CHAPEL HILL — On Friday night at the Dean E. Smith Center, supporters of UNC basketball saw their first glimpse of the Tar Heels.
Ahead of the 2023–24 season, the Heels held their first open scrimmage on “Live Action with Carolina Basketball.” Before facing Radford in Chapel Hill on November 6 to start the regular season, UNC hosts an exhibition match against St. Augustine’s on October 27.
Seth Trimble, a sophomore guard, was the only Tar Heel injured during the two-hour Blue and White scrimmage. Trimble was nursing a slight lower-body ailment earlier this month during UNC’s annual media day.
These are some notes from the initial impressions of the 2023–24 Tar Heels. Elliott Cadeau’s incredible finish after a great start
The main facilitator for the Blue team, which included James Okonkwo, Armando Bacot, Jae’Lyn Withers, and Paxson Wojcik, was freshman guard Elliot Cadeau. Throughout the scrimmage, Cadeau led and conversed with his team while appearing at ease. In the first thirty seconds, he scored the game’s first basket with a pull-up jumper close to the elbow. In the last two minutes, he stunned UNC supporters with a brilliant layup and back-to-back 3-pointers.
Remember about Seth Trimble,
As a five-star prospect who decided to reclassify and join the Heels a year earlier than anticipated, Cadeau has drawn the majority of attention. However, Zayden High, a 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward who is also a freshman, was as outstanding as they came on Friday night. High was a productive offensive rebounder who converted a number of boards into points. He also had a talent for finding himself in advantageous positions so that teammates could find him for simple baskets. Along with RJ Davis, Cormac Ryan, Jalen Washington, and Harrison Ingram, High was a member of the White team.
UNC quickened the tempo but had trouble making shots.
Head coach Hubert Davis has made it apparent that he wants the Tar Heels to resume their tradition of setting the pace when using the secondary break. The UNC players made a determined attempt to run the floor during the scrimmage, so there was no walking the ball up the court. That’s encouraging going forward. On the downside, the Heels as a unit had trouble making baskets. Sharpshooter Cormac Ryan missed multiple catch-and-shoot opportunities before scoring his first 3-pointer late in the first half, while Cadeau and RJ Davis drained several jumpers.
