Inside Carolina's senior reporter Greg Barnes and Tommy Ashley discuss the exceptional performance of freshmen in college basketball, noting the potential for the first ten NBA draft picks to be freshmen. They highlight Caleb Wilson's injury and its impact on his All-American and Player of the Year prospects, comparing it to Zion Williamson's 2019 situation. In that season, Williamson missed six game due to injury and still earned National Player of the Year awards. Greg mentions other top players like Kansas' Darryn Peterson, Iowa State's Joshua Jefferson, Illinois' Keaton Wagler and the competition among freshmen for not only the top awards but the 2026 NBA Draft. They also touch on the voting process for ACC awards, emphasizing the importance of timely voting and the potential regional bias. 

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As the ACC season comes to a close, the debate over postseason awards has begun. Inside Carolina's senior reporter Greg Barnes and Tommy Ashley discuss the league's success through the lens of the men on the sidelines leading their teams into March.

Ashley and Barnes discuss the ACC's recent coaching changes and the impact on the conference's performance. They highlight the decline in ACC quality due to the addition of more teams and the departure of iconic coaches. The conference has bounced back after last season's disastrous performance and the impressive coaching performances have driven the rise. Credit Ryan Odom at Virginia, Jai Lucas at Miami and Will Wade at NC State for turning around their programs. They note Duke's John Scheyer and UNC's Hubert Davis's success despite high expectations. They also discuss the challenges of managing the transfer portal and NIL deals, and the financial pressures on programs like Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech. The conversation emphasizes the importance of adaptability and financial resources in modern college basketball coaching.

Who will win ACC Coach of the Year?  Who deserves the award and who doesn't? How do expectations, either high or low, affect voting for the award? 

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Inside Carolina's senior reporter Greg Barnes joins Tommy Ashley discuss North Carolina's 78-74 win over Louisville, highlighting Henry Veesaar's impactful performance and Seth Trimble's 30 point night. They note Carolina's solid 27-minute stretch but criticize their late-game execution, citing a 44-point deficit over the final 10 minutes in 15 ACC games and the free-throw woes (319th in nation). 

Barnes and Ashley praise Hubert Davis for motivating the team and highlight Carolina's success without Caleb Wilson, noting improved defensive play with key players stepping up. The conversation also covers ACC standings, with Carolina tied for 5th at 10-5, and the importance of winning the next three games to secure a double bye in the ACC Tournament.

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Inside Carolina's Rob Harrington and Tommy Ashley break down North Carolina's 77-74 win over Louisville in the Smith Center on Monday night. The Heels led by as many as 16 points and played some of their best basketball on the season on both ends of the floor to build the lead. The Cardinals rebounded from the drought to make the final margin close as Hubert Davis's team struggled closing the game on the offensive end and at the free throw line. 

Seth Trimble's 30-point effort led the way while Henri Veesaar and Luka Bogavac dropped 12 points a piece. Louisville star freshman Mikel Brown, Jr. poured in 24 points but needed 25 shots to do it as Carolina's defense ultimately won the night.

0:00 - Stream begins 

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