No. 18 UNC eager to keep defensive focus in meeting vs. Navy

No. 18 North Carolina will seek another stress-free outcome when it plays Navy on Tuesday night in Chapel Hill, N.C.There’s plenty to gain from these types of games, something the Tar Heels appreciate as they face teams with various styles.”It’s good to see different kinds of defense,” North Carolina guard Luka Bogavac said. “When the big games come around, we should be ready for all kinds of defense. So seeing different looks now can be very useful.”The Tar Heels (4-0), who are coming off a 97-53 victory over North Carolina Central on Friday, have scored at least 87 points in every game this season. In part, that’s a product of the team’s ability to push the pace.”Coach (Hubert) Davis always wants to pitch the ball ahead,” freshman guard Derek Dixon said. “Carolina has always played fast, and that’s what we’re trying to do. He’s always getting on us to pitch ahead and that the guy ahead of you is the best option.”Caleb Wilson has back-to-back double-doubles, becoming the first North Carolina freshman to do that since Day’Ron Sharpe in the 2020-21 season.For North Carolina, which has an average margin of victory of 28 points this season, players said they’ve sensed upgrades defensively since the beginning of the season. They don’t want any drop-off in that area because they expect to see more well-versed opponents.”It will only get better,” Wilson said of the defense. “And just got to be more physical and limit teams to tough shots, for sure.”Navy (2-2), meanwhile, is fresh off a 97-64 victory against Washington (Md.) College on Friday.The Midshipmen have been emphasizing defense as well. Against an overmatched opponent, Navy held Washington without a basket for 12 consecutive possessions during one juncture.”We changed our defensive coverage on ball screens and really started to pressure the ball,” Navy coach Jon Perry said.Senior center Aidan Kehoe matched a career-high total with 20 points vs. the Shoremen, though he’ll receive a great deal more resistance in the lane against a larger North Carolina frontcourt.

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