UNC Basketball Moments After – UNC vs. Auburn 85-72 Loss 

UNC Tar Heels Basketball Team Falls Short Trying to Match Auburn’s Physicality in the Semi-Finals of the Maui Classic

by Derrick Isaiah Clyburn

The North Carolina basketball team faced off against Auburn in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational. Slow starts continue to be a trend for the Tar Heels this season and it was no different in this game. Auburn jumped out to a 21-6 lead over the Heels early. Auburn was just sharper and more locked in on both ends of the floor in the first few minutes of this game. The Heels were stagnant on offense and defensively allowed too many open shots to the Tigers. Once UNC adjusted, they would respond with a 13-2 run to chip away at Auburn’s lead. This run was sparked by Carolina’s defense, allowing the Heels to get out in transition and create more quality shots in the open court. Even though Carolina went on a run, Auburn never let the Tar Heels take the lead. UNC had no answer for leading scorer Johnni Broome, who was outstanding in the first half with 18 points and 10 rebounds and took full advantage of UNC’s lack of size inside. Late in the first half, Auburn just got any shot they wanted offensively and everything the Heels did offensively felt rushed leading to bad shot selection and costly turnovers. 

Auburn opened the second half on a 12-2 run that extended their lead to 18 before the first official timeout. Auburn’s size on the perimeter and their rim protection inside forced North Carolina’s guards into tough shots and completely disrupted the flow of the Heels’ offense and what makes them so effective. Auburn did a great job of containing UNC’s guards and not allowing them to get downhill to draw fouls and get to the free-throw line, which has been a staple of North Carolina’s offense so far this season. Unlike last night when the Heels were able to overcome a double-digit deficit, Carolina was unable to make that type of comeback tonight. UNC couldn’t make enough stops defensively and their offense struggled when it counted, looking completely out of sorts with several missed shots around the rim and open shots on the perimeter. Auburn outplayed the Heels for most of the night and had 6 players that scored in double figures. Seth Trimble led UNC in scoring with 17, but it wasn’t enough as the Tar Heels fell to the Tigers 85-72. 

UNC Game Stats

Final

12T
AUB404585
UNC324072

UNC Bright Spots  

Seth Trimble had 17 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal. 

RJ Davis had 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist. 

Elliott Cadeau had 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. 

Ven Allen-Lubin had 10 points and 9 rebounds. 

Jaelyn Withers had 10 points and 7 rebounds. 

Needs Work  

The Tar Heels need to start games with more energy, effort, and intensity on both ends of the floor. Their slow starts allow teams to get confidence early in games and put them at a disadvantage against their opponents.  

Coach Hubert Davis must do a better job of running plays for the Bigs, incorporating them more in the offense for more than just setting screens and rolling and crashing the offensive glass. Jalen Washington and Ven Allen Lubin are skilled enough offensively to have specific plays designed just for them. This will make them a more consistent offensive threat that opposing defenses will have to account for and it will make it easier for the guards and wings to get more quality shots at the rim and on the perimeter. 

Final Observations 

The Tar Heels fall to 4-2 on the season. UNC has gotten off to slow starts in almost every game now and in this game against #4-ranked Auburn, it came back to bite them. They cannot afford to get off to slow starts against the top teams in the country. They must play with a certain effort, energy, and intensity from tipoff. As the season progresses, UNC will need to find creative ways to get their offense going when they are playing against bigger teams. Auburn’s size disrupted the Heels’ offensive flow. When their defense struggles and does not allow them to get out in transition, their offense becomes an issue for them.

Adjustments will need to be made both on offense and defense to make up for the bigs’ shortcomings. The good thing is it is still early in the season, the Tar Heels still possess one of the best backcourts in the country, and the talented freshmen Ian Jackson and Drake Powell are still adjusting. This team has not scratched the surface of how good they can be but must find a way to consistently play at a high level for 40 minutes which have seen them do in stretches this season. Next up is Michigan State on November 28th at 9:30 for a third straight day of basketball in the Maui Invitational. 

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