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Complete story recap and breakdown for North of North.
The Michael Malone era is officially 1-0 after an 80-72 win over Western Carolina. Rebounding was the biggest concern coming out of the preseason, so did Sayon Keita and Jarin Stevenson answer the call on the glass? New episodes every morning at 8 a.m. ET. In this postgame breakdown, we dig into the stats from UNC's season opener, go to the film on the plays that decided the game and react to everything Michael Malone said afterward. Plus, we take a closer look at Sayon Keita and Jarin Stevenson's rebounding efforts and what it means for the frontcourt with Cameron Fens still sidelined. The Carolina Basketball Show is a daily Tar Heels podcast hosted by sports writer and analyst Kade Nix, covering North Carolina men's basketball with news, analysis, recruiting updates and more every mornin
The Michael Malone era is officially 1-0 after an 80-72 win over Western Carolina. Rebounding was the biggest concern coming out of the preseason, so did Sayon Keita and Jarin Stevenson answer the call on the glass? New episodes every morning at 8 a.m. ET. In this postgame breakdown, we dig into the stats from UNC's season opener, go to the film on the plays that decided the game and react to everything Michael Malone said afterward. Plus, we take a closer look at Sayon Keita and Jarin Stevenson's rebounding efforts and what it means for the frontcourt with Cameron Fens still sidelined. The Carolina Basketball Show is a daily Tar Heels podcast hosted by sports writer and analyst Kade Nix, covering North Carolina men's basketball with news, analysis, recruiting updates and more every mornin
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00:00What's going on Carolina fans? Welcome back in to the Carolina Basketball Show.
00:04I don't really know what to think.
00:07I mean, you're coming off a dogfight to Charlotte and you end up in a dogfight to Western Carolina
00:14where you don't really do any of the things that you were hoping to do.
00:18They lost the rebound battle again.
00:20There's a lot of issues with the game itself.
00:23So we're going to take a look at some of the film.
00:25We're going to go through some of the stats.
00:26And it's been a while now.
00:29This is a couple hours past game time.
00:31But I think the overall consensus from what I saw on the live tonight,
00:36for those of you that were in there, is that it was a disappointment.
00:40It's a disappointment to start the season, but, you know, it is the first game of the year.
00:44Things can get better.
00:45We're trying to be optimistic about this season.
00:48And so it's tough.
00:50It's certainly tough to be optimistic.
00:51But I think there is a path back to being a competitive team, at least.
00:59I don't know where the bar is really at with this team this season.
01:02Let's roll the intro and then we'll get into it.
01:13All right.
01:14So speaking of dogfight that they were in, let's take a look at what Michael Malone had to say
01:19following the, what was it, a seven, eight-point win?
01:24What was it?
01:26Eight-point win?
01:27Yeah, 80-72.
01:28Let's take a look at what Malone had to say.
01:34Things we have to get better at in a hurry, you know what I mean?
01:37I'll be honest, I'm not just saying this.
01:39You guys don't know me well, but I knew tonight was going to be a dogfight.
01:43You know, we have 11 new players.
01:45You know, we've lost, I think, from last year's team.
01:47You guys all know the numbers.
01:4990% of our offense, 85% of our rebounding, playmaking, shooting.
01:53So we're trying to take these 11 new players and meld them with Jaren and Jaden and Isaiah
02:00and John Holbrook and Evan Smith, and it's not going to happen overnight.
02:04And I have to be, remind myself constantly that this really is going to be a process.
02:11And I'm thankful we got the win tonight.
02:13Always much easier and better to clean up things after a win.
02:17But the emotions were, I'm thankful to get that first one.
02:20You know, and the fans here have been just so kind to me and welcoming.
02:24And, you know, I love that and I appreciate that.
02:27And I just want to make sure I'm doing my job to make the Carolina family proud.
02:32Yeah.
02:33So, I mean, you heard the man.
02:36He thought it was going to be a dogfight.
02:37He acknowledged the roster issues with 11 newcomers.
02:42I think that's the best word to describe it.
02:44It's just frustrating overall.
02:45So, taking a look at some of the stats.
02:49Let's pull those up as well.
02:52So, you can see 80-72.
02:54Terrence Brown, 3 of 11.
02:56The thing that pains me with Terrence Brown going 3 for 11 is that he's not shooting a lot of
03:013s.
03:02Like, he's not shooting any deep 2s.
03:04And so, you have to be more efficient at 3 of 11.
03:09But then he goes 0 for 3 as well from 3-point range.
03:128 of his 14 points came from the free throw line, which is great that he's shooting 80%.
03:17But, I mean, we've got to fix something.
03:20Matt Abel, kind of the lone shining spot on this team.
