Written by AARON BEARD, AP Basketball Writer

7Duke Blue Devils
3 The Tar Heels of North Carolina
ESPN | Saturday, February 3rd 6:30 PM EST

Just recently, while North Carolina was having their most successful start in Atlantic Coast Conference history in over twenty years, experienced center Armando Bacot shocked his coach by revealing something.

The record-breaking rebounder for the renowned program had discovered unexpected satisfaction in another aspect of the game that is often overlooked: defensive plays.

“Coach, this is the most fun I’ve ever had playing defense,” coach Hubert Davis recalled Bacot telling him.

Scoring has always been the main focus in Chapel Hill, with high-performing offenses relying on a run-run-run strategy. However, a significant factor in the success of the third-ranked Tar Heels this season, leading up to their rivalry game against No. 7 Duke on Saturday, has been their strong defensive performance. UNC is one of the top teams in the country when it comes to making it challenging for their opponents to score.

RJ Davis, a senior guard, was awarded The Associated Press’ men’s national player of the week on Tuesday. He mentioned that the team has improved in trusting one another. In the beginning of the season, they were focused on guarding their own opponent rather than helping out their teammates. However, they have now improved in being more aware of their role on the court and communicating effectively. This is a result of gaining experience and maturity.

UNC (17-4, 9-1) recently lost to Georgia Tech on a last-second basket. This game resulted in the most points allowed by the Tar Heels in an ACC game this season, with the Yellow Jackets scoring 74 points. However, as of Friday, UNC is ranked fourth in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency, allowing 92.5 points per 100 possessions. The only teams ahead of them are No. 4 Houston (84.6), No. 5 Tennessee (90.9), and No. 16 Auburn (91.7).

In the past, North Carolina has only been ranked in the top 10 of this measurement four times, starting from 1997 when Hall of Famer Dean Smith was their coach. Since 2011, UNC has not been ranked higher than 11th and has had an average ranking of 33.5 in recent years.

There are several reasons for the improvement of the team after their decline from being ranked number 1 in the AP Top 25 to not qualifying for the NCAA Tournament last year. The addition of adaptable transfers Cormac Ryan, Harrison Ingram, and Jae’lyn Withers has strengthened the rotation and allowed for a more reliable and deeper bench. This was evident in the team’s use of a fullcourt press to make a comeback against Florida State in December.

The team, boosted by Bacot’s 6-foot-11 stature, has a strong defensive presence and is placing in the top 10 among Power Five and Big East schools in field-goal percentage defense (seventh, .398) and 3-point percentage (sixth, .299).

The focus on boardwork, which has been a consistent factor since former Hall of Famer Roy Williams, has been carried on by Hubert Davis. With the help of Bacot and Ingram, the Tar Heels have been able to consistently secure rebounds, leading to successful one-shot stops.

According to Davis, our communication is excellent, whether we are on the offensive or defensive side. We emphasize the importance of speaking up early, loudly, clearly, and consistently. This applies not only to screens, but also in transition and other situations such as out-of-bounds plays or underneath the basket. As a result, there is constant dialogue among us during practices, shootarounds, and games, ensuring that everyone is in the correct position.

Going further into the details, the Tar Heels have achieved various advancements.

Based on information from Synergy Sports, the Tar Heels have shown progress in six out of eleven defensive categories compared to last year. This includes their performance in post-up situations, hand-off plays, and defending screeners in pick-and-rolls. Notably, they have significantly improved in transition (0.841 points per possession, previously 1.087) and against putbacks (0.884, previously 1.212), going from a “poor” rating to an “excellent” one.

They maintained a consistent rating of “very good” when defending against spot-up shooters at 0.883 this year and were considered “good” against ballhandlers in pick-and-roll plays at 0.745. This was typically achieved by having Bacot or Jalen Washington drop back, potentially allowing for a midrange shot rather than an open drive to the basket.

The Tar Heels have had six instances where they prevented an ACC opponent from making eight shots in a row. They also played strong defense in the final minutes of their games against Clemson and FSU, keeping them scoreless for 5 minutes and allowing only one basket in the last 5 and a half minutes.

The upcoming match will be with the Blue Devils (16-4, 7-2), who have the 9th ranked offense according to KenPom, averaging 119.9 points per 100 possessions.

Duke coach Jon Scheyer stated that the team prioritizes protecting their paint and defending against the three-point shot. This is a crucial aspect of their strategy as a good defense requires effective ball and pick-and-roll defense, which the team has been successful in executing.

“This team does not rely on one particular player to be targeted or challenged. Each member is skilled at defending and they work together as a unit with five players.”

Source: wralsportsfan.com