{"id":430867,"date":"2026-01-26T13:55:25","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T13:55:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/430867\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T13:55:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T13:55:25","slug":"arts-angle-big-boost-chapelboro-com","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/430867\/","title":{"rendered":"Art\u2019s Angle: Big Boost – Chapelboro.com"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

What would you call Carolina\u2019s thrilling 85-80 win at Virginia?<\/p>\n

A) A season saver<\/p>\n

B) A character check<\/p>\n

C) A postseason rotation preview<\/p>\n

D) A comfort creator<\/p>\n

E) All of the above<\/p>\n

In improving their ACC record to 4-3, the Tar Heels pulled off the biggest comeback victory by a visiting team at the John Paul Jones Arena (JPJ), which opened in 2006. It was also Virginia\u2019s first loss at home this season and Carolina\u2019s first conference road win after losing at SMU, Stanford and Cal.<\/p>\n

With 1:31 left in the first half, Hubert Davis\u2019 No. 22 (and seemingly fading) team trailed the No. 14 Cavaliers 43-27. As advertised, Virginia was controlling the glass and splashing in three-pointers. But in a crucial stretch, UVA did not score again before the break while the Heels finished a 7-0 run on Seth Trimble\u2019s free throw and impressive threes by Luka Bogavac and Derek Dixon. Trimming the deficit to nine points might have broken a psychological barrier and, at the very least, provided fuel to the fire of the coaching staff\u2019s halftime talk.<\/p>\n

After the \u2018Hoos bumped their lead back to 11, Trimble canned two long balls to cut the deficit further back. After the teams traded a few more baskets, Jarin Stevenson went on a personal run of six points to start his 17-point second-half surge. His buckets reclaimed the lead and helped the Heels hang a loss on the stunned JPJ rowdies.<\/p>\n

If Carolina can build off the dramatic rally, it could be considered a seasonal savior \u2014 or, at the very least, regain their reputation that had been backsliding since the two losses on the West Coast. A week off before traveling to face Georgia Tech (2-5 in ACC play) could solidify the lineup that Davis settled on Saturday and that turned the tides against Virginia.<\/p>\n

Caleb Wilson scored 20-points, tying Rashad McCants (in 2002-23) by scoring in double figures for the 20th consecutive time to begin their college careers. Four Tar Heels joined Wilson in double figures, but not foul-plagued Henri Veesaar who had 7 points and 1 rebound.<\/p>\n

Junior guard Jaydon Young started his second game before playing only seven minutes. Trimble\u2019s two regular perimeter peers now look to be the freshman Dixon \u2014 who finished with with 11 points, 7 assists and 1 turnover in 33 minutes at point guard \u2014and \u201cBombs Away\u201d Bogavac, who has become more active on the floor despite playing fewer minutes over in his last six games. His 14 points and trio of three-pointers were his best in ACC play. The rest of the rotation appears to be the scoreless trio of Johnathan Powell, who led the Heels in rebounding with a season-high 7, Kyan Evans and Young.<\/p>\n

Davis said of Dixon that it\u2019s \u201cpretty fun to watch because that\u2019s something that I didn\u2019t experience as a freshman. I wasn\u2019t ready, and he\u2019s not scared of the moment. He walks towards it, [is] playing really well right now and I\u2019m happy for him. The plays that he made on both ends of the floor show how he continues to get better and better each time he gets out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

UNC guard Derek Dixon shoots and scores a three-pointer just before halftime of Saturday\u2019s game vs. No. 14 Virginia. (Photo by Chance Bragg\/Chapel Hill Media Group.)<\/p>\n

Dixon also had a game-high plus-22, meaning when he was on the floor the Tar Heels outscored Virginia by 22 points. Stevenson was second with plus-19. No one for Virginia matched those plus-minus stats.<\/p>\n

Stevenson, a local player who\u2019s become a favorite after transferring from Alabama, seems happy to be playing anywhere \u2014 especially how he came through in Charlottesville, hitting 6-of-9 from the floor that included two three-pointers and a critical \u201cand one\u201d layup that gave UNC the lead for good. His quick decision to draw a charge in the lane against \u2018Hoos star Thijs De Ridder was also critical to helping seal the team\u2019s 16th win.<\/p>\n

