Ahead of UNC basketball vs. Alabama in ACC/SEC Challenge, how can Hubert Davis fix the Tar Heels?

The time has come for UNC basketball coach Hubert Davis to tweak, alter, pivot and change some things to help the Tar Heels become the best version of themselves in the 2024-25 season.

Following back-to-back losses to conclude the Maui Invitational, an event in which UNC had previously lost only three games in its history, the 12th-ranked Tar Heels are in danger of falling out of the top 25 rankings ahead of their ACC/SEC Challenge matchup with No. 9 Alabama (6-1) on Tuesday (7:15 p.m., ESPN) at the Smith Center.

Things won’t get easier after facing the Crimson Tide. The Tar Heels open ACC play against Georgia Tech on Dec. 7, with neutral-site games against Florida and UCLA on deck before Christmas.

Here’s what we’ve learned so far about UNC in the 2024-25 season.

UNC basketball’s defense, rebounding must improve for Hubert Davis

At this point last season, the Tar Heels (4-3) were struggling to find success with stringing together stops and beating teams on the boards. UNC eventually got right in those areas to win the ACC and earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Heels need a similar shift this season, currently sitting at No. 61 in defensive efficiency (per KenPom.com), along with 286th in offensive rebounding percentage and 118th in defensive rebounding percentage.

If the defensive efficiency stat holds, it would be UNC’s worst finish in that category since 2020. If the offensive rebounding percentage holds, it would be UNC’s worst finish in the KenPom era (going back to 1997). If the defensive rebounding percentage holds, it would be UNC’s worst finish in that category since 2016. Not great.

Should Drake Powell be starting for UNC?

Rim protection has been a talking point, but UNC has only been top 100 in block percentage once in the last six seasons. The Tar Heels have to be better at the point of attack, providing better resistance on the perimeter to prevent paint touches. In two of its seven games so far, UNC allowed 50 points in the paint. That only happened once last season.

Tar Heels struggles: RJ Davis shooting, Elliot Cadeau fouls

Elliot Cadeau and RJ Davis, two of UNC’s top three players, haven’t been at their best in the Tar Heels’ three games vs. high-major opponents. Davis averaged 14.6 points on 14-for-44 shooting (31.8%), including 4-for-17 from 3-point range (23.5%), against Kansas, Auburn and Michigan State. He did have 12 assists vs. three turnovers in those games, but the Tar Heels need Davis at his best as a scorer against big-time opponents.

Cadeau averaged 13 points on 13-for-36 shooting (36.1%), with 16 assists and six turnovers against the Jayhawks, Tigers and Spartans. Fouls were the consistent issue in those matchups as Cadeau racked up 12, including five against Michigan State. The Tar Heels can’t afford to have one of their best playmakers on the bench for long stretches.

Tar Heels need more from Jalen Washington, Jae’Lyn Withers, Ven-Allen Lubin

It’s no surprise, but the Tar Heels are desperately missing the presence of center Armando Bacot. In addition to providing a double-double performance more times than not, Bacot continued to progress as a defender during his time in Chapel Hill.

UNC needs more from Jalen Washington, Jae’Lyn Withers and Ven-Allen Lubin. As starters in each of the Tar Heels’ seven games, Washington and Withers are each averaging just over 7 points and 5 rebounds per game. Lubin is averaging 6.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, but the trio has combined for 50 of UNC’s 130 fouls this season. Those three players have to be better across the board.

Seth Trimble is the real deal for UNC

Seth Trimble is tracking toward being the runaway winner of the ACC’s Most Improved Player of the Year award. Trimble is UNC’s second-leading scorer at 16.1 points per game and is making 52.1% of his shots, including 52% of his 3-pointers. He also has 10 steals and six blocks as UNC’s top defensive player at the guard position. He’ll need to create even more disruption as a defender to help the Tar Heels turn things around on that end of the court.

Drake Powell, Ian Jackson look ready for increased roles for Tar Heels

UNC freshmen Drake Powell and Ian Jackson took major steps forward at the Maui Invitational. Powell averaged 8.7 points and made 6 of 9 3-pointers off the bench. Jackson contributed 9.3 points and 2.7 rebounds across three games. Both players were bright spots in the loss to Michigan State, with Powell scoring a team-high 18 points and Jackson adding 14. That production will lead to more opportunities moving forward.

Cade Tyson’s challenging start continued at Maui Invitational

Cade Tyson has been a non-factor through seven games at UNC. Regarded as one of the top 3-point shooters in the transfer portal, Tyson has struggled in his transition to the Tar Heels. The 6-foot-7 wing has played just under 60 minutes this season, averaging 8.5 minutes per game. A transfer from Belmont, Tyson is 8-for-21 shooting overall (38.1%), including 4-for-14 (28.6%) from beyond the arc, with 24 points and 10 fouls through seven games. It’s early, but Tyson has yet to find his place as a consistent contributor for UNC.

Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: What’s wrong, what’s working for UNC basketball entering Alabama game?