Cameron Johnson's Late Night Shooting Ritual

Cameron Johnson's shooting success in the Smith Center is partly a result of a late night tradition before home games. Johnson says that when they play in Chapel Hill, he comes into the gym the night before the game and gets shots up. UNC played Gonzaga on a Saturday night, so part of Johnson's Friday night was spent inside an empty and cavernous Smith Center. (Inside Carolina)

Shots aren’t falling consistently, but Kenny Williams’ aggressiveness is making a difference

Kenny Williams’ only 3-pointer against Gonzaga came after he slipped a screen and then hit a shot from long range. In many ways, he’s taken on one of Theo Pinson’s offensive responsibilities for North Carolina: Distributing the ball to make things happen by creating opportunities inside. It all goes back to Williams’ conversation with Roy Williams last spring. (Triangle Sports Network)

UNC's Chip Ness Named ACC Wrestler of the Week

The ACC has recognized North Carolina’s Chip Ness and NC State’s Nick Reenan as the ACC Co-Wrestlers of the Week for December 18 after a strong showing by each in matchups of elite wrestlers in the 184-pound weight class. Ness, entering the match ranked 13th nationally among 184-pounders, posted a 6-4 win over third-ranked Taylor Venz of Nebraska on Saturday. (The ACC)

With Coby White running the show, UNC’s uptempo attack remains efficient

In two big early-season tests, the Tar Heels fell short: Texas scored with ease, and Michigan lit up North Carolina on both ends of the floor. The win in Chapel Hill over Gonzaga was different, though. UNC has three more games before ACC play begins. Before that, though, let’s look at UNC’s offensive profile, and the outstanding play of Coby White and Cameron Johnson. (ACC Sports Journal)

Roy Williams Live: Discussing Lineups

There is one rotation suggestion Roy Williams is not very fond of utilizing: Coby White and Seventh Woods on the floor together. “We have done it, but we're not going to do it a lot,” the Hall of Fame coach said on his radio show Monday. “I mean, come on. You're going to take out a guy who's made six threes in Cam Johnson? Or you're going to take out Kenny Williams?" (Inside Carolina)

Tar Heels Debut at No. 8 in Collegiate Baseball Poll

North Carolina will open the 2019 college baseball season ranked No. 8 nationally by Collegiate Baseball, the website announced in its preseason poll Tuesday. Carolina is one of eight teams in the ACC ranked in the top 40 and are joined by No. 9 Louisville, No. 10 Florida State, No. 15 Clemson, No. 17 Georgia Tech, No. 20 Duke, No. 22 NC State and No. 33 Miami. (GoHeels.com)

Tyler Hansbrough putting up big numbers in China

Former UNC National Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough is putting up big numbers in the Chinese Basketball Association. In 20 games with the Golden Bulls this season, Hansbrough is averaging a double-double. His 21.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game both lead the team. Even more impressive are the numbers that Hansbrough has put up over the past week. (Keeping It Heel)

UNC Women's Lacrosse Will Start 2019 At No. 3 In Inside Lacrosse Poll

The University of North Carolina will begin the 2019 women's lacrosse season ranked No. 3 in the nation in the Inside Lacrosse poll, the magazine announced this week in its Face-Off Yearbook. The Tar Heels won their third consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference championship and advanced to the NCAA semifinals for the seventh time in 10 years last season. (GoHeels.com)

Carolina Insider Podcast: Gonzaga Recap, Dean Smith Papers, Football Staff Taking Shape

Break down North Carolina's big basketball win over Gonzaga, take a look at how Mack Brown's football coaching staff is taking shape and peruse the Dean Smith Papers in Wilson Library in Tuesday's episode of the Carolina Insider podcast. Carolina Insider is a twice-weekly production hosted by Jones Angell and Adam Lucas. (GoHeels.com)

Can Kentucky regain its blue-blood rivalry mojo?