\u201cJarin has all the giftedness as anybody on our team,\u201d Davis said. \u201cAthleticism, versatility\u2026he can do a number of different things on both ends of the floor. He talked about the charge that he had, but he can guard on the perimeter, bigs in the post. We had him in when Henri was in foul trouble and we really didn\u2019t lose anything. We probably gained something, because everybody on the floor could guard on the perimeter as well and they were looking for threes and driving opportunities. And then we found a play that worked for us [on offense] where we can get downhill or we can have a three or we can get it to the post\u2026 and it just worked for us. Jarin had opportunities and knocked down some big shots.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rotation has been so varied through 20 games, initially from Trimble\u2019s broken arm and since from either offensive or defensive slumps. Stability should comfort the fans if the Heels have designated roles as starters and subs as the team approaches the February schedule, which starts with Syracuse and No. 6 Duke at home followed by a trip to Miami.<\/p>\n

Carolina committed only four turnovers on Saturday, the fewest in the Hubert Davis era and the fewest since the Tar Heels set a school record of two in 2018. \u201cWe\u2019re not a big turnover team,\u201d Davis said, adding that his players got 19 points on 11 Virginia turnovers. \u201cOur activity, we got steals, and deflections allowed us to get into the open court and transition from defense to offense, the way Jarin and Caleb\u00a0 did exactly what they were asked to do when teammates get open. That got us back into the game and gave us a lot of energy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Caleb Wilson finishes a dunk during the second half of UNC\u2019s game vs. Virginia. The Tar Heels fast-break offense helped Carolina pull ahead and keep its lead against the Cavaliers. (Photo by Chance Bragg\/Chapel Hill Media Group.)<\/p>\n

Shooting 49 percent from the floor (and 45 percent from outside) was a big help, since Virginia comfortably won the backboards 44-28 \u2014 which is only the second time this season Carolina lost the rebounding battle (first time was vs. Michigan State). The \u2019Hoos had 16 offensive rebounds that led to 17 points second-chance points. In the first half, it seemed like that stat would ultimately be the back-breaker for Carolina before the second-half adjustments led to better rebounding.<\/p>\n

Virginia (16-3 overall, 5-2 in the ACC) plays a very different tempo than under former coach Tony Bennett, whose name will be on the court at JPJ. Ryan Odom, son of the former head coach at Wake Forest, employs a much faster tempo than Bennett and likes to use the entire floor on both both offense and defense. Because of the change in styles, Carolina\u2019s 85 points was the most against Virginia since a 93-81 win in Chapel Hill in 2013. It was also the Tar Heels\u2019 most points in Charlottesville since a 110-76 win in 2005.<\/p>\n

The Cavs have a mostly new lineup that shoots and defends as well as any team in the ACC, so their early lead was no surprise for the 7-point favorite. The JPJ was jumpin\u2019 until UNC\u2019s late run sobered up the home crowd, and the atmosphere stayed tense to the very end.<\/p>\n

The road win \u2014 given how Carolina has largely looked in hostile environments \u2014 is surprising and could almost be a restart for the Tar Heels, who needed it to boost confidence from their bench to their fan base. Whether it turns out to be a turning point to the season depends on their play and how our heartbeats hold up. But it was sure nice to get one when the worst might have been expected and UNC came out the gates slow against a formidable opponent.<\/p>\n

\"\"Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers\u00a0\u201cGame Changers,\u201d \u201cBlue Bloods,\u201d and \u201cThe Dean\u2019s List.\u201d He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His\u00a0\u201cSports Notebook\u201d commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his \u201cArt\u2019s Angle\u201d opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.<\/p>\n

Chapelboro.com<\/a>\u00a0does not charge subscription fees, and you can\u00a0directly support our efforts in local journalism\u00a0here<\/a>. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by\u00a0signing up for our newsletter.<\/a><\/p>\n

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<\/a>Art\u2019s Angle: Big Boost<\/p>\n

UNC men’s basketball’s dramatic comeback victory over Virginia could be a turning point for the Tar Heels in solidifying their rotation.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

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