North Carolina’s Luke Maye had perhaps his best game of the season in a win over crosstown rivals NC State on Saturday, and it turns out that he may have been motivated by some smack talk by the opposition.
After the junior forward exploded for 33 points and 17 rebounds in the 96-89 victory (including 27 in the second half), UNC teammate Theo Pinson told reporters that Maye went off after getting dissed by an NC State player. Here is what Pinson had to say, per Adam Smith of the Burlington Times-News.
What set off Luke Maye's 27-point second half?
Theo Pinson says he heard one Wolfpack player tell another: "You can guard him. He's not that athletic."
Pinson: "Once I heard that, I said, 'They done talked to the wrong one.' "
— Adam Smith (@adam_smithTN) February 10, 2018
The 20-year-old Maye also owned the Wolfpack during their previous meeting on Jan. 27, finishing with 31 points and 12 rebounds (albeit in an overtime loss for UNC). After Saturday’s performance to boot, you can probably add NC State to the list of teams that Maye gives nightmares to (along with Kentucky).
