Luka Sits, Maximo Adams Visits, UNC Football Falls Short, Drake Maye Hears 'MVP' chants
Plus: Women's Basketball media day, Football recruiting updates, Tar Heels in the NFL, mixed bag for Olympic sports
Two close losses by the Tar Heels this weekend in men’s basketball and football have to leave Carolina fans cautiously optimistic. UNC Basketball hosted 4-star wing Maximo Adams on an official visit, Drake Maye and Javonte Williams continued their dominant NFL seasons, Women’s Basketball hosted their annual preseason media day, and much more. On to the updates.
Basketball
After coming within one basket of knocking off the No. 8 team in the country on their home court Friday, Carolina Basketball fans have to feel encouraged by what they saw in the Tar Heels’ 78-76 loss to BYU, despite presumed starter Luka Bogavac sitting on the bench awaiting clearance from UNC’s administration.
Freshman phenom Caleb Wilson was as-advertised, with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Seth Trimble scored 17, and Henri Veesaar added 14. The Tar Heels played much bigger than last season, outrebounding the Cougars, but 19 turnovers and 4-of-19 (21%) three-point shooting by the Tar Heels ultimately cost them the game.
And if you couldn’t watch the game, that was only on paid stream via ESPN, here are the highlights:
The Tar Heels next host Winston-Salem State in UNC’s second preseason exhibition on Wednesday at the Smith Center (7:30 p.m., ACC Network Extra).
In the professional ranks, former UNC big man Sterling Manley signed with the Noblesville Boom last week. They are the Indiana Pacers’ G League affiliate, so hopefully Manley can continue climbing the ladder for a taste of the NBA soon.
And former UNC guard Cormac Ryan has been named to the Wisconsin Herd’s G League training camp roster after being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks last week.
Football
UNC Football has a problem getting the ball across the goal line. Literally. Last week against Cal, a late fumble at the 1-yard line cost the Tar Heels the game. This week, a fumble at the pylon took 7 points off the board (in a 1-point game), and the potential game-winning 2-point conversion came up inches short.
Moral victories don’t go in the record book, but statistics do, and the numbers show that the Tar Heels are getting better every week. Cal and Virginia have a combined 12-4 record, and the Tar Heels have outgained them 640-553 in total offense.
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