The transfer scores 14 points for Virginia Tech and shares a memorable embrace with Seth Trimble, creating an unforgettable encounter inside the Smith Center.
Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Tyler Nickel returned to the Smith Center to participate in Virginia Tech’s team shootaround on Saturday morning. It was just hours before his comeback game in Chapel Hill.
The wing forward from Harrisonburg, Va., played at North Carolina last season before entering the transfer portal in March 2023 and ultimately deciding to relocate closer to home and join the Hokies. He is thought to be the first former Tar Heel to play against UNC in the Smith Center.
Nickel replied with four 3-pointers and 14 points off the Virginia Tech bench in the No. 7 Tar Heels’ 96-81 victory on Saturday afternoon. He also had a season-high three blocked shots on defense.
Nickel checked in at the 15:25 mark of the first half. Forty-five seconds later, he rattled in a 3-pointer from the wing over the contest of UNC forward Jae’Lyn Withers. And less than one minute of game time later, Nickel connected on his second triple, this time off a curl and catch-and-shoot from the opposite wing.
“It definitely brought back some memories and stuff like that,” Nickel told Inside Carolina after the game. “It was all good. It felt comfortable, really. It felt comfortable out there, felt good to play against the guys. Just being here again, it was cool.”
Nickel checked in at the 15:25 mark of the first half. Forty-five seconds later, he rattled in a 3-pointer from the wing over the contest of UNC forward Jae’Lyn Withers. And less than one minute of game time later, Nickel connected on his second triple, this time off a curl and catch-and-shoot from the opposite wing.
“I was telling them, ‘you can’t let T-Nick get hot,’ ” UNC guard RJ Davis said. “But you know, it’s always good to see him. I’m just proud of him for his effort and with the way he’s playing this year.”
Last season, Nickel connected on four 3-pointers at the Smith Center across the entirety of his freshman year with the Tar Heels. He matched that total beyond the arc in 28 minutes of game action on Saturday.
