Bearded Brady Manek a good look for UNC basketball vs. Baylor Bears in NCAA tournament

Baylor junior guard Adam Flagler sees North Carolina’s Brady Manek as a different player than the one he faced as a clean-shaven sharpshooter at Oklahoma.

Manek, a 6-foot-9 graduate transfer, looks different — he’s grown his beard out since arriving in Chapel Hill. Manek plays differently, too: He is the third leading scorer on the team, averaging 14.8 points per game and leads the team in made 3-pointers. (He averaged 10.8 points last season at Oklahoma.)

“He’s definitely being a lot more aggressive,” Flagler said. “We’ve all seen from playing against him, as well as him being in the Big 12, we know what he’s capable of. We’re definitely going to focus on making him feel uncomfortable out there.”

Manek won his first game against Baylor as a freshman with the Sooners during the 2017-18 season. Manek and Oklahoma lost the next six.

Manek agreed that he’s a different player than he was at OU. He and the No. 8 seed Tar Heels prepare to face No. 1 seed — and defending national champion — Baylor in the second round of the NCAA Tournament’s East region on Saturday at 12:10 p.m.

“I’ve been able to put the ball on the floor more,” Manek said. “A little bit more — I wouldn’t say freedom, but just a little bit more confidence of being able to put the ball on the floor.”

The Bears are one of the nation’s best teams when it comes to defending the 3-point line. Opponents have only shot 29.7 percent from behind the arc against them, which ranks 18th in all of Division I.

Manek made five 3-pointers and scored a new season-high 28 points against Marquette in Carolina’s first round win. It marked the sixth time this season Manek made at least five 3s for the Heels.

“He can grow that beard and try to hide, but we know who he is,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said. “He’s a great player who can really shoot it and I’ve always respected his game and what he brings to the table.”

UNC coach Hubert Davis noted back when he played for legendary coach Dean Smith, players could not grow facial hair unless they had a doctor’s note saying their skin was too sensitive to shave.

The way Manek is playing, Davis joked that Smith might have had to make an exception.

“It is long, he needs to get it cut,” Davis said. “But I’ve seen pictures of him when he is shaved and he looks 11.”

Here’s a look at Carolina’s matchup with Baylor:

Carolina’s best bets for a big game

UNC forward Armando Bacot surpassed Brice Johnson for the program record in single-season rebounding with his 10-rebound effort against Marquette. Bacot also scored 17 points while primarily being defended by Kur Kuath, who was the sixth highest block percentage in the nation, according to Ken Pomeroy.

None of the Bears’ frontcourt rotation of Flo Thamba, Matthew Mayer and Jeremy Sochan are as daunting defensively as who he just faced.

Manek has scored 20 or more points in four of the Heels’ last five games. That coupled with his knowledge of how Baylor plays defense and the spots he might get the best looks, means he is poised to continue his hot streak scoring.

Baylor players UNC should focus on

Point guard James Akinjo has been crucial to the Bears’ success especially since losing arguably their two top players in guard L.J. Cryer and forward Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua.

Akinjo averages 5.7 assists per game and is coming off a 10-point, 10-assist outing in their first round win over Norfolk State.

Don’t be surprised to see UNC’s defensive stopper Leaky Black matched up with Akinjo in a similar manner to the way Davis used him on Virginia point guard Kihei Clark. The Bears’ offense will go as Akinjo does.

Adam Flagler leads Baylor in both made 3-pointers and 3-point percentage shooting. He shot 43 percent from behind the arc in Big 12 Conference games and is 39 percent overall.

The Bears like to penetrate and kick out for open 3s so UNC has to be disciplined on defense and never allow Flagler to be alone on the perimeter.