Tar Heels come out firing in season opener

It could’ve been more challenging, more topsy-turvy — a disaster, even.

Without two of its best shooters, P.J. Hairston and Leslie McDonald, the No. 12 North Carolina basketball team could’ve been far more disjointed against an Oakland team that isn’t afraid to shoot.

Instead, the Tar Heels took the Smith Center court Friday and put together one of their best shooting performances in the Roy Williams era. They made 23 of 31 field goals in the first half, good for a 74.2 percentage — the highest percentage for any half in Williams’ 11 years as UNC’s coach.

It was a checklist-checking kind of night for Williams, who rattled off all of the encouraging signs he saw in the 84-61 season-opening win.

“I got some good things from everybody, really,” he said.

There was improved play from J.P. Tokoto, who started at the three and set career highs with 13 points, five assists and sunk a 3-pointer. He made one 3-pointer all of last year.

There was sophomore two-guard Marcus Paige, who made four of his first five 3-point attempts after struggling to find a consistent shot in his freshman season.

And then there was forward James Michael McAdoo, whose dominance was unavoidable from the start. He scored UNC’s first seven point en route to a 9-for-13 night with game highs in points (21) and rebounds (9).

“We were getting all kinds of looks: lay-ups, skip passes for threes,” Paige said. “That was probably one of the best halves I’ve been a part of since I’ve been here, just in terms of everyone playing together, unselfish with the ball and knocking down shots.”

With uncertainty continuing to swirl around the Tar Heels — Hairston and McDonald are out indefinitely due to NCAA concerns — Williams said he thought his team showed a high level investment in the first half.

However, he was markedly less enamored with the second half. Up by 37, the Tar Heels gave the Golden Grizzlies some breathing room and were outscored 40-26 in the half because of it.

Williams is still tinkering with his lineup, as made clear by the various configurations UNC used Friday. UNC started with a two-point-guard lineup, with Paige playing the two and freshman Nate Britt manning the point, while sophomore Joel James started at center.

Kennedy Meeks wound up grabbing the majority of the game’s significant minutes at the five, putting up 10 points and five rebounds. McAdoo, traditionally a four or a five, spent some time at the three, and Tokoto at one point tried his hand at shooting guard.

“It’s kind of awkward,” Britt said. “I know for Isaiah (Hicks), it’s been kind of tough for him playing the three. It’s new for him and (McAdoo) — it’s a transition for him, too. But we’re getting used to it. It’s been a good transition, I would say.”

It certainly seemed to all work smoothly Friday, although Williams made sure to put his glowing praise in perspective.

“I’m always the guy that thinks things are going to be really good,” Williams said. “So I’m thinking we’re going to go 75-0 in a 29- or 30-game schedule.”

For the time being, though, the Tar Heels can say they’re undefeated.