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The games within the game can be better than the game. UNC-Louisville felt that way tonight. The 3-point game was entertaining, but the action under the basket did not disappoint. Though defense on both sides was good, offensive was even better as both teams scored at a higher percentage from distance than overall. Almost all game stats were fairly even, with UNC slightly ahead on most measures. This was the type of action that fans of both teams should have enjoyed watching. All UNC starters scored in double figures and made all of the team’s points. Four Louisville players scored in double-digits and over half of their points came from the bench. Give Louisville a salute for playing through all of the noise that’s been around their program in recent weeks but give UNC credit for putting in a full game. Brady Manek and RJ Davis are quietly working their way onto the all-conference teams, while Leaky Black continues to improve offensively and leads on defense. If Armando Bacot continues his double-double tear, and Caleb Love can make better decisions throughout the game, UNC will be a tough draw for the rest of the season.

NC State gave up 100 points in a 4-overtime win over Nebraska in December but have not given up as many points in a loss this year as they did in the 100-80 loss to UNC on Saturday. With the next three games at home, followed by road games at Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech before finishing up the home schedule against Boston College and a rematch with UNC; NC State has a legitimate chance to close the season with six wins or better. The Wolfpack will not match up well against Wake Forest, UNC and Florida St, but should get wins against Pittsburgh, BC, and Georgia Tech with better defense and more balance on offense. Games against Syracuse and Notre Dame are toss ups at home that should give NC State a slight edge. Closing the season at 17-14 should improve ACC tournament seeding and give some hope for post-season play with a good showing in Greensboro.

You know it’s going to be a good day when your game buddy, aka granddaughter, chooses Chick-fila-A before the game. Even snow in the early morning and a cold windy day couldn’t change the mood inside as retired UNC coach Roy Williams was formally recognized with a banner in the rafters at the Smith Center, Armando Bacot reached the 1,000-points career milestone, Michael Jordan and most of the 1982 National Championship team were on hand, and the Tar Heels playing their most complete half of the year on the way to beating rival NC State. Active defense, great ball movement, good shot selection. Perhaps this is the Carolina that most expected to see. Add this game’s crowd engagement, and you can again say “This is Carolina basketball!” Scoring 100 points and limiting your rival’s best player to one made basket makes for a great day, but one NC State fan making his way through the crowd after the game said it all as he commented about his disappointment with the game: “Dang… we got y’all biscuits!”

Grayson Allen continues to make headlines for dirty play after little punishment following tripping incidents while at Duke, and accusations of dirty play since coming to the NBA. ESPN reported that Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso suffered a fractured right wrist and will need surgery after a fall following a flagrant foul from Allen during the Milwaukee-Chicago game on Friday. It’s time for the league office to put an end to this type of dangerous play. If Isaiah Stewart was suspended for two games for retaliating after Lebron James elbowed him, certainly Allen should at least get the same light one-game suspension that James received.

You won’t need deep analytics to understand why UNC struggled against Wake Forest on Saturday. The box score tells the story, but does not fully explain how the Tar Heels spent most of another game getting bullied by the other team, showing little resistance on drives to the basket, and allowing uncontested 3-point shots again and again. Ups and downs are fun on a seesaw, but not in basketball. Perhaps it’s not time to panic, but after 18 games the Tar Heels still have not shown that they are capable of consistently playing at a high level on either side of the court.

My “Group of 7” coaches and their teams had a record of 29-19 over the last month. Villanova showed the most improvement, going 6-0 for the month. Monmouth went 1-4 and had three games postponed.

