UNC Basketball Moments After – UNC VS Duke 74-71 Loss

UNC Tar Heels Basketball Team Wakes Up in the Second Half and Storms Back Against the Duke Blue Devils Then Falls Short in the End

by Derrick Isaiah Clyburn

For the third time this season, the North Carolina basketball team faced off against its rival Duke, only this time in the semifinals of the ACC tournament on Friday night. It was a close game early on, but the Tar Heels didn’t play their best basketball in the first half and quickly found themselves down by double figures. Duke’s physicality and length bothered the Heels’ offense and had them searching for answers. It didn’t help that the refs allowed Duke to be more physical with UNC and Carolina wasn’t gifted the same treatment, which resulted in empty possessions for the Heels offensively. Throughout the first half, the Tar Heels’ offense became stagnant, and they made costly mistakes with ill-advised passes and bad shot selection. North Carolina was ice cold with any shots outside the paint, only making 1 out of 10 three-point attempts. 16 of the Heels’ 24 first-half points came in the paint, but they only shot 36% from the floor overall. Carolina was playing uncharacteristically uninspired sloppy basketball, while Duke was flourishing offensively shooting 50% from the floor and ending the half on a 15-0 run resulting in a 21-point lead for the Blue Devils at intermission. 

In the second half, the Tar Heels came out with a sense of urgency on both ends of the floor. However, five minutes into the second half, UNC still found themselves down by 22. It would be an uphill battle for North Carolina to climb back into this game. The Heels were making shots off quality shots generated in the paint but couldn’t get defensive stops. Duke was getting whatever shot they wanted offensively in the paint and on the perimeter with them exploiting UNC’s lack of size. Both teams were shooting over 50% from the field at one point in the second half. Once the Tar Heels picked up their ball pressure and created more resistance at the rim against Duke’s offensive attack, UNC got stops, which allowed them to get out in transition and attack Duke’s defense before it got set. The combination of defensive stops and offensive success in the paint for the Heels allowed them to cut into Duke’s double-digit lead. North Carolina was playing with an extreme effort on both ends of the floor and a toughness we didn’t see in the first half. No one could buy a shot from the outside except Elliott Cadeau who made all three of North Carolina’s threes, but UNC was relentless in getting to the basket, scoring in the paint, and drawing fouls, which gave their offense some life. 

 Duke was up 22 points early in the second half, and the Tar Heels stormed back to only be down by 1 with 32 seconds left after two Seth Trimble free throws. Elliott Cadeau, Seth Trimble, Drake Powell, and Ven-Allen Lubin all made crucial shots in the closing minutes, along with Drake Powell and Ven-Allen Lubin making two outstanding blocks that helped close the gap. With a chance to tie or take the lead with 4 seconds left, UNC center Ven Allen Lubin was at the free throw line after being fouled on the most important possession of the game for the Tar Heels. Lubin missed the first free throw and made the second one, but the basket was negated due to one of the most bizarre decisions by Jaelyn Withers to move before the free throw was taken and a line violation was called against North Carolina. Duke would get the ball the next possession and make free throws to put them up three points. Carolina would attempt a three at the buzzer and it would be no good as the Tar Heels lose in excruciating fashion after charging all the way back in the game.

UNC Stats

Final

	1	2	T
UNC	24	47	71
DUKE	45	29	74

  

UNC Bright Spots  

Ven Allen-Lubin had 20 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block 

Elliott Cadeau had 15 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block 

Seth Trimble had 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists. 

Drake Powell had 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist, and 1 steal 

Needs Work  

The coaching staff must do a better job of making in-game adjustments. When the opponent is disrupting their offense and the players can’t buy a basket, it’s up to the coaching staff to run plays that can get them easier shots. They could also implement a full-court trap and press in an attempt to force turnovers for more opportunities for easy baskets. 

The Tar Heels need to improve their ball movement and player movement. Offensively, they cannot afford to have empty possessions or long time periods without scoring due to stagnant offense.   

Defensively, they must be better with their intensity, energy, effort, and ball pressure. They have allowed teams to get too comfortable on offense early in games and must come out with more focus and attention to detail on that end of the floor. The Tar Heels must prioritize every possession on both sides of the floor. Every play and possession matters and should be just as important as the last. They cannot afford to get lazy and not give their all on either end of the floor. These are the habits that they can build to help them as they get ready to make a run in the NCAA tournament. 

Final Observations 

North Carolina won its first two games of the ACC tournament but was unable to keep it going against Duke tonight. Those two wins and the close loss tonight should be enough to boost the Heels’ resume to make the tournament, but we won’t know for sure until Sunday when all the teams are announced that made the NCAA tournament. 

North Carolina has had some heartbreaking losses this year, but this loss has to be at the top. The Heels were down 24 to their arch-rival and stormed all the way back within one point in the final seconds with a chance to tie or take the lead at the free-throw line. Ven Allen Lubin missed the first free throw and made the second free throw but a line violation by Jaelyn Withers was called that negated the basket. Duke would eventually win the game and the Heels lost in devastating fashion. UNC has had its ups and downs this year but over the last 10 games has played some really good basketball. Tonight in the first half, Carolina reverted back to the team in the middle of the season that was tentative, indecisive, lacked toughness, and had no identity on either side of the floor.

But in the second half, the team that we’ve seen win 8 of their last 9 games showed up. They played with a sense of urgency, hunger, intensity, determination, and fight to show they belonged on the court with one of the best teams in the country. This team went back to playing Carolina basketball sharing the ball, attacking the basket relentlessly, playing lockdown defense, playing together, and leaving it all on the floor. The Heels cannot afford to play lazy, lackadaisical basketball and expect to win the biggest games. Inconsistency in the effort has plagued this team all season, and they must find a way to bring that extreme level of focus and attention to detail to every game going forward. The formula for success is there and they have put it on display over the last couple of weeks in their wins. Hopefully, we can get another chance to see it in the NCAA tournament next week but this could be the final time we see this team play. Next up is the Selection Sunday where we find out if North Carolina has made the tournament and who and where they will be playing.