UNC junior Ven-Allen Lubin (22) dunks over Pittsburgh defenders during game at the Dean E. Smith Center on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. The Tar Heels won 67-66 over the Panthers.
Ven-Allen Lubin walked straight past the cameras coming out of the locker room.
Media flocked to the area directly beside the locker room door, but the junior forward headed to a small circular table toward the back. It’s the one he usually sits at. It’s the one that’s typically not as crowded.
Eventually, he turned around. Lubin realized the spot and the crowd was for him, following his best performance in a North Carolina uniform.
“Sorry, I thought this was RJ Davis’ special spot,” Lubin said.
Lubin isn’t used to having all the attention. He averages just under seven points per game. His role this season has mostly been to come off the bench and sub in for junior forward Jalen Washington. But it was different on Saturday. During UNC’s 67-66 win in the Dean E. Smith Center, Lubin scored a season-high 17 points on a season-high eight field goals on 12 attempts. This marks the fifth time Lubin has reached double figures this year. The Vanderbilt transfer reached double figures 18 times last season.
UNC junior forward Ven-Allen Lubin (22) catches the ball during the men’s basketball game against Pitt at the Dean E. Smith Center on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. UNC won 67-66.
After UNC was effectively run out of the gym by Duke last weekend, Lubin took the week-long break to reset. Against the Blue Devils, he struggled with confidence. He wasn’t always aggressive. He hesitated on shots.
And what better way to change than with a game plan centered on playing through the big man?
When North Carolina faced the Panthers two weeks ago, the Tar Heels couldn't find good shots in the second half due to Pitt's defense. The Panthers switched everything, putting small guards on UNC's big men. North Carolina was held to its lowest scoring half of the season, notching just 21 points in the second half. Lubin didn’t score a single point in the last 20 minutes.
The next time a guard tried to defend the 6-foot-8 Lubin, head coach Hubert Davis’ advice was clear: Use that as an edge.
“When teams switch, you have to look for an advantage, whether it’s in the post or the perimeter,” Davis said. “We felt like we had an advantage in the post, and we wanted to take advantage of that.”
Lubin talked about it with Davis all week. He talked with his teammates about it.
UNC junior Ven-Allen Lubin (22) defends against a Pittsburgh player during game at the Dean E. Smith Center on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. The Tar Heels won 67-66.
Two minutes into the game, sophomore guard Elliot Cadeau found Lubin inside. Pitt’s Ishmael Leggett — who’s 6-foot-3 — tried to defend Lubin. The forward made the basket and drew the foul with it.
Déjà vu on the next possession. Cadeau found Lubin again. Only this time, Lubin had more room and went for the two-handed slam.
“[It helped] just having a mindset of just knowing whenever you get that chance, make sure that you take that advantage,” Lubin said.
And it happened two more times in succession. Graduate guard RJ Davis sent a dime to Lubin. On the next possession, Lubin once again used his size to score over Pitt guard Jaland Lowe.
Lubin rattled off nine points on four straight possessions to ignite a 12-0 UNC run.
“Establishing Ven in the post at the beginning of the game, I thought that gave us life and confidence,” Hubert Davis said.
In the second half, Lubin got into foul trouble, but he still worked to make his presence known. The junior racked up four more points within the first two minutes. He made a layup and drew the foul with under three minutes left to play. He grabbed a defensive rebound with 20 seconds remaining to prevent the Panthers from taking the lead.
“He’s playing with his best confidence of the year lately,” Hubert Davis said. “Just playing with a great pace about him and making just really good reads and decisions.”
To get the day's news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.
UNC junior forward Ven-Allen Lubin (22) makes a free throw during the men’s basketball game against Pitt at the Dean E. Smith Center on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. UNC won 67-66.
A one-point game, Lubin made his final mark when he came up with a deflection off Pitt’s inbound with 13 seconds left. UNC survived.
“[I’m] just really trying to be more aggressive because I know that my team needs me,” Lubin said. “The things I’ve always practiced and worked on day in and day out, I know that’s something I can always bring to the table.”
When Lubin eventually found his seat coming out of the locker room, there was blood on his jersey. He didn’t know where it came from. It was just one of those games.
Junior guard Seth Trimble eventually exited the locker room as well. He took a seat to the left. Trimble noticed a different energy from Lubin. He doesn’t think they would have won the game without the change.
“I saw 12 confident, determined shots go up,” Trimble said. “That was a huge difference. He didn’t hesitate on anything. He was decisive in his moves. When he does that, especially when he has a little guard on him, it’s night and day.”
Emma Moon is the 2024-25 assistant sports editor. She previously served as the Summer Sports Editor and as a senior writer. Emma is a senior majoring in Media and Journalism, and English. She has red hair and drives a Prius.
