Two guys from Chapel Hill talk in-depth about Tar Heel basketball and the general world of college hoops.
Craig Marimpietri & Jonathan Adams
After a calmer week or two since Carolina's last transfer get, the player news has picked back up with outbound transfer and NBA Draft announcements from Carolina's stud freshmen last season, Ian Jackson and Drake Powell. Plus, some news from Ven-Allen Lubin, including a statement he put out that, in a nutshell, summarizes why the NIL era is so complicated.Follow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
Carolina secured possibly its biggest transfer ever from the portal in Henri Veesaar from Arizona and got an exciting wing in WVU's Jonathan Powell as well. Point guards, however, are getting taken quickly or hitting the NBA Draft, and that could be an issue for Hubert Davis, Jim Tanner, and their staff. We'll break down all of it in under 45 minutes.Follow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
This is March! One of the most exciting time of the year. And it is indeed Portal Madness at this point in the year. Lenzell Graham, host of '94ftofunc' joins Craig and Jonathan to try and make sense of the chaos and potential upcoming roster moves.Follow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
Just a few days after Carolina's loss to Ole Miss in the First Round of the NCAA Tourney, the transfer portal has come to life. Elliot Cadeau and Jalen Washington have entered already and others still have until April 22nd to land somewhere else. One thing's for sure in all this -- college basketball looks way different than it did even five years ago. We'll discuss what needs to happen to the roster in the months ahead for this team to get back to the level of respect that the program has known for decades.Follow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
After 48 hours taking it on the chin from the entire sports media world, Carolina nation got the game it deserved as the Heels played their most complete game of the entire season at the time they needed it most. Between RJ's 26 points on 6-6 three-point shooting and Elliot's 12 assists, some of them absolute beauties, this team's offense looked unstoppable. And its defense shined just as bright. Now they look to the Round of 64 and a match-up against SEC opponent Ole Miss.Follow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
What a week it's been for Carolina fans holding their breath on the bubble and college basketball fans in general awaiting a look at their potential road to the Final Four. With so many bubble teams, there were always gonna be some broken hearts, but we did not expect things to escalate the way they did, at least in the sports media world.We start there, then dive into UNC's Tuesday opponent out of the Mountain West Conference, the San Diego State Aztecs, and finish a bit unhinged with our bracket predictions and point outs.This is March! And the Tar Heels are dancin'.Follow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
Carolina is in Charlotte for the ACC Tourney this week looking for at least three straight wins, including one over likely opponent Duke. They'll face Notre Dame on Wednesday afternoon and take things from there. We break down what needs to happen based on takeaways from this past Saturday's Duke game to get this team into March Madness.Follow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
Carolina is on a 4-game win streak and it comes at an essential time, as the Heels are fighting for an NCAA Tourney bubble bid. We'll break down what's changed during the last four games to get to this point and what's still needed the next three games before it's ACC Tourney time in Charlotte.We'll also discuss the news around Hubert Davis' extended coaching contract and some important details regarding the timeline of how that unfolded. On a related note, Carolina Basketball has also officially announced that Jim Tanner, a longtime NBA agent and Carolina alum, will serve in the newly established General Manager role that will help manage UNC players' NIL contracts and more in the complicated landscape that is college basketball nowadays.Follow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
Carolina is halfway through ACC play and we're back on the mic to break down what we've seen and what needs to happen for this team to make the NCAA Tournament. The rollercoaster ride has been more intense than ever with this year's squad. Is it team chemistry? Is it coaching? Is it NIL and the ever-changing college basketball landscape? Chances are it's a bit of everything, so we'll try to make some sense out of it for you.Follow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
The PTTP crew is joined this week by Milligan University Head Coach Bill Robinson to break down Carolina's showing at the Maui Invitational and what to look out for this December leading up to full-time ACC play. He also recently authored “Carolina Basketball School,” a book about the legendary program that runs each summer in downtown Chapel Hill.Follow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