03:2418 points.
03:256 of 10 for field goal range.
03:27So, 60%.
03:28That's what we're aiming for.
03:302 of 6 for 3.
03:31Not bad there.
03:33And then 4 of 6 from the free throw line.
03:36You know, so, the one thing Terrence Brown did do was he helped in the rebounding battle.
03:405 rebounds.
03:41Matt Abel, 3.
03:434 assists between the two players.
03:46And then we get to Jaron Stevenson.
03:47Jaron Stevenson is the player I'm a little worried about.
03:50And if you've come into our lives, you know that we've talked a lot about Jaron Stevenson.
03:54Because the consensus around the fan base from what I've seen so far is that he lacks physicality.
04:01And he plays kind of scared.
04:03And it seems more and more evident as we go on that that is, in fact, true.
04:083 of 8 from field goal.
04:100 for 4 from 3.
04:138 points there.
04:142 of 4 from free throw.
04:162 rebounds.
04:172 rebounds is not going to cut it.
04:190 offensive rebounds.
04:21We're going to take a look at the film in a minute.
04:23But I guarantee you Jaron Stevenson is not boxing out on the offensive boards.
04:28The fact that he is, what, the second tallest player or second tallest starter.
04:33And he's coming up with 2 rebounds on...
04:35How many minutes did he have?
04:3829.
04:39Nioh.
04:40I thought Nioh played decent.
04:412 for 4 from 3.
04:447 rebounds.
04:45All of them coming on the defensive end.
04:48This offensive rebounding is a nightmare.
04:51But at least they were able to get some on the defensive side.
04:55Nioh being the highest rebounder on the team with 7.
04:58We knew he was going to be an impactful rebounder because he's 6'9".
05:01He's a good rebounding guard.
05:053 turnovers.
05:0713 points.
05:08Not a horrible night from Nioh.
05:09I think him and Matt Abel were clearly two best players in this game.
05:13Keita.
05:14Keita was basically non-existent in this game.
05:16Two of his 4 points came from the free throw line.
05:181 of 2 from field goal range.
05:19Didn't shoot any 3's.
05:21I mean, we don't expect him to shoot 3's.
05:22But here's the issue, man.
05:24When Jaron Stevenson and Seon Keita, the two tallest starters, your power forward and your starting center, combined for 4
05:32rebounds, less than what Terrence Brown put up by himself, that is an issue.
05:36Isaiah Dennis has to be better and more efficient than that.
05:39Going 0 for 4 and 0 for 3.
05:40We can't have that happen.
05:42And I get you're going to have slow games and games where, you know, the ball just won't go in
05:45the hoop.
05:46But we're going to need him to bounce back pretty soon.
05:49Because Wofford is not going to be a horrible team.
05:52Wofford's going to be better than Western Carolina, probably.
05:55And they have a better chance of winning the SoCon.
05:56You know, I'm not going to say a win's a win.
05:59But, you know, they did win.
06:01It would have been a much worse feeling if they're sitting at 0-1 against Western Carolina.
06:07And, you know, like Michael Mullen said, like, it is a struggle.
06:09I get it.
06:09There's 11 newcomers.
06:11They have to play together.
06:11And they have to gel together.
06:12And it's going to take time.
06:14But, I mean, I don't know how this team beat USC, to be honest with you.
06:19The way I'm watching them play, the first 4 or 5 minutes of this game against Western Carolina, they looked
06:24good.
06:25That's the last time that I've seen them look good since the USC game.
06:28I don't know how they beat USC.
06:30Now, I know USC had two of their five starters out.
06:34But still, like, I don't know how they did that.
06:38Because it doesn't even seem like the same team.
06:41I guess shots just were falling in that game.
06:44But they held USC to less points than they did to Charlotte and Western Carolina.
06:50So, you know, I'm confused on this team so far.
06:54But I think let's get into some of the film here.
06:57So, all right.
06:58This was one of the best plays that they ran all night.
07:01So, you have Jaron right here.
07:02You have Maximo right here.
07:03You have Isaiah Dennis in the corner, I believe.
07:05He's going to run off this double screen right up here.
07:08His man is going to follow him because they are in man.
07:11Abel is going to filter over here to the corner.
07:15Maximo is going to set a screen on his man.
07:17Jaron is going to fade to the basket once Abel gets this ball.
07:24Just an overall beautiful play that worked perfectly.
07:31Perfect.
07:32I mean, look at how open that is.
07:34This is a special pass.
07:36Dennis should have finished it off.
07:37But this is the court vision that I want to see from Neo.
07:44I mean, how does he even see this?
07:49Unless they run this a lot.
07:52But, like, that is a perfect pass.
