UNC Tar Heels Basketball Team Plays Lethargic in Loss

by Derrick Clyburn

The Tar Heels basketball team’s minds seemed to be at home for Christmas because they played with no energy or urgency. North Carolina lacked intensity and seemed disinterested. They allowed Kentucky to do whatever they wanted without much resistance. UNC didn’t move the ball to the open man. They settled for one on one moves which is not their game. The Tar Heels turned the ball over 17 times and many were careless passes or not coming to the ball. Cameron Johnson led all scoring with 17 points and 4 rebounds.

UNC Game Stats

1       2       T

#9 North Carolina      31      41      72

#19 Kentucky           40      40      80

North Carolina FG  3PT   FT   REB  AST  STL   TO    PF    PTS

L. Maye        6-12  3-5   1-2     6        1        2        3       4       16

G. Brooks      3-3    0-0   1-1      8       2        1        3       4        7

C. Johnson     6-12   2-5  3-4     4       2        1        4       1        17

K. Williams    4-10  1-2   2-4     6       5        1        1       3       11

C. White       3-11   1-4   1-2      2       2        1        3       2       8

N. Little      2-8    0-2  0-0      1       2        0        1        1       4

S. Manley      1-1     0-0   0-0    3      0        0       0       1       2

B. Robinson    0-1    0-0    0-0    0      0        1       0       0       0

S. Woods       2-4     0-0     3-3     1       3       1       2       3       7

A. Platek      0-1     0-0     0-0     0      0      0       0       0       0

L. Black       0-1     0-1     0-0     2       1       0       0       0       0

TEAM        27-64   7-19  11-16   33    18      8      17     19    72

               42.2% 36.8% 68.8%

Kentucky   FG    3PT    FT    REB  AST  STL  TO    PF    PTS

R. Travis      6-15  1-4   7-11    6        3        0        1        2       20

P. Washington 5-8   1-3   0-0   9       8        0       2       2        11

A. Hagans      2-6    0-0   3-4     4       3        7        5       3       7

K. Johnson    8-12   4-7   3-4     3       3       2         1       5       23

T. Herro       6-17   3-8   0-1      4       5       2        3       2       15

N. Richards    1-1    0-0   0-0      5       0       0        0       1        2

E. Montgomery 0-0  0-0 0-0  1        0       0        1       1       0

I. Quickley    0-1   0-1   2-2     4       1       0       3       2       2

J. Baker       0-3  0-3    0-0     1       1       0       1       0       0

               44.4% 34.6% 68.2%

TEAM       28-63 9-26 15-22  43    24     11      18     18    80

UNC Bright Spots

Cameron Johnson had 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 2assists.

Luke Maye had 16 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assists, and 2 steals.

Needs Work

The Tar Heels need to continue working on cutting down on their turnovers. They had 17 more turnovers tonight. UNC needs to play with consistency. They take plays off on defense and have too many offensive lapses.

Final Observations

The Tar Heels allowed Kentucky to dictate the tempo. They didn’t play with any passion. It seemed that Kentucky wanted this game more. Even though the game was sloppy and ugly at times North Carolina didn’t take advantage of the foul trouble that Kentucky was in. UNC was in the bonus with 7 minutes to play and they settled for too many jump shots rather than attacking the basket. They bailed Kentucky out by being passive at the end of the game.