UNC vs Portland: Three things learned

UNC continued their strong start to the season with a victory over the Portland Pilots. The University of Portland was no pushover, but the Tar Heels had their best offensive performance yet. What did we learn about the Heels in the fourth game of the season

When this team shoots this well from deep, they’ll be hard to beat. Granted, Portland did shoot better from deep than UNC did (41.7 to 46.4), but North Carolina has now turned in back-to-back games shooting at least 40% from deep. Six different players made a three, and that even includes Luke Maye going 0 for 3 behind the arc. The pride of last year’s championship team was their defense, but if offense becomes a strength, too? Well, hold that thought.

Andrew Platek is providing some amazing depth off the bench. He hit both of his three-point attempts, went four-for-five overall, and hit a pair of free throws. 12 points is far and away his best offensive output of the season, and much like the team itself, he was already contributing quality minutes as a key defender on the perimeter. The ceiling seems sky-high in terms of how well he can fit that role off the bench. With Berry and Williams, you definitely won’t see Platek starting unless there is an injury, but he seems perfect in the role he’s in right now.

The Heels are in the Thanksgiving spirit. The Heels passed the three-digit mark for the first time all season, thereby ensuring that Tar Heel fans everywhere will see biscuits raining from the sky. How appropriate! Prolific scoring was part of the title run last year as well—UNC hit a century six times, and went 5-1 in those games with the only loss being against Kentucky in overtime. We’ll see if the Heels keep this same pace against tougher competition.