Three things to watch as UNC basketball takes on Kansas

8 hours ago7 min read4 comments

The UNC men’s basketball team kicked off their season with a statement blowout against Central Arkansas, cruising to a 94-54 victory that showcased their new-look roster. Freshman point guard Kyan Evans looked composed running the offense, while Luka Bogavac, who reportedly found out he was playing just 30 minutes before tipoff, stuffed the stat sheet in a display of next-man-up mentality.The Tar Heels' big men utterly dominated the paint, but let's be real—this was the kind of season-opening cupcake game you expect from a program with Final Four aspirations. The real litmus test arrives Friday night when the 19th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks roll into Chapel Hill.While this Kansas squad doesn't carry the same blue-blood swagger as Bill Self's recent vintage, they're still a top-20 program, and this primetime clash will reveal whether UNC's explosive debut was a mirage or a legitimate preview of a contender. Three critical storylines will define this high-stakes early-season showdown.First, UNC's three-point shooting needs immediate recalibration. Against Central Arkansas, the Heels shot a concerning 10-29 from deep, with several of those makes coming during garbage time from deep reserve Jaydon Young.Bogavac finished 1-5, and sharpshooter Johnathan Powell went 1-6; only Evans connected on multiple triples. This perimeter struggle isn't an isolated incident—they combined for just 31% shooting across their two preseason exhibitions, echoing last season's chronic shooting woes that often left the offense stagnant.While it's reasonable to expect Bogavac to need a game or two to find his rhythm after his late addition to the lineup, and both Powell and Jarin Stevenson have proven shooting pedigrees, seeing multiple players knock down outside shots against Kansas' defense would provide crucial confidence, even in a losing effort. Second, all eyes will be on freshman phenom Caleb Wilson facing his first legitimate defensive test.No disrespect to Central Arkansas, but their defense seemed utterly bewildered by Wilson's athleticism, as he scored his first eight points exclusively on dunks, many completely uncontested. Sure, some credit goes to perfectly executed lobs from the guards, but Wilson essentially feasted on a team with no one remotely capable of matching his physical gifts.Kansas presents a completely different challenge. Surprisingly, UNC actually boasts more frontcourt height than the Jayhawks—a strange thing to type after last year's roster construction—but Kansas remains defensively stout.In their own 94-51 demolition of Green Bay, the Jayhawks recorded eight blocks, with forward Flory Bidunga accounting for three himself. Whether Bidunga primarily matches up against Wilson or Henri Veesaar, Kansas has the athletic bigs to throw at the freshman and disrupt his rhythm; how Wilson adjusts to this elevated competition will be telling for his development trajectory.Finally, this game represents a massive opportunity for UNC to secure a statement victory that eluded them throughout last season's disappointing campaign. If you somehow missed the relentless commentary, the Heels managed just one Quad 1 win all last year, the primary reason they were sweating on the bubble come Selection Sunday.While it's impossible to predict exactly how a November win will be categorized by March, a victory over Kansas historically carries significant weight in the committee room. Beating the Jayhawks could potentially bank a future Quad 1 win while simultaneously exorcising the 'can't beat good teams' narrative that haunted last year's squad.Beyond the resume implications, there's the pure program pride of defeating a fellow blue blood—the kind of early-season momentum that can set a positive tone for the entire winter. This isn't just another non-conference game; it's a chance for Hubert Davis's retooled roster to immediately establish their identity and prove they've learned from last year's shortcomings.

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