WASHINGTON, D.C. – UNC basketball didn’t waste any time flexing its muscles as the top seed in the 2024 ACC Tournament.
The fourth-ranked Tar Heels set the tone in Thursday’s quarterfinals with an impressive first half, cruising to a 92-67 win against Florida State at Capital One Arena.
Elliot Cadeau was diving on the floor and dishing out assists, Armando Bacot and Harrison Ingram were snatching rebounds, and RJ Davis teamed up with Cormac Ryan to knock down a few shots from the perimeter.
Davis, the ACC Player of the Year, scored 18 points to lead an all-around effort for UNC (26-6), which will face Wake Forest or Pitt at 7 p.m. in Friday’s first semifinal game.
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Here’s what stood out in the Tar Heels’ debut in D.C. against FSU (17-16).
UNC basketball stayed in attack mode
The Tar Heels didn’t get jumpshot happy against the aggressive Seminoles, scoring 62 of their 92 points in the paint or at the free-throw line. Defensively, UNC lived up to its defensive reputation with 21 points off 10 FSU turnovers and scored a season-high 24 fast-break points. It’s a formula that helped the Tar Heels win the ACC regular-season title, and one that could lead to a championship in the nation’s capital.
Armando Bacot’s aggression for Tar Heels
In his final ACC Tournament, Armando Bacot came out with an enhanced aggression in an effort that led to 12 points and seven rebounds in the first half. On one possession, UNC snagged four offensive rebounds in a row before Bacot finished the possession with a layup. Bacot finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds against a Florida State team that ranks first in average height.
UNC to face Wake Forest or Pitt next
The Tar Heels faced Wake Forest and Pitt in the regular season, winning both games. UNC won 70-57 at Pitt on Jan. 2 in its first road game of the season and beat Wake Forest 85-64 on Jan. 22 at the Smith Center. Both of those opponents are considered bubble teams as it relates to the NCAA Tournament.
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached atrbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.
First appeared on www.fayobserver.com