Armando Bacot aggressive as UNC basketball sets tone from start in win vs. Tennessee
CHAPEL HILL – During the introduction of UNC basketball’s starting lineup ahead of the Tar Heels’ game against Tennessee on Wednesday, RJ Davis was shadow boxing.
Once the 17th-ranked Tar Heels tipped off against the 10th-ranked Volunteers, Davis and his teammates connected on some early punches and delivered a knockout blow in a 100-92 victory at the Smith Center.
Tennessee (4-3) entered the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge with the best defensive efficiency in the nation, according to KenPom.com. UNC (6-1) embraced the challenge with an offensive clinic in the first half and responded with a wire-to-wire win.
UNC's RJ Davis (27 points), Armando Bacot (22) and Harrison Ingram (20) combined for 69 points. After missing one game due to an ankle injury, Cormac Ryan had 15 points.
Here are some observations from the Tar Heels' victory.
Runaway first half for UNC basketball
Tennessee gave up 30 points in the first half vs. Purdue and 35 in the first half vs. Kansas. UNC had 41 with 7:55 left in the first half, leading by as many as 23 points in a runaway first half for the Heels.
GET TO KNOW CADEAU: How UNC basketball’s Elliot Cadeau will help the Tar Heels move past historically bad stat
RESPECT FOR RJ: Is UNC basketball’s RJ Davis being disrespected? Here’s what the Tar Heels’ senior said
UNC BASKETBALL RECRUITING: How UNC basketball recruit Drake Powell went from unknown to unleashed as an elite player
UNC led 61-39 against the Vols, who hadn’t given up 50 points in a half since a 107-79 loss to Kentucky in 2022. The Heels had 13 assists on 19 baskets with seven 3-pointers and a 14-for-14 clip at the free-throw line. They also scored 20 points on 10 Tennessee turnovers.
Armando Bacot comes out aggressive
Fifth-year senior Armando Bacot hadn’t had back-to-back games with fewer than 10 points since his sophomore season in Chapel Hill until the final two games in the Bahamas during Thanksgiving week.
Bacot averaged nine points at the Battle 4 Atlantis. In the first half against Tennessee, Bacot’s aggressiveness with his rim running and position in the post was evident as he scored 15 points, including seven free throws. He also had five rebounds and three assists in the first half.
Elliot Cadeau dishing out a lot of assists
After turning it over eight times with eight assists in UNC’s first three games, freshman guard Elliot Cadeau had 11 assists and one turnover in the Bahamas. In his first start at the Smith Center, Cadeau had 10 assists and no turnovers. He's the first Tar Heel to log double-digit assists without a turnover since Marcus Paige in 2015. UNC had a season-high 19 assists on 28 baskets.
UNC opens ACC play vs. Florida State
UNC basketball starts its ACC schedule against Florida State (4-1) on Saturday (2 p.m., ACC Network) at the Smith Center.
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC basketball's runaway first half helps Tar Heels beat Tennessee
