North Carolina To Host Bucknell In The PK80

The defending national champions North Carolina will tip-off PK 80 Wednesday night at the Dean E Smith as they host Bucknell.

Carolina plays host to Patriot League pre-season favorite Bucknell in the Tar Heels' second game of the season on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m. at the Smith Center.
• The game will be streamed live by ACC Network Extra
• The Carolina-Bucknell game is part of PK80, a Nike-sponsored event to honor Phil Knight.
• Carolina plays three other PK80 games in Portland, Ore., Nov. 23-26.
• The Tar Heels are 1-0 this season after an 86-69 win over Northern Iowa on Nov. 10.
• Bucknell is 0-2. The Bison opened with a 79-78 loss at Monmouth and a 101-73 loss at Arkansas.
• Bucknell won the 2017 Patriot League regular-season and Tournament title and lost, 86-80, to West Virginia in the NCAA Tournament. The Bison are coached by Nathan Davis, return all five starters from a year ago and were a unanimous pick by the league's head coaches and SIDs to repeat as Patriot League champions.
• Carolina and Bucknell are playing for the first time.
• This is Carolina's first game against a Patriot League school since UNC beat Holy Cross on 11/15/2013. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/14/mens-basketball-tar-heels-host-bucknell-to-open-pk80-play.aspx


GAME ONE – CAROLINA 86, UNI 69
• Luke Maye  had a game-high 26 points and 10 rebounds to lead Carolina to an 86-69 win over Northern Iowa.
• For his efforts, Maye was named co-ACC Player of the Week.
• Carolina played without Final Four MOP Joel Berry II (broken hand) and  Cameron Johnson (sprained neck).
• Six of the 13 Tar Heels who played were freshmen making their collegiate debuts.
• The seven players who played who were on the roster a year ago scored a total of six points in the 2017 national championship game vs. Gonzaga (all by Theo Pinson ).
• The six freshmen combined to score 36 points, led by Garrison Brooks 14 and Sterling Manley  nine.
• Maye led all players with 26 points and 10 rebounds. His previous career high was 17 points against Kentucky in the 2017 Elite Eight. 
• Maye made a career-high 11 field goals (previous high was six three times – against Kentucky in the regional final, Butler in the Sweet 16 and at NC State, all last year).
• Maye attempted 16 field goals, five more than his previous high in a game.
• This was the first time in his career Maye led UNC in scoring.
• It was Maye's second career double-double – he had 16 and 12 against Butler in the 2017 Sweet 16.
• Freshman Garrison Brooks  had 14 points and six rebounds in his first college game and start. The 14 points are the most by a
freshman in the season's first game since Harrison Barnes had 14 against Lipscomb on 11/12/10.
• Kenny Williams scored 10 points and tied his career highs in both assists (five) and steals (three).  
• Both Maye and Williams scored in double figures for the seventh time in their careers.
• Pinson had five assists and zero turnovers. It was the third time in his career he had five assists and no errors.
• Seventh Woods  tied his career scoring high with nine points (also against Radford last year).
• UNC's seven turnovers were the fewest in a season opener under head coach Roy Williams (previous was nine against Temple in Annapolis to begin the 2015-16 season).
• The seven turnovers were the fewest in a season opener since 11/14/1997 when the Tar Heels committed seven against Middle Tennessee State in Bill Guthridge's  first game as UNC's head coach.
• Carolina started two freshmen ( Garrison Brooks  and Jalek Felton) for the first time since 2015 (Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson ). It was the fourth time in 15 seasons under Coach Williams that at least two freshmen started in the season opener (2006, 2007, 2015 and 2018).
• Carolina shot 50 percent from the floor (even though UNC missed its last five attempts). The Tar Heels are now 190-5 under Roy Williams  when shooting at least 50 percent from the floor.
• Carolina's largest lead was 31 points at 86-55 with 4:14 to play (UNI out-scored the Tar Heels, 14-0 over the final 3:34).
• The win was Roy Williams ' 399th as Carolina's head coach (399-115) and his 199th win at the Smith Center (now 106-4 against non-conference teams in the Smith Center). "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/14/mens-basketball-tar-heels-host-bucknell-to-open-pk80-play.aspx


SEASON OPENERS
• With the 86-69 win over Northern Iowa, Carolina is 96-12 in season openers and has won 83 of the last 88 opening games.
• Roy Williams  is 14-1 in season openers as Carolina's head coach. His teams (KU and UNC) are a combined 27-3 in season openers. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/14/mens-basketball-tar-heels-host-bucknell-to-open-pk80-play.aspx


