MBB Returns After Exam Break To Host La Salle: Tar Heels Aim to Rebound in Philly Homecoming

# MBB Returns After Exam Break To Host La Salle: Tar Heels Aim to Rebound in Philly Homecoming

 

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – For the first time in 12 days, the North Carolina Tar Heels (4-2) will lace them up Wednesday night when they welcome La Salle (5-2) to the Dean E. Smith Center for a 7:00 p.m. tip on ACC Network Extra. The mini-hiatus, caused by final exams and the previously scheduled off week, marks the longest in-season layoff Carolina has had since the 2020-21 COVID season.

 

“It’s always a little weird coming back,” said fifth-year guard RJ Davis, who is averaging 19.8 points through six games. “You lose the rhythm a bit, but we’ve had good practices the last four or five days. Guys are excited to get back in front of the home crowd.”

 

The Tar Heels are coming off a split in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational, where they knocked off Dayton before falling to Auburn and then dropping the third-place game to Michigan State. Defensive lapses in the final minutes of both losses have been the talking point inside the Smith Center this week.

 

“We gave up 89 and 90 points in Maui,” head coach Hubert Davis said Tuesday. “That’s not Carolina basketball. We’ve been really locked in on the defensive end in practice. Communication has been better, rotations have been sharper.”

 

La Salle, making its first trip to Chapel Hill since 1991, presents an interesting test. The Explorers are in year two under former Penn State and George Mason head coach Fran Dunphy and already own a road win at Temple plus a 17-point drubbing of Northeastern. They run a deliberate, Princeton-style offense built around backdoor cuts and high-post actions, averaging just 64.9 possessions per game (321st nationally).

 

“They’re going to make you guard for 30 seconds,” Davis said. “We can’t fall asleep. One lapse and it’s a layup.”

 

Senior guard Jhamir Brickus (15.9 ppg, 5.6 apg) is the engine. The 5-11 Philadelphia native torched Villanova for 24 points earlier this month and is shooting 42% from three. Fellow Philly product Daeshon Shepherd, a 6-6 wing transfer from Wake Forest, adds 14.1 points and elite perimeter defense.

 

For Carolina, the return of sophomore guard Elliot Cadeau from a one-game absence (hip pointer suffered against Michigan State) is huge. Cadeau practiced fully Monday and Tuesday and is listed as probable. His speed in transition is a perfect antidote to La Salle’s slower tempo.

 

“Elliot changes everything for us,” RJ Davis said. “When he pushes, we’re tough to guard.”

 

Inside, the Tar Heels will lean on the frontcourt duo of Jalen Washington and Ven-Allen Lubin. Washington is coming off a career-high 19 points against Michigan State, while Lubin has quietly been one of the ACC’s most efficient post players (64.3% FG, 1.25 points per possession).

 

La Salle counters with 7-0 big man Petrucio Clancy, who blocks 2.8 shots per game and alters plenty more. Containing him without fouling will be priority one.

 

### Key Matchups

– RJ Davis vs. Jhamir Brickus: Battle of Philly guards. Davis has the size advantage; Brickus has the craftiness.

– Elliot Cadeau (if he plays) vs. Explorers’ half-court traps: La Salle loves to speed you up and then slow you down. Cadeau’s decision-making will be tested.

– Carolina’s transition defense vs. La Salle’s secondary breaks: The Explorers get easy buckets if you don’t match up quickly after makes.

 

### Historical Context

This is just the fourth all-time meeting between the programs. Carolina owns a 3-0 series lead, with the last matchup a 90-61 Tar Heel win in the 1991 Rainbow Classic in Honolulu. La Salle’s last victory over a power-conference opponent came against Vanderbilt in 2022.

 

### Atmosphere & Storylines

Wednesday is the annual “Philly Night” promotion in the Smith Center. Both coaching staffs have deep Philadelphia ties: Hubert Davis (Temple), assistant Brad Frederick (La Salle assistant 2009-11), and Dunphy (37 years combined at Penn and Temple). Expect plenty of green-and-white Explorers gear mixed in with Carolina blue.

 

Students return from Thanksgiving break just in time—final exams ended Monday—and the lower level is expected to be packed. The Smith Center student section has sold out its allotment for the first time since the Duke game last February.

 

### Injury Report

North Carolina: Elliot Cadeau (hip) – probable

La Salle: No significant injuries reported

 

### Broadcast Info

TV/Streaming: ACC Network Extra (Evan Lepler, PxP; Corey Alexander, analyst)

Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network (Jones Angell, PxP; Eric Hoots, analyst)

SiriusXM: Channel 371 (La Salle broadcast)

 

### Betting Line (as of Tuesday evening)

North Carolina -17.5

Over/Under: 146.5

 

### Prediction

Carolina’s length and athleticism should eventually wear down a disciplined but undersized La Salle team. Expect a slow start—maybe even a halftime deficit if the Explorers hit some early threes—but the Tar Heels pull away in the second half behind transition buckets and second-chance points.

 

Final: North Carolina 82, La Salle 64

 

Tip-off is 7:00 p.m. Wednesday. For the Tar Heels, it’s the first of three tune-ups before ACC play begins December 14 at home against Georgia Tech. After a rusty exam break, Carolina basketball is finally back in the Smith Center.