“As soon as you see the first ball go in, it’s on from there,” Bouknight said.
Bouknight’s 24 points led the Tar Heels (3-0), who drained 19 threes as a team en route to a 112-52 blowout of visiting Methodist in the Smith Center to remain undefeated.
After a sprained ankle in the season opener knocked him out of the team’s second game, Bouknight didn’t know how many minutes he’d get Monday. But after head coach Hubert Davis gave him an extended run in the game, Bouknight knew his coach had confidence in him.
“After the first five minutes, I was like ‘OK,’” Bouknight said. “‘You’re OK with me being out here.’”
Bouknight got open often against Methodist’s zone in the first half, as UNC’s passing left gaps outside the zone for open threes.
The Tar Heels made them, but they started getting more efficient shots when they drove and kicked, which led to an improved shooting performance from the outside.
Sophomore Caleb Ellis said that halftime adjustment was key in breaking the zone.