BERRY OUT WITH AN INJURY
• Senior point guard Joel Berry  broke a bone in his right hand in mid-October and did not play against UNI. 
• Berry was the Most Outstanding Player at the 2017 Final Four and the Most Valuable Player at the 2016 ACC Tournament.
• Berry is a preseason first-team All-America by ESPN.com, second-team All-America by USA Today and Sporting News' third team selection.
• Berry is on the preseason watch list for the Oscar Robertson Award (USBWA Player of the Year), the Naismith Award (Player of the Year) and the Bob Cousy Award (best point guard). 
• The Apopka, Fla., native also was a preseason first-team All-ACC selection and received the second-most votes for preseason player of the year (tied with Duke's Grayson Allen behind Notre Dame's Bonzie Colson).
• Berry has 1,196 points, 335 assists, 123 steals and 173 three-point field goals in 108 career games.
• He is the only Tar Heel in history to earn All-Final Four honors twice (2016 and 2017).
• He became the seventh player overall and the first since UCLA's Bill Walton in 1972-73 to score at least 20 points in consecutive national championship games.
• He missed eight games as a freshman (seven with a groin strain and one due to illness) and two as a junior (sprained ankle). "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/14/mens-basketball-tar-heels-host-bucknell-to-open-pk80-play.aspx


JOHNSON ALSO MISSED OPENER
• Cameron Johnson  did not play against Northern Iowa after spraining his neck in practice on 11/7. He did not practice the two days before the game against UNI and was ruled out after going through warmups before the game.
• Johnson averaged 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game last year as a Pitt Panther. He shot 44.7 percent from three-point range.
• Johnson matched his career high with 24 points against the Tar Heels in the Smith Center on 1/31/17. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/14/mens-basketball-tar-heels-host-bucknell-to-open-pk80-play.aspx

As for North Carolina's last game, they beat Northern Iowa.

Luke Maye knocked down outside jumpers, hit the glass and scored inside — even throwing in a nifty spin move on a post bucket — for the best scoring performance of his career.Ninth-ranked North Carolina needs this version of Maye, too. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-down-uni-86-69-to-open-2017-18.aspx?path=mbball

The 6-foot-8 junior had 26 points and 10 rebounds to help the Tar Heels beat Northern Iowa 86-69 in Friday night's season opener, a fast start for a one-time reserve now thrust into a leading role for the reigning national champions. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-down-uni-86-69-to-open-2017-18.aspx?path=mbball

"Whether I score 26 or whether I score two, it's not going to make a difference to me," Maye said. "I just want to go out there and play my best and help my team do the best we can." "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-down-uni-86-69-to-open-2017-18.aspx?path=mbball

Big men Kennedy Meeks, Isaiah Hicks and Tony Bradley Jr. are gone from last year's title winner, leaving behind Maye and an inexperienced crop of big men. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-down-uni-86-69-to-open-2017-18.aspx?path=mbball

Maye has already proven he can handle the biggest of moments, with his last-second jumper to beat Kentucky in the NCAA Elite Eight standing as the biggest moment of last year's tournament. Now he needs to prove he can do it more consistently in a minutes-rich and every-night role."according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-down-uni-86-69-to-open-2017-18.aspx?path=mbball

"When Luke was torching us in every practice ... I knew at some point he was going to explode," senior Theo Pinson  said. "And I told people before this season started: 'Luke Maye  is going to shock everybody.'" "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-down-uni-86-69-to-open-2017-18.aspx?path=mbball

Maye made 11 of 16 shots, including two 3-pointers, in 28 minutes."according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-down-uni-86-69-to-open-2017-18.aspx?path=mbball

"He's quick to shoot it and he's got no fear," Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson said, adding: "Tonight we had a couple where we didn't give him much space ... and he made 3s." "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-down-uni-86-69-to-open-2017-18.aspx?path=mbball

Freshman Garrison Brooks  added 14 points for the Tar Heels, who didn't have Final Four Most Outstanding Player Joel Berry  and Pittsburgh graduate transfer Cameron Johnson  due to injuries."according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-down-uni-86-69-to-open-2017-18.aspx?path=mbball

Regardless, the Tar Heels shot 50 percent and blew open a 14-point halftime lead to as many as 31 points late."according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-down-uni-86-69-to-open-2017-18.aspx?path=mbball

Spencer Haldeman had 15 points to lead Northern Iowa, which had upset the top-ranked Tar Heels at home in November 2015. But thhttp://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-down-uni-86-69-to-open-2017-18.aspx?path=mbballe Panthers never came close to duplicating that magic."according to

Haldeman had 15 points to lead Northern Iowa, which had upset the top-ranked Tar Heels at home in November 2015. But the Panthers never came close to duplicating that magic."according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-down-uni-86-69-to-open-2017-18.aspx?path=mbball


BIG PICTURE
Northern Iowa: The Panthers are picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference, but this game just got away from them. Northern Iowa relied on the 3-point shot and made 13 of 28, though it got nothing inside the arc and only got to the foul line nine times. "according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-down-uni-86-69-to-open-2017-18.aspx?path=mbball

UNC: The Tar Heels were down two likely starters for this one, so it was an encouraging start to earn a drama-free win with Maye shining in his first game in a leading role after his time as a reserve. Most notably, freshman Jalek Felton  started at the point with Berry out, while Seventh Woods  (nine points) had some good moments. Brooks also started alongside Maye up front as the Tar Heels look for reliable production on the interior from one of their young big men."according to http://www.goheels.com/news/2017/11/10/mens-basketball-tar-heels-down-uni-86-69-to-open-2017-18.aspx?path=mbball

As for Bucknell's last game, Unlike North Carolina who won their last contest Bucknell lost to Arkansas..

