All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball: Early Offense Versus Vols Was 'Pretty Special'

Hubert Davis sounded proud of the ways his UNC basketball squad found so many buckets against Tennessee.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball versus Tennessee (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)
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UNC basketball became only the second in history to tally 100 points or more against a Rick Barnes-coached Tennessee team. The 17th-ranked Tar Heels (6-1, 0-0 ACC) built an eye-popping 61-39 lead over the No. 10 Volunteers (4-3, 0-0 SEC) entering halftime of their ACC/SEC Challenge showdown in Chapel Hill on Wednesday night.

And UNC prevailed, 100-92, as the Tar Heels now gear up for their ACC opener against visiting Florida State in the Dean E. Smith Center on Saturday afternoon.

So, what was behind the absurd first-half offensive explosion against the usually formidable Tennessee defense?

Well, third-year UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis gave his take on that while speaking to the media following the game:

"Our pace was good in the first half. It all starts with defense and rebounding. We knew that Tennessee is very physical, and they'll crash a number of guys to the offensive glass.

"I felt like in the first half we were able to get out in transition. One of the things that we do really well is when we pitch the ball ahead in transition. I think that's the fastest way to get to early offense. We were able to get layups and dunks, deep-post catch, wide-open threes.

"In the halfcourt, Tennessee is, if not the best, one of the best defensive teams in the country. I thought our spacing and our ball and player movement was good. I felt like we were able to beat them off the bounce and get them into rotations.

"From an offensive standpoint, it was one of the better halves since I've been here for 12 years as assistant and as a head coach. It was pretty special."

Hubert Davis on UNC Big Man's Huge Game Against Tennessee

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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