight, the Bonnies are averaging over 78 points per game and shooting over 37% from behind the arc, meaning they are one of the toughest offensive opponents that Carolina has seen so far this season. 

After the win over Navy, Hubert Davis was excited to have a week off, so they could finally practice on themselves, after five games in fifteen days, it meant a lot of time in the gym preparing for an opponent. Carolina’s offense is still a work in progress, without Seth Trimble in the starting lineup, and Luka Bogavac is still adjusting to the pace and physicality in the American game. While fans probably want the offense to be fine-tuned, you can imagine that the staff was still focused on the defensive end of the floor, even after the fast start in that area. 

It’s not a surprise that the Tar Heels are on the road for the Thanksgiving holiday, but this year's event is a glimpse into the future for the program under Hubert Davis. Carolina is playing in a pre-determined MTE event, as opposed to an event with a bracket like the Maui Invitational or the Battle 4 Atlantis. Hubert Davis alluded last year, while in Maui, that UNC wouldn’t compete in such events moving forward, now that all the already agreed-upon events from the Roy Williams era have expired. Davis expressed his favor towards not having to play three games in three days, so this is the new norm for Carolina Basketball. While a showdown with Michigan State looms on Thanksgiving, they first have to deal with St. Bonaventure: 

1. Make Their Double-Digit Scorers Work: Once you get by the Bonnies' three double-digit scorers, there is a significant drop off in terms of production, from a scoring perspective. Now you have to understand that Simmons II, Mitchel,l and Charles are going to put the ball in the basket, but Carolina needs to ensure that they make guys work for the points that they get, and not let them score at will. Carolina has done a good job at taking away the opponent’s best player, but outside of Kansas, the mid-major opponents Carolina has faced haven’t had the offensive weapons that the Bonnies have. 

2. Establish Inside Scoring Presence: The Bonnies only have four players in their rotation who are 6-7 or taller, who play consistent minutes. That means that they don’t have the size to handle Carolina’s frontcourt, which boasts three players 6-10 or taller alone. This is mainly a key on the offensive end, because the way Carolina has protected the rim, you expect them to block or alter shots defensively. The high-low game has worked so well with Wilson and Veesaar, and that needs to be on display tonight. Also, they should expect to see a zone look at somepoint, and they need to be mindful to get the basketball to the foul line, and attack from there. After Navy was able to compete with Carolina in terms of points in the paint, that shouldn’t be much of a talking point coming out of this game. 

3. Find Outside Shooting Touch: Hubert Davis believes he has a good shooting team, but at some point, that has to translate onto the basketball court, or else we’ll have no choice but to say otherwise. Entering tonight’s game, Carolina ranks 223rd in three-point percentage, despite taking the 82nd most shots. You have to like the shots that Carolina is getting compared to last year, but they need to get more efficient on their attempts. Also, it’s hard to see them beating Michigan State without shooting well from the outside, so it would be nice for Luka Bogavac, Kyan Evans, and Jonathan Powell to find rhythm while shooting in a new gym. 

Series History: 

• Carolina is 1-0 all-time against St. Bonaventure, with the lone win coming back in the 1968 NCAA Tournament, a 91-72 UNC win that sent Carolina to the Elite Eight, on their way to a second straight Final Four. 

KenPom: 

• North Carolina - 25th overall. Adjusted Offensive Efficiency - 118.2 (37th) Adjusted Defensive Efficiency - 97.8 (22nd) 

• St. Bonaventure - 114th overall. Adjusted Offensive Efficiency - 111.3 (108th) Adjusted Defensive Efficiency - 106.4 (138th) 

TV Info:

• Tonight’s game will air on FS1 starting at 6 PM. 

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