New episode drop just in time for Carolina's first Maui Invitational game vs. Dayton. Get our full breakdown and recap Dan Hurley's technical foul and Izzo's big win over Colorado.Follow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
The Heels got to 2-1 on the season last week with a win over American University and now look ahead to a business trip to Hawaii. First up, a true road game against the Rainbow Warriors in Honolulu and then it's down to the Maui Invitational for the best November-ball you can find and a stacked field.We'll have a full breakdown of the Maui Invitational field releasing on Monday, 11/25.Follow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
We're just back from an epic weekend in Lawrence with the pod crew to see the Heels take on the Jayhawks at one of the best venues in all of college basketball. From the classic spots on downtown Mass Street and the KU Basketball Hall of Fame to game day vibes at Free State Brewery and The Wheel, we made the most of our 72 hours together taking in the full Kansas experience.We'll share some of our favorite moments from a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and of course, go way in depth on the Heels' tough first half but resilient second half at the Phog where we saw glimpses of what this team is capable of.Follow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
With only a few weeks left to go in the offseason, Jonathan is joined by Riley Davis, college hoops writer and podcaster for Heat Check College Basketball, Sleepers Media, and The Field of 68. The duo breaks down what they liked from UNC's 84-76 exhibition win over Memphis in the Hoops St. Jude® Tip Off Classic and offers their thoughts on the upcoming 2024-25 season.We close the show with a special point out to Tylee Craft, a Tar Heel who had an enormous impact on the Carolina community during his life and still continues to since his passing, as well as our thoughts on the ongoing recovery efforts for our fellow North Carolinians in the western part of the state. Follow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
After two months off, we start with a 30,000-foot view of the latest roster as we've now passed the 100 days mark 'til tipoff of the 2024-25 season. The PTTP crew focuses in on starting lineup options as Carolina looks to run small even with the addition of Vanderbilt big man Ven-Allen Lubin.Jonathan also gives a recap of the alumni/player scrimmage that he attended. And last but not least, is there the potential for a late addition to the Carolina roster coming all the way from New Zealand? Don't hold your breath, but don't count it out.Finally, a point out and heartfelt tribute to one of the core pillars of Craig and Jonathan's friendship. the late, great Bill Walton.Follow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
Carolina continues its search for another big man and is reportedly in contact with three targets to potentially fill the 4/5 spots –– Coleman Hawkins, Ugonna Onyenso, and Ven-Allen Lubin. Each brings a slightly different skill set and we'll break it all down as the NCAA offseason enters a 10-day dead period in recruiting. Patience, y'all ... patience.Follow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
The episode title says it all ... we're back.It's been over a month since we've released a new episode (we had to process the Alabama game like the rest of you), but we're so stoked to tip off PTTP's sophomore season. Similar to last year's offseason, you can expect transfer updates, individual player profiles, season predictions and more to hold us over until the Heels head to Lawrence to take on the Jayhawks to open the 2024-25 season.On this episode, there's a ton to talk about specifically regarding the transfer portal. In particular, UNC's search for a big man continues with Cliff Omoruyi visiting Chapel Hill this week and Adou Thiero still hopping between his top options. Who do we think would be the best fit alongside recent Belmont transfer Cade Tyson and some of our favorite returning Heels in RJ Davis, Elliot Cadeau, and Seth Trimble.Pointing out to all our loyal listeners! We appreciate y'all and are excited for what this season's going to bring.Go Heels!Follow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
The Heels won the first leg of “The Charlotte Tournament” as Hubert Davis has referred to these opening round games and now look to familiar March rival Michigan State, led by Tom Izzo. The Spartans looked strong out of the gate and moved the ball well in their win vs. Mississippi State, while it took Carolina a bit of time to get rolling against Wagner. What can we expect from Saturday's matchup? And what are some of our favorite moments from the tourney thus far?(0:00) - First Round Recap(2:00) - Wagner Takeaways(8:12) - West Region Overview(15:05) - The ACC's Tourney Performance(23:19) - Drama and Upsets!(33:41) - Michigan State PreviewFollow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
