A day before the No. 12 North Carolina basketball team’s season-opening win against Oakland, forward James Michael McAdoo politely told reporters he was given the green light to play at the three spot, a position he played in the exhibition game a week ago.
His face was void of expression answering the question, but after being told coach Roy Williams planned to start him in the post, the junior broke into a wide smile.
“I feel like I haven’t been there in forever,” McAdoo said Thursday, laughing. “Just from the exhibition game, dating back to the end of last year. I love playing the four, it’s my natural position I feel like. I’m definitely excited for (Friday) to get to play that.”
And McAdoo channeled that excitement into an offensive explosion Friday night, scoring 21 points, including 15 points before halftime.
McAdoo scored the first points of the game seven seconds after tipoff, banking a jump shot off the glass and drawing a foul in the process. McAdoo rattled off the Tar Heels’ first seven points in the game’s first three minutes.