Jarin Stevenson Embraces New Role, Delivers For UNC Vs. Ohio State

After Seth Trimble’s driving layup cut the Ohio State lead to 70-69 with 33 seconds remaining, Hubert Davis immediately and emphatically called UNC’s second-to-last timeout.

With a three-second difference between the shot and game clock inside State Farm Arena, Jarin Stevenson checked into the game for Derek Dixon, and the Tar Heels set up a full court press in an attempt to steal an extra possession.

Nine seconds later, Stevenson intercepted an errant Ohio State pass, allowing Davis to use North Carolina’s final timeout and set up what became Henri Veesaar’s game-winning bucket. 

Stevenson embraced a new role on Saturday, as Trimble’s return from a nine-game absence forced him to come off the UNC bench for the first time this season. He essentially served as the team’s backup center, playing alongside Caleb Wilson in the frontcourt whenever Veesaar was on the bench.

“I’m just focused on doing whatever I need to do to help the team win, whether that’s bringing energy off the bench, just being consistent and just doing different things,” Stevenson said after the win Saturday. “Just doing whatever I can to help the team win.”

Trimble’s return sparked speculation about how Davis would divide the rotation for a North Carolina team that had been playing well in the absence of its senior captain.

Stevenson’s length and versatility at 6-foot-10, paired with Trimble’s return, gave Davis the flexibility to play smaller lineups while masking UNC’s frontcourt depth concerns. Neither James Brown nor Zayden High saw any action against the Buckeyes.

“We’ve been working on it,” Stevenson said of getting minutes in the frontcourt. “It’s mainly to get me the switch on the pick-and-roll with the five. We’ve been working on it, communicating. We’ve been doing it in practice.”

It was a fairly quiet outing offensively for Stevenson on Saturday, as he scored six points on 3-for-7 shooting, but his size and defensive presence proved pivotal for North Carolina. The Pittsboro, N.C. native finished with five rebounds, two steals, and a second-half block that led to a transition layup from Wilson and UNC’s first double-digit lead of the game.

“To have that guy who’s 6-10, versatility, being able to play in the post and on the outside offensively,” Davis said. “But from a defensive standpoint, to be able to switch and play multiple positions, it’s a huge factor for us.”

On the Buckeyes’ last possession, Stevenson’s length disrupted John Mobley Jr.’s potential game-winner, punctuating his unsung performance.

“He’s very versatile,” Seth Trimble said. “He’s able to put the ball on the floor, he’s able to rebound, he’s able to defend one through five. He’s just a very versatile wing/forward. It’s great for us.”