Hope for the holidays

Good morning! Another weekend, another series of terrific games. Especially if you happened to be in NYC.

Also, a quick programming note: We’ll be publishing The Daily all week except Wednesday on Christmas. So when you’re hanging with family and have some downtime, be sure to check your email. We’ll be there.

1. North Carolina, Ohio State finally get big wins

The CBS Sports Classic sure lived up to its name. Especially for two two underdogs entering Saturday’s doubleheader.

North Carolina’s 76-74 win over No. 18 UCLA not only marked the Tar Heels’ first win against a Top 25 team or team ranked in the top 45 of the NET, it also marked the rare occasion this season when UNC actually managed to close out against an opponent.

In losses to Kansas, Michigan State and Florida, the Heels (7-5) had late leads after slow starts and couldn’t get the W. It looked like more of the same vs. UCLA (10-2), which led by 16 points in the first half and was in complete control. But the Bruins missed chances at the line (17-of-35 for the game, which bugged coach Mick Cronin to no end) and couldn’t contain freshman Ian Jackson, who was Carolina’s most consistent scorer with 24.

RJ Davis (17 points) hit the tying shot and go-ahead free throw with just 13 seconds left, providing UNC a much-needed boost entering its winter break.

"The first 12 games, it seems like we've been in March Madness games," Davis said, via Matt Norlander. "That's what it's going to be like at the end of the year when we're playing against tough teams all the way to the wire and being able to execute, being able to get that extra rebound, that extra stop. I think that's what we're starting to get the hang of a little bit."

He’s got a point about the schedule. UNC’s five losses are all Quad 1 losses, and they’ve played the nation’s third-toughest schedule, meaning they should be primed to run through the ACC and stack up wins. They do that, and they’ll be ready for March, as the After Dark crew noted.

If North Carolina was delighted by its win, Ohio State was downright giddy about its 85-65 win over No. 4 Kentucky.

The Buckeyes (8-4) were drubbed by Maryland and Auburn in the last three weeks, and botched the end of its loss to Pitt. But behind Bruce Thornton (30 points) and some much-needed depth (Aaron Bradshaw and Ques Glover combined for 20 points; neither had played since Nov. 19), they delivered their best all-performance of the season: 1.25 points per possession, while limiting Kentucky to just .96 ppp.

“The theme for us coming into the game was we had to figure out a way to solve problems throughout the course of the game together. We gotta figure out a way to attack together,” Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said. “And I felt like we did that.”

They did something right. Kentucky (10-2) looked sluggish from the start, and couldn’t hit anything. It was just 29.8% from the field, including 4-of-22 from deep. They also stunk around the rim, making just 6 of 23 layups.

This was hardly the team rallied past Gonzaga and Duke, or ran around Louisville. Coach Mark Pope bemoaned the the individual play, and the overall play, but did leave some room for optimism.

“I know exactly how all of my guys are going to respond. They will come and it’s not just going to be empty emotion. It’s ‘we’re going to get better.’”

2. Bragging rights? Illinois’ got ‘em over Mizzou

Few things can top a well-played, dramatic rivalry game. Maybe that’s why Sunday’s Bragging Rights showdown between Illinois and Missouri checked so many boxes.

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