Welter: Michael Jordan and the UNC greats bring out best in Tar Heels, worst in NC State

By Pat Welter

"Today was a good day for Carolina basketball," Hubert Davis said after a 100-80 victory over NC State.

A blow out win against a rival in front of the who's who of UNC sports, I'll go ahead and say it was a great day for Carolina basketball.

"For us to come this week and play three unbelievable teams in Virgina Tech, Boston College and NC state and for us to play the way that we did is just an example of perseverance, an example of fight, and I'm just really proud of them," Davis said.

Okay let's not get carried away. Virginia Tech, BC and NC State are all in the bottom third of the conference standings. UNC was coming off back to back 20 point plus ACC losses for the first time since the 2001 season. Had they not responded at home versus Virginia Tech and BC there would have been serious questions about Davis' standing as the UNC coach. Had he lost to NC State in front of virtually every significant alum of the last 40 years....well it didn't happen so we don't need to get into that.

"To have Michael [Jordan] here and Buzz Peterson and Matt Doherty, the 82 team," Davis said. "For our guys to be able to see them and see the bond that they have had for so many years because they have shared experiences of playing together and being a team I think it really encouraged them and gave them a great visual of what it's like to be a team and what it means to be successful here at North Carolina."

Michael Jordan was sitting courtside. Roy Williams was honored at half time. The 1982 National Championship team was recognized for their 40th anniversary. These players have heard stories from Davis and Williams before, but to see the programs history in person has a whole other effect.

"When I knocked down my first three I looked right at him," Caleb Love said about seeing Michael Jordan for the first time in person. "It wasn't intentional, but I looked at him and we kind of made eye contact. It's just crazy to see him there. He's the greatest to ever play this game... to see him sitting on the sideline and watching us play and us playing good is inspirational."

Love and the rest of the team wear Jordan's shoes and his logo on their jersey, Saturday they played like him too. Carolina scored a season high 100 points. They hit a season high 15 three pointers. Their 54.8% shooting percentage was their best since beating Georgia Tech.

"We ran into a red hot Carolina team on the road," NC State head coach Kevin Keatts said. "It's tough they haven't shot the ball that well the entire year, they were incredible behind the three point line."

As good of a day as it was for UNC, it was equally bad for NC State who can't seem to catch a break this season. They lost their all-defensive big man, Manny Bates, one minute into the season. Providence transfer Greg Gantt hasn't been able to play yet due to injury. Ernest Ross was ruled out for the year January 20th. NC State has no depth, especially in the front court.  The Wolfpack are 3-8 in the ACC and things might get worse before they get better.

"We are good enough offensively to be able to play against anybody in the country because of our guard play," Keatts said. "But at the end of the day you have to be able to get stops, especially on the road."

Last Sunday the heat was being turned up on Davis. This week it's only natural for the angry twitter mob and media to shift its focus to Keatts. Personally I've been impressed with NC State's fight this season regardless of their record. I was not impressed Saturday afternoon. Dereon Seabron scored a season low 2 points in a season low 23 minutes. He's a huge reason why NC State has been competitive this year. Without him they were doomed.

"I just didn't think he was playing well, he's no different than any other player on our team," Keatts said about Seabron's performance. "When you're not playing well and not playing good basketball somebody else gets the opportunity."

The narrative with Keatts is he's never had a fair shot due to looming NCAA sanctions tied to the recruitment of Dennis Smith Jr. by previous NC State head coach Mark Gottfried and his staff. The NCAA's Independent Accountability Resolution Process finally made it's ruling earlier this season. NC State was fined and will lose a scholarship for the 2022-23 season but did not receive a postseason ban.

So by the transitive property of spin, Keatts year six will really be his year one. Recruiting should now be easier for Keatts. He's hit on true freshman Terquavion Smith, he can attack the transfer portal market, and if Seabron returns NC State could make the NCAA Tournament next year for the first time since Keatts first year.

We are seeing how a few key transfers are impacting Wake Forest and Miami. Of course we also just saw NC State trail by 35 to their rival. Performances like that can be more detrimental than anything handed down by the NCAA. The Wolfpack won the national championship in 1983, maybe Keatts can get them to move up the anniversary celebration.