North Carolina Handles Business Runs Gauntlet On East Carolina 99-51
Dec 23 / Written By Christian Bateman
Chapel Hill- North Carolina has had a few letdown games at home in the Dean Smith Center, but that was not the case as the Tarheels nearly dropped one hundred points on the ever so struggling East Carolina Pirates offense who is yet to have that one staple win in the tenure of head coach Mike Schwartz.Â
The only bright side to this matter for the Pirates is the money that was given by North Carolina in order for the game to happen, but other than that just the souvenir moment from a school from the G5 to try and contend with one of the best teams in the nation. A lot had to happen for the Pirates to pull it off, but the length, the moment, the energy that was inside the Dean Dome, was just too much as UNC came straight out of halftime going on an 8-2 scoring run to put the desperate Pirates chance of winning in the dust.Â
Last night's deficit signified the largest loss in the Mike Schwartz era at East Carolina. On the other hand North Carolina now closes non conference play 12-1, and looks to impose their will on the ACC as the Tarheels start conference play next Tuesday back in the Dean Smith Center.Â
Caleb Wilson Player Of The Game
It was apparent from the jump that all of the hype and buzz surrounding the standout of Carolina’s Caleb Wilson was real. The freshman Atlanta Native scored a crisp 21 points while bringing down 12 rebounds subbing out of the game early due to the tremendous lead, shot 7-11 from the field in just 24 minutes of action, and the most surreal stat on the night Caleb Wilson became the only freshman to score 20 or more points in five consecutive games joining a hall of famer and legendary Phil Ford. Elijah Davis Scores First Bucket Of His Career
North Carolina’s massive output of talent and buckets was not the only thing that got the Carolina blue and white fans on their feet as there was at least one stretch in the second half that overstood them all by far. Elijah Davis, son of head coach Hubert Davis knocked down his first collegiate shot of his career, with 30 seconds left in the contest, that being his only bucket of the game.Â
Hubert Davis was very emotional about the occasion as he spoke in his postgame presser, conversing about the energy Elijah brings to the team and how the team has treated him like one of their own and not as the coach's son.Â
East Carolina is very much at the hot seat and panic button portion of the season, as Mike Schwartz received a one year extension on his contract this past season, but has struggled to go out and get proven scorers and game like impact players from the transfer portal.Â
The Second Third Of The Season
East Carolina will now go into Christmas break and hope to figure this thing out and get multiple players back from injuries as they face the Tulane Green Wave next Wednesday at Noon inside Minges Coliseum on national television ESPNU. On the other side North Carolina eager to keep this momentum and hot streak alive against a barely .500 ball club in Florida State under first year head coach Luke Loucks.