Hubert Davis	North Carolina	12-5
King Rice	Monmouth	10-6
Chris Beard	Texas	13-5
Wes Miller	Cincinnati	13-5
Shaka Smart	Marquette	12-6
Jay Wright	Villanova	13-4
Jerry Stackhouse	Vanderbilt	10-7

When a team is scheduled 25-30 games, expect a few losses. Halfway through the season, every major Division I Basketball team has at least two losses. Local teams from Chapel Hill and Durham wearing blue took losses tonight. The difference in team colors seems to parallel the difference in the way each team played. While a more mature team wearing light blue got blown out again after playing their best game of the year, the freshman laden team wearing dark blue lost by one point in overtime. Here goes that thing again about a coach “shouldn’t have to coach effort.” But a coach and team have to have a competent game plan, and a competent backup plan. If a coach isn’t going to coach effort on the court, he needs to put the right combination of players on the court that will get each other moving. Captains, maybe? Draw your own conclusions. The box score will show a loss for both teams, but it’s how a team loses that matters.

Let the records show:  North Carolina brought noting on Saturday!  Hubert Davis said or implied truthfully that his team had no fire, no grit, no pride, and little fight.  I appreciate that UNC has a team of nice, respectable young men, but most nice guys that I know will find a way to stop anyone that gets in the way of their success.  Saturday’s performance was one of the most embarrassing combinations of coaching and player response that I have ever witnessed.  It’s basketball!  The best teams at every level are expected to lose some games every year, but not with the heartless effort that the mighty Tar Heels brought to the court in Las Vegas.  This is the evidence that is on the table.  The time when captains gather the team to focus attention on detail passed again.   It is hard to see who has the toughness, drive, and willingness to bring this team together to have a season that doesn’t include more blowout losses and lackadaisical performances.  Who will lead during games?  I firmly believe coaches have to do their best work in practice, but Davis has to do more work during the game.  Autopilot for this team means going along with a beat down instead of focusing attention on the details of the game.  Players have to guide each other on the court.  Rebounding, boxing out, fighting through screens, just simply hustling!  Will it be Brady Manek?  He has the grit and brings it every game.  Leaky Black?  He does his job on the court every game!  Dawson Garcia?  So much potential but does not show toughness.  One of the named captains:  Caleb Love, RJ Davis, or Amando Bacot?  We’re waiting! 

There has been lots of conversation about who should have been hired to follow Roy William at UNC.  Here is a look at the current records of some known to have interviewed or to still be on the wish list of some fans and national writers: 

Hubert Davis	North Carolina	8-3
King Rice	Monmouth	9-2
Chris Beard	Texas	7-2
Wes Miller	Cincinnati	9-3
Shaka Smart	Marquette	8-4
Jay Wright	Villanova	7-4
Jerry Stackhouse	Vanderbilt	6-4

Max Scherzer is about to get over $43 million to pitch for the Mets next year. Lincoln Riley just left almost $8 million on the table in Oklahoma for what has been rumored to be more than $10 million at USC, and Howard University’s entire men’s basketball team signed a NIL agreement with “We Got Junk” movers! Who says, “It’s about the game!” and the student experience? It’s definitely about the money! But before anyone could blow up the internet with rumors of Riley leaving Oklahoma because of diva fans, or his not wanting to face questions about why Spencer Rattler did not get more opportunities after Caleb Love became average, or if he found out about Oklahoma’s move to the SEC at the same time that we did; we learned that Brian Kelly was leaving Notre Dame for LSU! Give USC and LSU credit for dominating the headlines, but Notre Dame wins the introduction game as Marcus Freeman is announced to his team! So, what schools made the best moves for their football programs, and what are the best jobs still available:

Best hires

1. USC – Lincoln Riley
2. LSU – Brian Kelly
3. Florida – Billy Napier
4. Notre Dame – Marcus Freeman
5. Virginia Tech – Brent Pry
6. UCONN – Jim Mora
7. TCU – Sonny Dykes
8. Miami – Rhett Lashlee
9. Georgia Southern – Clay Helton
10. Washington – Kalen DeBoer

Best available

1. Oklahoma
2. Virginia
3. Duke
4. Louisiana
5. Louisiana Tech
6. Temple
7. Troy
8. Fresno State
9. FIU
10. Akron