Advertisement

Previewing UNC basketball's showdown with No. 1 Kansas

zack pearson
·3 min read
Nov 4, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Seth Trimble (7) reacts with guard Cade Tyson (5) after dunking the ball in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Nov 4, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Seth Trimble (7) reacts with guard Cade Tyson (5) after dunking the ball in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The North Carolina Tar Heels return to the court on Friday for a big non-conference showdown with No. 1 Kansas.

UNC will travel to Lawrence to take on the top-ranked Jayhawks on Friday night, providing the first big early season test for the Tar Heels. It's also a rematch of the 2022 national championship game, the last time the two teams met.

For North Carolina, they are fresh off a season-opening win over Elon in which they actually trailed by two with just over five minutes left in the game. But thanks to the heroics of RJ Davis, UNC avoided the big upset and got a win to start the season.

This test however will be tougher. Kansas is the top team in the country right now and one of the favorites to cut the nets down in April. So this will be a really good measuring stick for North Carolina early in the year.

Let's get into our preview for this top-10 showdown.

Key to victory for North Carolina

Nov 4, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Cade Tyson (5) shoots as Elon Phoenix forward Sam Sherry (4) and forward Brayden Crump (14) defend in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Nov 4, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Cade Tyson (5) shoots as Elon Phoenix forward Sam Sherry (4) and forward Brayden Crump (14) defend in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Shooting the basketball. North Carolina is going to need to be on their game in this one as it's not only the top team in the country but one of the toughest places to play as well. If the Tar Heels come out cold, it could be a problem.

North Carolina not only has to shoot well from the three-point line, but it's important they shoot well all game from the field. This could be a high-scoring affair on Friday so they are going to need to put up points often.

Something to watch

Nov 4, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Elon Phoenix guard TK Simpkins (3) shoots as North Carolina Tar Heels forward Jalen Washington (13) and guard Seth Trimble (7) defend in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Nov 4, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Elon Phoenix guard TK Simpkins (3) shoots as North Carolina Tar Heels forward Jalen Washington (13) and guard Seth Trimble (7) defend in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Rebounding. The Tar Heels have been dominant on the glass over the years but they go into this season losing two of their best rebounders in Armando Bacot and Harrison Ingram.

Against Elon, the Tar Heels only out-rebounded Elon by 3 despite having 43 total. That's not going to cut it against Kansas and Hunter Dickinson. UNC really needs to get after it on the glass if they want to have a chance in this one.

What you need to know

Nov 4, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard RJ Davis (4) and forward Jalen Washington (13) react in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Nov 4, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard RJ Davis (4) and forward Jalen Washington (13) react in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

What: North Carolina Tar Heels (1-0, 0-0) AT Kansas Jayhawks (1-0, 0-0)

When: Friday, November 8, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. ET

Where: Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence, Kansas)

TV: ESPN2

Line: UNC +7.5

Last Meeting: Kansas 72, UNC 69 on April 4, 2022

All-Time Series: Tied at 6.

Statistical leaders

Nov 4, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard RJ Davis (4) reacts after hitting a three point shot in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Nov 4, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard RJ Davis (4) reacts after hitting a three point shot in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

North Carolina Points: RJ Davis (G) - 21.0 points per game

North Carolina Rebounds: Jae'Lyn Withers (F) - 10.0 rebounds per game

North Carolina Assists: Elliot Cadeau (G) - 8.0 assists per game

Kansas Points: Zeke Mayo (G) - 19.0 points per game

Kansas Rebounds: Flory Bidunga (F) - 8.0 rebounds per game

Kansas Assists: Dajuan Harris Jr. (G) - 5.0 assists per game

Last Four Meetings

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 04: R.J. Davis #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after being defeated by the Kansas Jayhawks 72-69 during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship at Caesars Superdome on April 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 04: R.J. Davis #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after being defeated by the Kansas Jayhawks 72-69 during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship at Caesars Superdome on April 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

April 4, 2022: Kansas 72, UNC 69 (National title game)

March 24, 2013: Kansas 70, UNC 58 (NCAA Tournament)

March 25, 2012: Kansas 80, UNC 67 (NCAA Tournament)

April 5, 2008: Kansas 84, UNC 66 (NCAA Tournament)

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire : Previewing UNC basketball's showdown with No. 1 Kansas