Tennessee Volunteers

North Carolina doesn't want to win ugly again (Dec 11, 2016)

Published Dec. 10, 2016 3:34 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

AP

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Moments of frustration seemed to be a sticking point with North Carolina since its last game, albeit a nine-point victory.

So the No. 7 Tar Heels have vowed to produce an upgrade against Tennessee on Sunday at the Smith Center.

"We definitely have to go back to the drawing board," forward Kennedy Meeks said. "We have to learn from it. We can't have too many bad film sessions throughout the year because that means we're not playing that great.

" ... That's the way the game goes sometimes. You have to just live with it and move on."

Tennessee (4-3) is playing its best so far with a three-game winning streak.

"We have to go in and know that Carolina is going to be on edge and we have to be ready to play right from the tip," Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said.

North Carolina (9-1) defeated Davidson, 83-74, but the margin was three points late in the game. The outcome seemed to stir regret from the Tar Heels by the way they performed.

"We've got to figure out some things," swingman Justin Jackson said.

The Tar Heels might have to do it again without junior point guard Joel Berry, who missed the Davidson game after suffering a sprained ankle last Sunday against Radford.

Berry's status is questionable for the Tennessee game.

That put Nate Britt, who had been a part-time starter on the wing, at starting point guard, although Seventh Woods and Stilman White were also used.

White scored on six free throws for a career high mark, logging 15 minutes for the senior's third-most court time in his career. His only longer playing time came in two NCAA Tournament games as a freshman in March 2012 when he was pressed into duty after Kendall Marshall was injured.

White took a two-year Mormon mission before returning to the Tar Heels.

"I told Stilman the other day he has done some nice things for us in practice," Tar Heels coach Roy Williams said. "He really has done a great job of running the scout team. I think he gave us a big lift."

Jackson's seven 3-pointers in the Davidson game picked up some of the perimeter scoring. Jackson has 22 baskets from 3-point range this season, while last season he didn't make is 22nd 3-pointer until the 28th game.

However, Barnes is concerned about what the Tar Heels might be able to do closer to the basket.

"We certainly don't have the size they have," Barnes said. "We've talked a lot about rebounding. ... You just have to be impressed that they play a very high-efficiency type of basketball."

Tennessee is coming off an encouraging game when it tied a school record with 16 made 3-point baskets against Presbyterian.

The Volunteers, who are facing a Top 10 opponent in a non-conference game for the first time since 2011, will be playing in their first true road game of the season.

"We have to go in there and stick to the scouting report," Tennessee guard Shembari Phillips said. "Teams like that, it's a real test."

North Carolina leads the series 8-1, although this will be the first meeting in Chapel Hill since 1948 in Woollen Gym. So the Volunteers have never played at the Smith Center.

"It's a cool experience, but it's also a great opportunity," Tennessee forward Lew Evans said.

Barnes, a North Carolina native, is considered a villain of sorts in Chapel Hill. While the Clemson coach, he had a well-publicized feud with then-Tar Heels coach Dean Smith in the mid-1990s.

However, Barnes said Smith is one of the coaches he studied and admired as he entered the coaching profession. He said the chance to bring his team to the Smith Center is a good situation.

"I have nothing but great respect for (North Carolina's) program," he said.

share

Get more from Tennessee Volunteers Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Tennessee Volunteers

North Carolina Tar Heels