UNC Basketball looks to end its loss to No. 10 Alabama

The UNC basketball program’s trip to Hawaii didn’t go as planned.

After last Wednesday’s loss to Michigan State, their second straight loss, the Tar Heels traveled nearly 5,000 miles back to Chapel Hill and finished just fourth at the Maui Invitational.

And UNC’s non-conference battle will only get tougher on Wednesday. The Tar Heels will face the Crimson Tide in a top-20 showdown at the Dean Smith Center. They are looking to win the ACC/SEC Basketball Challenge for the second year in a row.

North Carolina Tar Heels

Overall record: 4-3
Conference record: 0-0
Home record: 2-0
Away record: 1-1
Neutral site record: 1-2

Alabama Crimson Tide

Overall record: 6-2
Conference record: 0-0
Home record: 3:0
Away record: 0-1
Neutral site record: 3-1

North Carolina

RJ Davis (Gr. Guard) – 18.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists
Seth Trimble (Jr. Guard) – 16.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Elliot Cadeau (So. Guard) – 14.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists

Alabama

Mark Sears (Gr. Guard) – 16.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists
Grant Nelson (Gr. Forward) – 13.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (Gr. Guard) – 11.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists *(ruled for remainder of 2024-2025 season due to injury)*

Crate. Out of.

The Tar Heels had major problems on the glass in Hawaii. UNC’s lack of size was evident in all four games on the Islands, in three of which the team was out-rebounded. For a team that already has some issues defensively, the inability to close out possession makes it nearly impossible to beat the top teams in the country.

And Alabama thrives on glass. The Crimson Tide rank third in the SEC in rebounding, averaging 43.9 boards per game.

The Tar Heels must find ways to attack the glass against Alabama or face a three-game losing streak.

How will the memory of last year’s game affect this game?

The Tar Heels lost 89-87 to the Crimson Tide in the Sweet 16 of last season’s NCAA Tournament. Two players likely to start Wednesday, graduate transfer RJ Davis and graduate forward Jae’Lyn Withers, both had extremely poor games in this contest against Alabama.

In total, five different Tar Heels who played in last year’s game will see the court on Wednesday, including potentially the entire starting five.

Will UNC emerge with additional motivation to right the wrongs of last year? Or will Alabama try to prove this wasn’t a coincidence?

#3 Elliot Cadeau (So. 6’1)
#4 RJ Davis (size 6’0)
#7 Seth Trimble (Jr. 6’3)
#13 Jalen Washington (Jr. 6’10)
#24 Jae’Lyn Withers (size 6’9)