UNC Tar Heels Basketball Team Battle With Notre Dame in Their ACC and Home Opener

by Derrick Clyburn

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The Tar Heels basketball team win their home opener over a scrappy Notre Dame squad with an outstanding debut by Cole Anthony who had 34 points 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

North Carolina started the game off very sloppy which is to be expected with so many new players making their first game appearance in the Dean Dome.

In the second half, UNC settled down and play solid defense and allowed Cole Anthony to take over the game.

UNC Game Stats

                                               1         2         T

#9 North Carolina      30      46      76

Notre Dame                  31      34      65

 

North Carolina

                      FG    3PT    FT   REB  AST  STL TO  PTS

1. Brooks    4-7    0-0     2-3     9       2       1       3       10
2. Bacot       3-7    0-0     1-6     8       1       0       2       7
3. Anthony 12-24 6-11  4-5    11      5       1       4       34
4. Black        2-7   0-0     1-1      7       5       0       1       5
5. Keeling    2-4   1-3     0-0     1       0       0       5       5
6. Huffman 0-0  0-0     0-0    0       1       0       0       0
7. Pierce      1-6   1-4      2-2     7       0       0       1       5
8. Platek     3-4   2-2     0-0     4       2       0       1       8

 

TEAM           27-59  10-20 10-17 52   15     2     18      76

                      45.8%   50.0%   58.8%

 

Notre Dame

                       FG     3PT   FT   REB  AST STL  TO   PTS

1. Mooney    5-13  0-2    0-2    8       0       1       1       10
2. Durham    1-4     0-0    0-0    4       2       1       1       2
3. Hubb         8-17   5-9    1-2     2       6       1       1       22
4. Pflueger  0-3     0-3    1-2     1       1       2       1        1
5. Gibbs        6-12   4-6    3-4     2     4       0       0       19
6. Laszewski 1-7   0-5    1-2     7       1       1       0       3
7. Goodwin 0-3     0-3    2-2     0      2       0       1       2
8. Carmody 3-9    0-3    0-0     2      0       4       1       6

 

TEAM           24-68   9-31    8-14    31      16      10      6       65

                         35.3%   29.0%   57.1%

UNC Bright Spots

Cole Anthony had 34 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Garrison Brooks had 10 points and 9 rebounds.

Andrew Platek had 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Needs Work

The Tar Heels need to take care of the ball better. North Carolina turned it over 18 times for the game. The players need to move better without the ball and closeout on three-point shooters.

UNC needs to continue to work on their chemistry and define their roles. Cole Anthony needs some help from the other wing players with perimeter scoring. Christian Keeling has to step up until Brandon Robinson gets back.

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Final Observations

The Tar Heels had a tough first game opponent in Notre Dame. It was also an ACC conference game. North Carolina did what they had to do to get the win. UNC has a lot of room for improvement. They played with five injured players watching in street clothes. Hopefully, those players will return soon so that they can build some continuity.