07:58Couldn't finish, though, or get the rebound.
08:00Like, I don't think I like this shot selection.
08:03I mean, I don't even think they ran a single set or tried anything else.
08:08They just threw this up with Jaden Young, which I don't like.
08:12Like, a deep one at that.
08:16This was great.
08:18This is, like, what we need.
08:19This is what we need from Terrence Brown every single game.
08:22To be able to drive like this and finish.
08:25The 3 for 11 is not finishing well.
08:27We need him to finish well.
08:28Right here is a perfect example of finishing well.
08:32I don't know how many times I have to say finishing well for it to get through.
08:40Sorry, guys.
08:40I don't have YouTube premium.
08:42Great ball movement.
08:43Drive inside.
08:44Kick out.
08:45Swing.
08:45Fake.
08:47Perfect.
08:49Perfect.
08:50Like, that is Carolina basketball.
08:52That is great.
08:53But look at the open shots they had.
08:55Malone said this in his postgame.
08:57He said they had open shots from 3.
08:59And they did.
09:00They just didn't hit him.
09:03You know, if they hit him, I think they get a big enough lead.
09:05And, you know, the game changes.
09:06And the momentum, you know, takes over.
09:08And it might be too much to overcome for Western Carolina.
09:11You just got to hit your shots.
09:13Like, plain and simple.
09:14Go over the screen.
09:15Fake.
09:16They went under.
09:16Pull it.
09:17That's good.
09:18I'm good with that.
09:22Why are we throwing a lob to Terrence Brown?
09:27Why are we not throwing a lob to Keita ever?
09:30I get it.
09:31He's open.
09:32But, like.
09:33And it worked.
09:34But.
09:36Okay.
09:40Again.
09:41What is up with the.
09:42Why are we floating it up to Terrence Brown?
09:45Like, he's going to flush it.
09:49I don't understand.
09:50And it wasn't a good pass either.
09:52It was a turnover.
09:59And then it turns into that.
10:02See, I'm cool with this.
10:04You swing it.
10:04You swing it.
10:06Wide open three.
10:07You just, again.
10:08Just got to hit him.
10:09Like, this game would have been completely different if they hit a third more of their
10:14shots.
10:27Like, I'm cool with that.
10:29I'm cool with getting it inside to Maxey on this play.
10:31I think some of the sets they were running were good.
10:34And the issue is that they just were so inconsistent up and down the game.
10:39Like, they would go on a run where they'd look like a competent, competitive team.
10:43And then the next five minutes, they'd look the opposite.
10:45See, what I don't like is this.
10:47Okay.
10:48They're letting the ball come to them on the rebounding.
10:51They're not going up and getting it.
10:53Like, watch Sammo here.
10:54He just lets it fall into his arms.
10:56Like, go up and get the ball.
10:59Again, like, they're getting good looks.
11:03Jaden drives.
11:05Maxey's open.
11:06These two are both open.
11:07They did the right thing.
11:08It's one more pass right there.
11:10Got an open look.
11:11They just, again, like, cannot hit anything.
11:15This is what I like.
11:16This is good.
11:17Up the tempo.
11:18Get it up the court.
11:19Make something happen.
11:21Drive.
11:21Like, good things happen when they drive the lanes in this game.
11:28Let me know what you guys think about this game.
11:31I'm a little conflicted.
11:34I understand there's a long way to go, but this team has a long way to go.
11:40Thank you guys for tuning in today.
11:42Tonight, we're going to be doing another live stream, so come join me in there.
11:45It's a lot of fun.
11:46We get some good shout-out to the people who have been coming into the live stream.
11:50I'm going to give you guys a couple of shout-outs here.
11:53Gary Bryant's been in here.
11:55Paul Heal is always a regular.
11:57Resurrect the Gone.
11:58Karaoke Queen was in here last night joining us.
12:01Austin Hedrick, always in here.
12:04Keen the Fiend, shout-out to him.
12:05He's always in here.
12:06Bollie Slim, Alan2333, T. Will, Jordan Mullins.
12:12I appreciate you all coming in here, so join us tonight for that live stream.
12:15I appreciate you all for watching.
12:17Subscribe, leave a like, leave a comment down below on what you expect from this team moving forward.
12:21How far along on the concern are you?
12:25And how many games?
12:26This is a question we had in the live, but how many games is it going to take with performances
12:29like these for you to actually worry?
12:32How many games down the line?
12:33We had different answers.
12:34We had some people say 10 to 12 games.
12:36We had some people say the end of the week.
12:39So it's definitely varied.
12:41So let me know what you guys think down below.
12:42Thank you guys for tuning in.
12:44Subscribe to the Carolina Basketball Show, and I'll see you guys tonight.