In Tyler Nickel’s return to UNC, Friends and Former Teammates Collide
Chapel Hill, North Carolina — Tyler Nickel participated in the Virginia Tech team shootaround on Saturday morning by stepping back inside the Smith Center. Only a few hours remained before his comeback game in Chapel Hill.
The Harrisonburg, Virginia, wing forward played for North Carolina his final season before deciding to move closer to home and sign with the Hokies in March 2023 after accessing the transfer portal. He might be the first-ever ex-Tar Heel to play at the Smith Center against UNC.
In response, Nickel scored 14 points off the Virginia Tech bench and drained four 3-pointers as the No. 7 Tar Heels defeated the team on Saturday afternoon, 96-81. In defense, he added a season-high three blocked shots.
Following the game, Nickel spoke with Inside Carolina, saying, “It definitely brought back some memories and stuff like that.” Everything went well. Really, it felt cozy. Playing against the guys felt good and it felt comfortable being outside. Simply being here once more was enjoyable.
At the halfway point of the first half, Nickel checked in. Forty-five seconds later, he defeated UNC forward Jae’Lyn Withers with a 3-pointer off the wing. Nickel then made his second triple in less than a minute of playing time, this time off a curl and catch-and-shoot from the other wing.
UNC guard RJ Davis said, “I was telling them, ‘you can’t let T-Nick get hot.'” However, it’s always nice to see him. I’m
I was telling them not to let T-Nick become too hot. Guard RJ Davis of UNC said. However, it’s always nice to see him. Simply put, I’m proud of him for his effort and his play this season.
During his entire rookie season with the Tar Heels last year, Nickel made four 3-pointers at the Smith Center. During his 28 minutes of game action on Saturday, he matched that total beyond the arc.
However, Nickel’s influence was not limited to the Hokies’ defensive line. Against UNC, he was responsible for all three of Virginia Tech’s blocked shots. Late in the first half, Nickel blocked friend Seth Trimble’s drive during a sequence that saw the UNC guard stagger through the lane.
After the game, Nickel remarked, grinning, “I’ve got that over him right now.” “He’s also sick about it.”
Following the game, Trimble added to their back-and-forth banter, saying, “He blocked it because he knew I tripped a little bit.” That one would never have come to him. But I’ll give it to him because it was a good block.
Trimble and Nickel have a very strong relationship. Together with Jalen Washington and Will Shaver, they shared a room as freshmen at Carolina the previous year. Trimble reported that he speaks with Nickel nearly every other day and that the four ex-roommates continue to text each other in the same group chat.
Trimble and Nickel gave each other a long embrace at the conclusion of the postgame handshake line. Following the game, outside the visiting team’s locker room area, their families, Trimble, and Nickel conversed and spent some time together.
Trimble said, “Just catching up, telling him we miss him.” “Tell him I hate you during this game, but we love you.” Thus, you understand what