Carolina advanced to the ACC Championship game but couldn't capture an ACC Tourney title, running into a red hot NC State team that pulled off a 5-game miracle stretch, to steal a bid into the NCAA Tourney. With that said, the Heels still locked up a #1 seed in a West Region filled with storylines, and now we look ahead to their road to the Final Four. What's in store for the Heels and others in the field of 68, and who are some of the players we're looking forward to watching most?(0:52) - ACC Tourney Recap(21:54) - West Region Preview(30:24) - Full Bracket Preview(56:02) - The Point OutFollow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
Carolina finished out the regular season 6-0 and snagged the #1 spot in the ACC Tournament with a hard-fought win over Duke on Saturday. Cormac Ryan was impressive and carried the Heels to victory with a 31-point performance (surpassing his previous 28-point career-high at Cameron Indoor) and the bench provided a spark to help spoil the Blue Devils' senior night. We'll recap all of it and look ahead to Caroina's potential ACC Tourney matchups.(0:52) - Duke Recap(13:29) - Cameron Crazies Nonsense(21:16) - Scheyer Apologies(28:23) - Filipowski's Villain Status(39:54) - ACC Tourney Preview(52:17) - The Point OutFollow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
Andy Bagwell joins the pod this week to help preview the final ACC regular season game of the year at Duke, where the Heels are eager to get the win and get to top dog status alone atop the ACC. If you're someone who can never get enough Duke trash talk, let's just say you'll enjoy this one.Follow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
Carolina needed a strong second half to come back against NC State in the Smith Center on Saturday, and it was the increased intensity on the defensive end of the floor that propelled the Heels to a 79-70 victory. Jonathan and Brian recap what we saw on Saturday afternoon, discuss how the team is trending as they head into the last week of the regular season, and preview the Heels' upcoming senior night against Notre Dame.Follow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
RJ! RJ! RJ! The chants rang through the Dean Dome as loud as the GTHD chants you're used to hearing post-game during the singing of the alma mater. It was one of those nights where you'll remember where you were, who you were with, and how most importantly, how the senior guard from White Plains, NY put the team on his back to stretch Carolina's lead in the ACC standings with only three regular season games remaining.(01:03) - RJ Davis' Career Night(38:02) - UVA "Recap"(40:26) - NC State Preview(48:38) - The Point OutFollow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
Carolina is now 12-3 in ACC play, and this week is a big one as the Heels head to Charlottesville where they haven't won since the days of Kendall Marshall and Harrison Barnes back in 2012. With only five games left on the ACC slate, what will it take to come away with another Quad 1 win and carry that momentum into the final stretch of the season?(01:41) - Jonathan's Return to the Dean Dome(04:15) - Syracuse Loss(11:10) - VT Win(18:13) - Bench Production(26:57) - UVA Preview(47:08) - The Point OutFollow @PointPasserPod on Twitter/X for new episode drops, score predictions, live game analysis, recruiting updates and more.
Losses aren't fun, and losing three out of five in ACC play is especially discouraging, but the fact is this: Carolina sits atop the conference standings as we enter mid-February. Now say that line out loud again. Are there issues to address if this team is to reach its potential? Of course there are, and there always are this time of year. We'll offer our assessment of where the Tar Heels need to improve and the pain points we've seen off and on since the loss at Georgia Tech in late January.*PROGRAMMING NOTE: this episode was recorded on Super Bowl Sunday, two days before the Syracuse game. We'll recap 'Cuse next week, while this episode focuses on the Clemson loss, the Miami win, and the upcoming matchup vs. Virginia Tech.*Facebook: Point to the PasserTwitter/X: @PointPasserPod
Orange alum Brian Neal joins the pod again to preview the second matchup of the season between UNC vs. Syracuse. What's changed since their 103-67 blowout loss in Chapel Hill in January? And how are we feeling about Carolina after an up and down week without Seth Trimble in the lineup due to injury? We'll deep dive into all of that, and be sure to keep an eye out for a 2nd episode later this week recapping both of last week's games in-depth and looking ahead to the Virginia Tech matchup on Saturday.Facebook: Point to the PasserTwitter/X: @PointPasserPod
Carolina suffered its first loss of ACC play this week, but learned from it quickly and bounced back in a big way to beat rival Duke at home this past Saturday in a game where the Heels were down 2-0 and never lost the lead after that. Special point outs this week to Harrison Ingram for his instant classic performance and the return of Armando to what we known him. We'll break down the big win and look ahead to Clemson at home and Miami on the road.
