UNC Tar Heels Basketball Team Implode Down the Stretch Again
by Derrick Clyburn
The Tar Heels basketball team has not learned how to close out and win games this season. Through all of the injuries and misfortunes, they have led over half of their ACC opponents late in the second half. UNC allowed Notre Dame to hit a game-winning shot with 2.4 seconds left in the game.
Cole Anthony settled for another off-balanced 3-pointer up by 2 points with 16 seconds left rather than attacking the basket and drawing a foul.
UNC played well enough to win another close ACC game but fell short again. It has to be deflating to continue losing in such a dramatic fashion. Cole Anthony led all scoring with 23 points.
UNC Game Stats
1 2 T
North Carolina 33 43 76
Notre Dame 36 41 77
North Carolina
Pts FG 3FG FT REB A TO Min +/-
1 BLACK 9 2-6 1-2 4-4 10 3 2 34 0
2 ANTHONY 23 7-16 3-8 6-6 3 6 1 38 -2
5 BACOT 2 1-6 0-0 0-0 10 2 3 24 4
15 BROOKS 22 11-18 0-0 0-2 7 5 4 36 9
55 KEELING 9 3-8 1-2 2-2 4 0 1 27 -2
3 PLATEK 0 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 4 -2
4 ROBINSON 11 4-8 3-6 0-0 3 2 1 25 -1
22 MILLER 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 2 0 0 2 -4
32 PIERCE 0 0-3 0-1 0-0 3 0 0 10 -7
TOTALS 76 28-66 8-20 12-14 47 18 12 200
42.4% 40.0% 85.7%
Notre Dame
Pts FG 3FG FT REB A TO Min +/-
0 PFLUEGER 3 1-3 1-3 0-0 6 5 0 27 9
3 HUBB 20 7-17 2-9 4-5 1 8 3 38 -3
10 GIBBS 14 5-11 4-8 0-0 2 0 0 38 2
11 DURHAM 8 3-5 0-0 2-5 1 0 0 14 -4
33 MOONEY 13 6-13 0-4 1-2 10 0 1 34 1
14 LASZEWSKI 11 3-7 2-6 3-5 3 1 1 26 11
23 GOODWIN 8 3-7 2-4 0-0 6 1 1 23 -11
TOTALS 77 28-63 11-34 10-17 31 15 6 200
44.4% 32.4% 58.8%
UNC Bright Spots
Garrison Brooks had 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Cole Anthony had 23 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Brandon Robinson had 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 2assists.
Needs Work
The Tar Heels have to learn how to keep their lead by scoring or getting fouled at the end of the game. UNC needs to move without the ball, fight through screens and play better help-side defense. They need to attack the basket more aggressively.
Final Observations
UNC has to be more aggressive at the end of the game. They settle for too many jump shots. Tonight both teams were in the double bonus and North Carolina had the lead and they took bad shots or turned the ball over. They must have better basketball IQs as a team. Boneheaded plays like moving screens or picking up their dribble with no one to pass the ball to have to end. Score or get fouled. If you get called for a charge at least you are trying to make a play. It’s all about winning plays to end the game.