FORT MYERS, Fla. — No. 16 North Carolina entered the Fort Myers Tip-Off expecting to handle business, but at halftime, the Tar Heels hold only a narrow 35–33 lead over an undefeated St. Bonaventure squad hungry for an upset. The Bonnies may not be the fiercest opponent UNC will face this season, but at 5-0 and ranked 114th in KenPom, they were never going to be a simple early-season tune-up. And through the first 20 minutes, they made that abundantly clear.
UNC once again showed the familiar early-game inconsistencies that have repeatedly slowed the team’s momentum this season. A blazing start from the Tar Heel starters hinted at UNC’s most complete first half yet — until the substitutions began and the game’s rhythm shifted dramatically. As the Heels head into a crucial second half, here are the three biggest takeaways from a first half that raised as many questions as it did hope.
1. BENCH PRODUCTION REMAINS A MAJOR RED FLAG
The absence of senior guard Seth Trimble continues to expose just how thin North Carolina’s rotation can feel when pressure mounts. With Trimble sidelined due to an arm injury, the Tar Heel bench faced a big test — and for much of the first half, it simply didn’t hold up.
UNC’s reserves combined for only three points across 22 total minutes, a concerningly low output for a team trying to build dependable depth. When sophomore Jonathan Powell and first-year guard Derek Dixon checked in together, St. Bonaventure seized the momentum, storming on a 14–5 run that erased UNC’s early lead and tied the game with a little more than six minutes left before halftime.
Other contributors off the bench — sophomore forward Zayden High and junior guard Jaydon Young — were unable to settle the Tar Heels into a rhythm. High, in particular, struggled on both ends of the floor, an issue that becomes more pronounced given the team’s already-thin frontcourt rotation. Without his defensive energy or interior presence, UNC becomes heavily reliant on its starting bigs to control the paint.
While Trimble’s eventual return should alleviate some pressure, the present reality is clear: UNC cannot rely on its starting five alone to carry the load if it expects to compete with elite competition over the coming months. The second half against St. Bonaventure is an immediate opportunity for Dixon and Powell to respond. If the Tar Heel bench can simply stabilize possessions, defend without fouling, and avoid costly turnovers, they can provide the lift UNC needs to fully take control. But another shaky stretch could put UNC in dangerous territory against a confident and disciplined Bonnie team.
2. DARYL SIMMONS AND FRANK MITCHELL ARE HAVING THEIR WAY — AND UNC HAS NO ANSWER YET
Everyone entering the matchup knew that Daryl Simmons and Frank Mitchell powered the Bonnies’ offense — their combined 34.6 points and 5.2 assists per game made them an obvious focal point on the scouting report. Even so, UNC struggled significantly to contain either player during the first half.
Simmons dictated the pace from the opening minutes, scoring 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting and knocking down two threes. More importantly, he established control as a ball-handler, navigating screens and probing UNC’s defense with patience and poise. North Carolina allowed him too much comfort orchestrating the offense, resulting in more fluidity and confidence for the Bonnies than a ranked ACC contender should be conceding.
Mitchell, meanwhile, used his size and physicality to punish UNC in the pick-and-roll. Also tallying 10 first-half points, he consistently found seams in the defense, finishing around the rim and forcing the Tar Heels to collapse inward — which in turn freed up St. Bonaventure’s shooters. His effectiveness alongside Simmons made the two-man game the Bonnies’ most dangerous weapon, one UNC hasn’t yet figured out how to neutralize.
If the Tar Heels want to avoid being upset, they must make life significantly harder for Simmons and Mitchell. That means more aggressive hedging, forcing the ball out of Simmons’ hands earlier, and taking away Mitchell’s easy finishing angles. Forcing other Bonnies to beat them — rather than allowing the known stars to dictate the offense — should be the defensive priority.
3. A FAST START CAN’T MASK UNC’S RECURRING FIRST-HALF ISSUES
For a few promising minutes, it looked like UNC might finally deliver its most polished first half of the season. Strong shot selection, quick ball movement, and confident defensive intensity propelled the Tar Heels to a multi-possession lead early. But as soon as the starters went to the bench, familiar problems crept back in.
The offense stalled. Defensive rotations broke down. The pace slowed into St. Bonaventure’s comfort zone. And suddenly, another game turned into another early uphill battle.
Consistency — especially in the first 20 minutes — has been one of UNC’s biggest challenges this season. The Tar Heels can look dominant for stretches, only to fall into extended lapses that allow opponents to claw back. Against top-tier teams, those lapses can — and will — be costly. Against a confident underdog? They can turn what should be a decisive win into a nail-biter.
LOOKING AHEAD: SECOND-HALF URGENCY IS NON-NEGOTIABLE
UNC has the talent, experience, and star power to win this game decisively, but the second half will test the Tar Heels’ discipline and mental toughness. The starters have shown they can control the matchup, but the bench must lift its level, and the defense must tighten its approach against Simmons and Mitchell.
If UNC is serious about proving itself as a top-20 team with deeper aspirations, the final 20 minutes in Fort Myers need to showcase a level of focus and cohesion that has been missing for long stretches of this young season.
The Tar Heels have the lead — now they need to take the game.