It's Duke-Carolina once again, and the stage is set for another instant classic as both teams rank in the Top 10 heading into Saturday. #3 UNC is coming off a tough 1-point loss to a feisty Georgia Tech team, while #7 Duke rolled on the road at Virginia Tech. There are only a select few Blue Devil fans we associate with, but we chose to extend an invite to one of them this week. He kindly accepted and shares his thoughts on the first Blue Blood Tobacco Road game of the season.Facebook: Point to the PasserTwitter/X: @PointPasserPod
Next time you think about complaining about a 9pm start time, think of Myroslav first, Ukraine's biggest Tar Heels fan. For him, a 9pm tipoff means the TV's on at 4am, but it's something he's done now for 15+ years. Literally zero games missed. Impressive, right? Safe to say, he knows Carolina Basketball. He joins us for this week's pod to talk about his UNC fandom and how it's grown over the years as well as his thoughts on this season's squad.We'll have a bonus episode coming up later this week to break down the Duke game specifically, so keep an ear out for that as well.Facebook: Point to the PasserTwitter/X: @PointPasserPod
Carolina sits atop the ACC at 7-0, two games up on NC State and Wake Forest both. What we've seen from this team has been impressive: resilience, determination, and togetherness -- a bunch of Tough Little Nuts™ as ol' Roy would say -- but it's a long season and these late January games will tell us even more about this team's ceiling.The Deacs visit Chapel Hill on Monday to try and cut down on the Heels' conference lead, but UNC's defense looks to say otherwise. Tune in for our preview of Wake Forest and Florida State, and of course some good banter about the NCAA as well as Pitt's stunner at Cameron Indoor last week.Facebook: Point to the PasserTwitter/X: @PointPasserPod
Carolina is 5-0 in ACC play with two classic "trap" games this week -- the first at home vs. Louisville and then up to the northeast to face Boston College on Saturday. This year feels different than other years, though, as Carolina has been elite recently on defense and consistently good on the offensive end. We'll break down how UNC's defense has played a huge role in stifling its opponents' three-point percentage the past two weeks and where this team can continue to grow.Facebook: Point to the PasserTwitter/X: @PointPasserPod
Joining the pod this week for a special bonus episode is Syracuse alum and friend of the pod, Brian Neal, Craig's friend and former co-worker from back in his media days. They share a passion for college hoops, particularly all things ACC. Tune in to hear Brian share some fun stories about life as a Syracuse fan over the last few decades and also get his take on the Orange's upcoming visit to the Dean Dome this Saturday.Facebook: Point to the PasserTwitter/X: @PointPasserPod
The Heels travel to Raleigh on Wednesday of this week to take on a 11-3 (3-0) Wolfpack team. That record sound familiar? Yes, the two teams are tied overall and both sit atop the ACC (shoutout to the Deacs as well!) PNC Arena is gonna be rockin'. We'll preview the NC State matchup and recap two gritty road wins at Pitt and at Clemson.Also, remember that time you heard about Jonathan's shoes ending up in a tree? We've got all the details and how it marked the beginning of the end of the Matt Doherty era.
Happy New Year, Tar Heels! January is upon us and that means a fresh slate of ACC games that will ultimately define this Carolina season, starting off with a true test on the road –– at Pitt, at Clemson, and at NC State. What did we learn the last two months from this team during their most difficult non-conference schedule ever and what needs to happen for this team to be at the top of the ACC come early March? Facebook: Point to the PasserTwitter/X: @PointPasserPod
Five ranked teams in the span of six games. Talk about strength of schedule. And as we look back on this truly historic stretch in which the Heels came out 4-2, there's so much to talk about. At 8-3 on the season, Charleston Southern is next up at the Dean Dome and then it's back on the road for three games in what looks to be a difficult start to ACC play.
The Heels dropped their second game of the season this past week to a very talented UConn Huskies squad that showed why they're likely to be national title contenders once again come March. Despite the loss, there was still a lot of upside. We'll break that all down and preview UNC's upcoming trip to Atlanta to take on Kentucky in another CBS Sports Classic.
As November-ball comes to a close and college basketball heads into December, the Heels are solidly in the AP Top 25 and only trending upward. With two big home wins this past week (Tennessee 100-92, Florida State 78-70), what and who is it that's making this team click so well early on this season? We'll break that down and also preview the toughest game of the season thus far coming up this week as Carolina travels to New York City and the Garden to take on a Top 10 UConn Huskies squad.Facebook: PointPasserPodX/Twitter: @PointPasserPod
After finishing 2-1 at the Battle 4 Atlantis with the only loss coming in overtime to Villanova, the Heels look to keep the positive momentum going as they head into the first of many important weeks ahead. Carolina hosts #7 Tennessee and ACC opponent Florida State at home this week. We'll break down what we saw from UNC in the Bahamas and other scheduled matchups in the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge.