North Carolina vs. Kentucky -- All-time series: North Carolina leads 24-15. NCAA Tournament games: UNC leads 3-1. In the John Calipari era: Kentucky leads 5-3 since the 2009-10 season. The current trend: UK has won four of the past six. Scoping the rivalry: In his iconic coaching career, North Carolina’s Dean Smith dominated Kentucky, going 13-3 vs. the Wildcats. (Lexington Herald-Leader)

This Is 40: How Dirk Nowitzki and Vince Carter Prepare for NBA Games

Vince Carter joined the Hawks this season for myriad reasons. Atlanta houses Turner Sports and NBA TV’s Studio J, bringing perhaps the greatest in-game dunker ever down the street from basketball media’s grandest stage—on which he will assuredly thrive in retirement. Carter and Hawks vice chairman Grant Hill are also Orlando neighbors, golfing daily during summers. (Sports Illustrated)

Spreading Smiles at Raymond Felton Holiday Festival

After sending home 200 local families in need with a turkey dinner last month, Raymond Felton, the 14-year NBA veteran teamed up with Big Brothers Big Sisters on Sunday to host the Raymond Felton Holiday Festival. In tribute to his parents and coaches who served as mentors for Felton growing up, his work with BBBS continued to be a labor of love. (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Ty Lawson Signs With Chinese Team

Ty Lawson agreed to a contract Saturday with Shandong of the Chinese Basketball Association. Lawson will assume the roster spot of Andrew Goudelock, who is out for the season with a knee injury. The point guard played for Shandong last season and averaged 25.5 points, 6.5 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game before latching on with the Washington Wizards. (CBS Sports)

UNC Football Players Graduate

Several North Carolina football players graduated from UNC during the December commencement ceremony. Graduates included safety J.K. Britt, wide receiver Thomas Jackson, kicker Freeman Jones, defensive end Malik Carney, offensive tackle William Sweet, defensive tackle Aaron Crawford, defensive tackle Jalen Dalton, and wide receiver Anthony Ratliff-Williams. (Inside Carolina)

225 years of Tar Heels: Molly Barker

You have likely heard of Girls on the Run. And, you may know that the first Girls on the Run group is based in Charlotte. But, did you know a North Carolina alumna who has competed in the Hawaii Ironman four times founded the organization? Molly Barker graduated from Carolina in 1982 with a degree in chemistry. She earned a master’s in social work in 1989. (UNC.edu)

UNC's Coby White continues development into key player in win over Gonzaga

"He gets the ball — and you guys can see it — Coby’s out," junior guard Kenny Williams said. "He's not waiting for anybody...every time he gets the ball." Saturday's game wasn't the Tar Heels' first taste of that aggressive play. Against Texas in Las Vegas, Coby White scored 33 points while turning it over just twice. UNC lost the game, but White’s performance didn’t go unnoticed. (Sporting News)

Gonzaga takes a close-up look at North Carolina’s historic facilities at the ‘Dean Dome’

Mike Roth isn’t a big fan of traveling, but he is a fan of college basketball history. And learning. So Gonzaga’s athletic director and several members of his staff made the trip here to take a closer look at North Carolina’s facilities and game-day operations. “This is one of the storied places in college basketball. Let’s learn from them,” Roth said prior to tip-off at the Smith Center. (Spokane Spokesman-Review)

Mitch Trubisky’s Christmas sweater a big hit

Mitch Trubisky killed it with his pre and postgame attire on Sunday. Trubisky wore a Chicago Bears Christmas sweater to Sunday’s home game against the Green Bay Packers. The best part about the sweater is it has an option where you can light it up. Trubisky asked the media after the game whether they wanted to see it lit up, and he obliged when they said they did. (Larry Brown Sports)

Cameron Johnson Named ACC Basketball Player of the Week

North Carolina’s Cameron Johnson has been named the ACC Basketball Player of the Week. Johnson scored a season-high 25 points to lead all scorers in UNC’s 103-90 win over Gonzaga. Johnson tied his career high with six 3-pointers (it marked the fifth time he has connected of six shots from 3-point range). It was his third 20-point game of the year and 12th of his career. (The ACC)

UNC Rises to No. 9 in Latest AP Men’s Basketball Top 25

Coming off a win Saturday over then-No. 4 Gonzaga, North Carolina moved up three spots to No. 9 in the AP Men’s Basketball Top 25 this week. The Tar Heels are 8-2 this season, but had lost two of the previous four games heading into the matchup with Gonzaga. Kansas remained No. 1 this week, followed by No. 2 Duke, No. 3 Tennessee, No. 4 Michigan and No. 5 Virginia. (Chapelboro.com)

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