Off the cuff: There seems to be a pattern of the Tar Heels letting inferior teams get some confidence early and then having to come back to win.
In the game against Gardner-Webb, however, the Heels had a letdown after getting up to a 16-point lead. The Runnin' Bulldogs cut the deficit to five with plenty of time left before the Heels wrapped it up by hitting nine of 10 free throw attempts in the last 1:22.
R.J. Davis hit four of them and popped in a 17 footer over that stretch.
Ironically, while Davis had a good game with 14 points and 10 rebounds, UNC coach Hubert Davis perhaps inadvertently threw some shade on Davis the player.
Coach Davis said his team is lacking an "energy guy" whose enthusiasm is infectious and shows the joy, excitement and passion the players should feel by being on the Roy Williams Court.
Meanwhile, R.J. Davis said, "I'm the energy guy." He added that he looks to give the team a spark and lift them up.
Evidently Coach Davis thinks he's failing.
After the game, Coach Davis, who coached JV ball, went on a bit of a rant - a justified one - that the JV players are playing for the love of the game and not a chance at the NBA or an NIL deal.
While he says the varsity squad is more naturally gifted, the JV team has the love the game that his team isn't showing.
Carolina's physicality was lacking as well as Gardner-Webb outscored the Tar Heels 32-14 in the paint, with 10 of the Bulldogs' 22 first-half points coming on dunks.
On a positive note, the Tar Heels hit 18 of 21 free throws compared to Gardner-Webb making just seven of 10 from the line.
Tar Heels 72, Gardner-Webb 66 Heels blow big lead, hang on to win
UNC's R.J. Davis drives in for two of his 14 points to go along with the guard's team-high 10 rebounds. (UNC Sports Information photo.)
North Carolina opened up a close game early in the second half, only to have to hang on for a hard-fought 72-66 victory over Gardner-Webb in Chapel Hill. (11/15)
Powered by Pete Nance in the first half (16 points) and Caleb Love in the second half (17 points), Carolina was able to keep a fairly comfortable lead before giving up a couple of late baskets for the respectable final score for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
"I'm proud of the guys for persevering but I'm also frustrated in some areas," UNC coach Hubert Davis said.
Coach Davis indicated that the Tar Heels, with four returning starters, have not picked up where they left off last season. He has been disappointed with the effort and energy, saying he doesn't remember his players coming up with a loose ball or hitting the offensive boards for instance.
"Heading into the season, I thought they would be hungry and thirsty," Coach Davis said of his team. "But we're going to have to do the little things better to be successful."
Ahead just 26-22 at the half, Carolina got some breathing room with a 10-0 run in the first two and a half minutes of the second half.
Love led the way during the stretch with eight of those points and an assist on the other two to Bacot who dunked it home.
The Heels got out to their biggest lead of the game at 47-31 on a Leaky Black turn-around jumper in the lane at the 13:05 mark.
Carolina kept a double-digit lead until Gardner-Webb went on a 12-3 run over four minutes plus to pull to 61-56 with 2:40 to go.
The Heels pushed the lead back to double figures before a couple of late baskets, including a three at the final buzzer by the Bulldogs' Anthony Selden, who scored a career-high 21 points.
Love led four Tar Heels in double figures with 20 while Nance added 18, Davis added 14 to go with a team-high 10 rebounds for the guard and Bacot finished with 10.
Carolina, 3-0, hosts James Madison Sunday afternoon.