Happy Feast Week, college hoops fans! UNC is 3-0 on the season after picking up wins over Radford, Lehigh, and UC-Riverside, and we've already learned a lot about this team's upsides and where they may need some work.It's still early in the season, but we'll highlight our key takeaways from those wins and turn our eyes to the Bahamas for Battle 4 Atlantis, where the Heels will play three more games in back-to-back-to-back days later this week.What could be better as a fan? Well, aside from March, not much.Facebook: Point to the PasserX/Threads: @PointPasserPod
One week into the season the Tar Heels are 2-0. We'll recap the wins over Radford and Lehigh and look ahead to Friday's home game vs. UC-Riverside (aka, the last time the Heels will see the court until Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas). And ICYMI, Caleb Love continues to frustrate Duke players and fans alike, even when he's not dressed in Carolina blue. His return to Cameron Indoor was memorable for a lot of reasons, including some sneaky ones that you might've missed.We've got you covered on all things Carolina as the Heels are off and running into the 2023-24 season!Facebook: Point to the PasserX/Threads: @PointPasserPod
Happy college basketball tipoff day to all who celebrate! If you'r reading this, that's very likely you – and you already know it's us. We'll take a look at Carolina's first opponent, the Radford Highlanders, and highlight the ways in which they might challenge the Heels on the court. Also, we'll chat player watchlists and discuss who will lead this UNC team when it comes to specific stat categories. And last, but far from least, Friday marks Caleb Love's return to Cameron Indoor Stadium, where he previously ended K's career ... for the first time. What a way to start the season!Facebook: Point to the PasserX/Threads: @PointPasserPod
Carolina's 2023-24 season tipped off this past week against Division II opponent St. Augustine's in Chapel Hill, and while you can only read so much into the stat lines of an exhibition game, what you can do is start to understand how a team plays together on the floor. Simply put, this team looked liked the classic Carolina Basketball teams you've known for decades. And when it comes to the first game of the year -- what more can you ask for as a fan?Facebook: Point to the PasserX/Threads: @PointPasserPod
Carolina Basketball returns to Chapel Hill this week as St. Augustine's comes to town for an exhibition matchup this coming Friday. What are we looking for this season from Head Coach Hubert Davis compared to his previous two seasons? Well, the secret scrimmage down at FAU went pretty well, so maybe more of whatever that was. We'll break it down and then wrap up the episode with a healthy dose of nostalgia, thinking back on some of the most iconic Carolina Basketball photos of all-time.Facebook: Point to the PasserX/Threads: @PointPasserPod
Carolina fans got their first official look at this year's team at the annual Live Action with Carolina Basketball event at the Dean E. Smith Center this past Friday night. Badams and Keegan host (with a "special guest" making an appearance) and break down what we saw from the blue-white scrimmage and what fans should be most excited for this upcoming season, including some highlights from freshman Elliot Cadeau.X/Threads: @PointPasserPod
This season's Carolina roster looks much different than last year's, but it's more than just the names on the jerseys. This week, we take a deep-dive into the numbers for all you stats nerds out there (ourselves included). What does Carolina's offensive efficiency rating need to be in order to make a deep run into March? Where do they need to rank defensively as well? And the biggest question of all — who will step up to be the next Lockdown Leaky?X/Threads: @PointPasserPod
Carolina's ACC schedule is a tough one, but is there ever really an easy one? The more we think about it, probably not. With Craig out this week, Jonathan is joined by Taron once again (check out Episode 9 for his first pod appearance) to provide insight into the difficulties and important stretches from January to March that will come to define this Tar Heel squad.X/Threads: @PointPasserPod
We're now less than 50 days away from tipoff to the college basketball season which means it's time for the first segment of pre-season predictions. We start this week with an overall look at the 11 pre-ACC games UNC has on its schedule, and with the full schedule set to release next week, be on the listen for more predictions in the episodes ahead. Also this week, we talk about some of the all-time personalities in the sport and what former players we'd love to see coaching.X/Threads: @PointPasserPod
There's no question the long history of point guards at UNC is elite in college basketball, but what might be even more impressive is the lineage that ties so strongly and directly back to New York City. This week, Keegan joins the pod for a second time (check out Episode 5 if you haven't yet) to talk about what makes a New York point guard so valuable to their team, so important to the game of basketball as a whole, and more specifically, how RJ Davis brings that "dog" in him from NYC to Chapel Hill.X/Threads: @PointPasserPod
The NCAA is on its nonsense again. Between the Tez Walker situation and conference realignments, we've got a lot to cover this week. But on a positive note, we're only eight weeks away from the tipoff of the another college basketball season. Craig's childhood friend, Jordan, joins us this week to talk about some past college basketball seasons and some of their favorite memories growing up in Chapel Hill.X/Threads: @PointPasserPod
This week, we welcome Katie Broadway, former Illinois State Redbirds' standout and the single-season leader in three-point field goals. She offers her insight into Carolina's three-point woes from last season, shares her love for Tony Bennett and the Virginia Basketball system. We also highlight super senior Armando Bacot and talk about what to expect from his stat lines with the addition of Elliot Cadeau and other offseason adjustments to the roster. Also, a few life lesson for all of us after watching "Stephen Curry: Underrated."X/Threads: @PointPasserPod
With the offseason news finally slowing down a bit (thanks, college football), we get the chance to have our good friend Ferg on the pod for a lighthearted, yet deeply-researched trivia contest between Craig and Jonathan. Also, a player profile on rising sophomore Seth Trimble and what to expect from him this season in his role as a Carolina point guard alongside Elliot Cadeau. And finally, can you imagine if Shaq had come to UNC? Fun to think about, and it actually almost happened.X/Threads: @PointPasserPod