In a disappointing display of defense, the North Carolina Tar Heels fell to the Alabama Crimson Tide with a score of 104-74 in a game at the Dean Smith Center. This outcome marks a troubling 4-4 record for the Tar Heels as they continue to struggle with their defensive metrics. North Carolina coach Hubert Davis acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, “We’re not defending the way we need to be,” following an exhausting game where the Tar Heels allowed Alabama to shoot 58% from the floor. Alabama displayed an impressive offense, even hitting 19 three-pointers. Jaden Shackelford and Jahvon Quinerly led the way for the Crimson Tide, scoring 21 and 20 points respectively. Meanwhile, North Carolina’s Caleb Love finished as the game’s top scorer for the Tar Heels, contributing 24 points. This loss was particularly damaging given North Carolina’s expectations for the season, prompting further questions about their defensive strategies. The team will need to regroup quickly to overcome these struggles as they head into their next match.