Jaylen Barford scored 21 of his 27 points in the first half, and backcourt-mate Daryl Macon added 21 to lead Arkansas to a 101-73 victory over Bucknell on Sunday evening at Bud Walton Arena. Zach Thomas recorded his second straight double-double to start the season with 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Bison. "according to http://www.bucknellbison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=810391&SPID=137628&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=32100&ATCLID=211685148

Nana Foulland added 17 points, and Stephen Brown  had 13 points and nine assists for Bucknell, which has now dropped back-to-back games for the first time since the end of the 2015-16 season. After a one-point loss at Monmouth on Friday, the Bison had a tough test against a veteran Southeastern Conference team that starts four seniors and was coming off a 39-point rout of Samford in its opener. "according to http://www.bucknellbison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=810391&SPID=137628&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=32100&ATCLID=211685148

“We knew coming in that Arkansas was a very good team, and they proved it tonight,” said head coach Nathan Davis  “They are very unselfish and move the ball really well. I thought at times we executed very well tonight, but they just hit one tough shot after another. Games like this show you the things you have to improve, and we will get back to work and take it one day at a time.” "according to http://www.bucknellbison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=810391&SPID=137628&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=32100&ATCLID=211685148

Arkansas shot 53.5 percent on the night, including 55.6 percent in a 56-point first half. The Bison shot 53.8 percent in the opening half 44.8 percent for the game. "according to http://www.bucknellbison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=810391&SPID=137628&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=32100&ATCLID=211685148

Kimbal Mackenzie  hit a 3-pointer on the game’s first possession, and there would be five lead changes over the next three minutes before Arkansas started to take control with a 17-3 run. C.J. Jones hit a jumper that made it 24-11, but the Bison got back in it with a 10-4 run over the next four minutes. "according to http://www.bucknellbison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=810391&SPID=137628&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=32100&ATCLID=211685148

Thomas and Nate Jones  sparked the run with 3-pointers, both on kick-out passes from Brown. A Thomas free throw with 7:20 left in the half brought Bucknell within 28-22. But the Razorbacks would score 28 more points over the final 7:12 of the half. "according to http://www.bucknellbison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=810391&SPID=137628&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=32100&ATCLID=211685148

Barford was the catalyst. He hit a step-back jumper from the baseline and then back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 40-24. A couple of put-backs and two transition layups stretched the lead up over 20 points for the first time, and Macon somehow got a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to drop with Brown draped all over him, giving the Razorbacks a 56-34 edge at the break. "according tohttp://www.bucknellbison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=810391&SPID=137628&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=32100&ATCLID=211685148

Both teams came out hot in the second half. Bucknell started 7-for-9 from the field, including 3-for-4 from long range, but the Bison could not get enough stops to make a run. Arkansas hit nine of its first 12 to start the half, including a number of tough shots in the lane. "according to http://www.bucknellbison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=810391&SPID=137628&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=32100&ATCLID=211685148

Bucknell got as close as 18 on a couple of occasions and it was a 21-point game with three minutes to go, before Arkansas finished on a 9-2 run with the reserves in the game. "according tohttp://www.bucknellbison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=810391&SPID=137628&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=32100&ATCLID=211685148

Arkansas drew even at 1-1 in the all-time series. Bucknell defeated the Razorbacks 59-55 in the first round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament. "according to http://www.bucknellbison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=810391&SPID=137628&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=32100&ATCLID=211685148

Thomas’ performance was a nice follow-up to his 31-point, 16-rebound performance against Monmouth on Friday. He now has 55 points and 26 rebounds in two games. Thomas was 7-for-13 from the field and 5-for-7 from 3-point range, and he also had three assists and a blocked shot in the game."according to http://www.bucknellbison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=810391&SPID=137628&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=32100&ATCLID=211685148

Avi Toomer added eight points and Jimmy Sotos had five for the Bison. "according to http://www.bucknellbison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=810391&SPID=137628&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=32100&ATCLID=211685148

Tip-off is set for 8:00pm. The game will be televised on ACC Network Extra. "according to http://www.bucknellbison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=810391&SPID=137628&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=32100&ATCLID=211685148