Teams #109 and #110- James Madison and North Carolina

On Sunday November 20th, 2022, I saw my 109th and 110th Division One College Basketball teams. On this occasion, I saw the James Madison Dukes take on the North Carolina Tarheels . James Madison is the 3rd team that I have seen out of the Sun Belt. North Carolina is the 7th team that I have seen out of the ACC. James Madison has a 4-0 record on the year. They most recently played Howard in which the Dukes won by a score of 95-69. The leading scorer for James Madison is Vado Morse he is averaging 15.8 PPG. North Carolina has a 3-0 record on the year. They most recently played Gardner-Webb and they won by a score of 72-66. Despite being the #1 ranked team in the country, North Carolina has struggled to start the year. Only beating Gardner-Webb by 6 and allowing Charleston to score 86 points. Could the Tarheels be on upset alert? The leading scorer for the Tarheels is Caleb Love he is averaging 20.7 PPG. 

This was that game that on paper looked like a major chance for an upset. North Carolina had been so underwhelming this year. But on this Sunday tilt, North Carolina certainly played like the #1 team in the country. In the first half, North Carolina jumped on James Madison early. The Tar Heels took advantage of the size of Armando Bacot. Bacot had a double double by ten minutes into the first half. James Madison did not have much of an answer for the big man. The Dukes also had no answer for guard RJ Davis. Davis was able to get what he wanted at will. The Tar Heels would led by as many as 21 points in the first half and would never trail. James Madison struggled to make shots in the first half. It wasn't until seven minutes left in the first half that they made a two point field goal. Everything came from the three point line up until that point. James Madison was averaging around 90 points in their first 4 contests. I think the Dukes thought they could just make more threes than North Carolina and they would be in the game. Unfortunately, going 5-15 from the three point line in the first half was not going to get it done. At the half, North Carolina found themselves up 45-26. RJ Davis had 12 points to lead the Tar Heels. Takal Molson, who started playing college basketball in the 2017-18 season had eight points to lead the Dukes. The most notable part of the first half was the return of Puff Johnson. Puff is loved by the UNC faithful now and received a standing ovation upon checking in.  

Much like the game a day prior, this one never felt in doubt. James Madison got the North Carolina lead to under ten points on two occasions. The smallest the Tar Heel ever got was 8 points. Every time this would happen, Carolina would put on the jets and show the Dukes who was going to win this game. I will give James Madison credit. They played a lot better in the 2nd half. If you take out the early part of the game where they struggled to make a two point field goal. This game is probably closer to a 5-10 game. Nate Freidel had a game to forget for James Madison. The South Dakota St transfer, went 0-11 from field including 0-9 from three. It was a miserable game to watch from him. James Madison actually finished the game with four players in double figures. Lead by Takal Molson with 19 points. James Madison has the potential to win the Sun Belt conference. I could see them being a 13 or 14 seed if the year goes well but I do not think they have the mustard to pull an upset. For the Tar Heels, one would argue this is the first game they have put it all together. RJ Davis finished with 21 points, Armando Bacot finished with 19 points and 23 rebounds and Pete Nance had 11 points. This team has all the tools to make another final four. In the end, the Tar Heels would go on to win 80-64. North Carolina now travels to Portland for the Phil Knight Invitational, in which they will take on the Portland Pilots on Thanksgiving. As for James Madison, they do not play again until Friday November 25th as they host Non-Division 1 foe Coastal Georgia.

 

My final game of the North Carolina roadtrip will be November 21st as the Duke Blue Devils take on the Bellarmine Knights.