UNC vs Tennessee - Player of the Game: Kenny Williams

Figuring out who to give Player of the Game honors to for yesterday’s UNC win at Tennessee was difficult. Many times, the answer would be whoever scored the most points. That would be Joel Berry II in this case, and he’d likely be a fine choice. Another choice could easily be Theo Pinson, who filled the stat sheet with nine rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and some absolutely crucial free throws. He’d be very deserving.

This time, the honor goes to Kenny Williams for his three-point shot that let everyone in Carolina blue exhale a little bit. No, the game wasn’t immediately over, but Kenny sinking that shot certainly felt like the dagger for the pesky Volunteers. Those kind of onions deserve Player of the Game honors.

Williams has been on fire from behind the arc this season. His huge three in the win over Tennessee was just the second one he’d made all day, but boy did he make it count. It was part of a 15-point effort from Kenny, good enough for a tie with Luke Maye for second-most points on the team.

Seeing how Williams has blossomed this year has been an amazing treat to watch. He went from the guy too timid to take a three to the guy who stepped right up and shot down the hopes of a Tennessee upset with the utmost confidence. That shot has made him one of the most valuable players on the floor for the Tar Heels so far this season, and it helped them pull out a huge win in a tough environment against a quality opponent.