UNC Tar Heels Basketball Team Struggles to Finish Against the Yellow Jackets
by Derrick Clyburn
The Tar Heels basketball team started the game much better with no big early deficits but they now have to learn how to finish games. North Carolina couldn’t consistently figure out how to attack Ga. Tech’s 1-3-1 defense. They packed the lane and made it difficult for the UNC big men in the paint. The guards were aggressive reaching in for all balls thrown down low and stole or tied up several post entry passes that frustrated the Tar Heels.
For this season to turn around for North Carolina. The freshmen guards will have to become more consistent in controlling the game on both ends of the floor. They have struggled to hit shots, stop dribble penetration, and take care of the basketball. This Tar Heels team is not that far off. They just have to stay aggressive on offense and maintain focus with intensity on defense. Defensive lapses have hampered them all season. Armando led UNC in scoring with 14 points and 5 rebounds.
UNC Game Stats
1 2 T North Carolina 35 32 67 Georgia Tech 29 43 72 North Carolina Pts FG 3FG FT REB A TO Min +/- 3 PLATEK 3 1-5 1-5 0-0 1 1 3 15 -9 4 DAVIS 5 1-7 1-3 2-2 3 3 3 24 9 5 BACOT 14 5-8 0-0 4-6 5 0 3 23 4 11 SHARPE 7 3-6 0-0 1-4 7 1 1 19 0 24 WALTON 9 3-4 3-4 0-0 2 4 1 22 1 1 BLACK 10 5-7 0-2 0-0 3 2 3 29 -1 2 LOVE 8 3-10 2-5 0-0 2 4 3 25 -12 13 KESSLER 0 0-2 0-0 0-0 2 0 0 8 -2 14 JOHNSON 2 0-0 0-0 2-2 0 1 0 5 -3 15 BROOKS 9 4-7 1-1 0-0 11 1 1 29 -12 TOTALS 67 25-56 8-20 9-14 37 17 18 200 44.6% 40.0% 64.3% Georgia Tech Pts FG 3FG FT REB A TO Min +/- 0 DEVOE 20 7-11 4-7 2-4 3 4 4 37 7 3 PARHAM 9 3-4 3-4 0-1 4 3 1 27 -1 4 USHER 14 6-13 2-5 0-1 1 2 1 31 13 5 WRIGHT 8 3-10 0-2 2-3 5 1 3 39 10 10 ALVARADO 20 8-10 1-3 3-5 7 7 3 36 13 1 STURDIVANT 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 -4 12 MOORE 1 0-1 0-1 1-2 3 1 1 21 -6 24 HOWARD 0 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 8 -7 TOTALS 72 27-51 10-22 8-16 17 13 11 200 52.9% 45.5% 50.0%
UNC Bright Spots
Armando Bacot 14 points and 5 rebounds.
Leaky Black had 10 points and 3 rebounds.
Needs Work
The Tar Heels have to play more consistently on both ends of the floor and stop all of the unforced turnovers. They had 18 turnovers for the game.
North Carolina needs to stop dribble penetration and stay on the 3 point shooters. They have to also have the mental toughness to finish games.
Final Observations
We did see some improvements from North Carolina in this game. They hit more perimeter shots including eight 3 pointers. But the defensive lapses when they had comfortable leads kept UNC from putting Ga. Tech away. The guards must fight harder to prevent dribble penetration. It puts too much pressure on the big men in defensive rotation.
North Carolina is not getting blown out by teams. They are just not making winning plays and getting defensive stops to finish the games. That is their next stage of improvement that has to take place for them to reach any of their long-term goals.
Armando Bacot has been the most consistent player this season for the Tar Heels. They need some other players to step up to give North Carolina more stability. Senior big man Garrison Brooks needs to get out the funk he is in and play ball.