R.J. Davis, No. 9 UNC begin national title quest vs. Elon

The post-Armando Bacot era will begin for North Carolina when it plays host to Elon on Monday night in both teams' 2024-25 season opener.

The Tar Heels may have lost the top rebounder and No. 2 scorer in school history to graduation, but they've got plenty of talent on this season's roster, headlined by first-team All-American R.J. Davis and backcourt mate Elliott Cadeau.

Davis, a fifth-year senior, averaged 21.2 points last season. Cadeau, arguably the Heels' best passing point guard since Kendall Marshall more than a decade ago, was as advertised as a freshman. He worked on improving his shooting this offseason.

"It's just confidence and I feel like I have that now coming into the season," Cadeau said of his shooting.

In addition to losing Bacot, the Heels lost their third- and fourth-leading scorers, Harrison Ingram and Cormac Ryan. The duo combined for 23.7 points per game last season. As important, they provided leadership and were the team's heart and soul.

Big man Jalen Washington (6-foot-10) will be tasked with filling the void left by Bacot, who averaged a double-double. Vanderbilt transfer Ven-Allen Lubin was brought in to fortify the frontcourt. The Heels hope swingman Cade Tyson will be a reliable shooter.

Guard Seth Trimble is expected to have a breakout junior season after being a key bench player the past two years.

Incoming freshmen Drake Powell and Ian Jackson could have an immediate impact for the Heels, who have their sights set on returning to the Final Four after losing to Alabama in the Sweet Sixteen as a No. 1 seed last season. The ACC regular-season champs finished with a 29-8 record.

"Something that I really like about this team is that we could go big, we could go small," coach Hubert Davis said. "I feel really good about that, as long as we can rebound. That's the key."

Entering his fourth season at the helm in Chapel Hill, the former Tar Heel player has emphasized playing fast.

"I've been straightforward and direct that I want to be the fastest team in the country from free throw line to free throw line," Davis said.

UNC has won all four of its matchups against in-state opponent Elon. The teams last met Dec. 11, 2021, and the Heels prevailed 80-63.

Elon coach Billy Taylor said playing the Heels is "an honor for our program."

The Phoenix had a 13-19 record in 2023-24, including 3-12 on the road, where they will play seven of their first eight games this season.

They aren't expected to fare much better than last year. They were picked in the preseason to finish 12th in the 14-team Coastal Athletic Association.

Junior guard TK Simpkins, the team's leading scorer (13.8 ppg) last season and one of its top rebounders (4.7), is back and was named Preseason All-CAA Second Team. So is 6-foot-11 forward Sam Sherry, who averaged 9.5 points and 4.7 rebounds as a junior.

The Phoenix lost two of their other top players, guards Max Mackinnon and Rob Higgins. Mackinnon transferred to Portland and Higgins used up his eligibility.

The hope is that freshman point guard Trey O'Neil, a signee from IMG Academy (Fla.), and four transfers -- center Matthew Van Komen, and guards Andrew King, Jameel Rideout and TJ Simpkins, TK's twin brother -- can contribute immediately.

--Field Level Media