UNC Basketball Moments After – UNC vs SMU 97-83 Loss
UNC Tar Heels Basketball Team’s Lackluster Defensive Effort Leads to Their First ACC Loss on the Road Against SMU
by Derrick Isaiah Clyburn
The North Carolina basketball team traveled to face off against SMU in a very hostile environment on Saturday afternoon. The Tar Heels didn’t get off to the best start in this game. The Heels had 5 turnovers in the first few minutes, their shot selection was bad and they struggled to defend SMU’s perimeter players. Because of North Carolina’s early mistakes, SMU was beating them with their transition offense and their ability to get in the paint and kick it out to their shooters for wide open threes. SMU shot 50% from the field, had 10 fast break points and outscored North Carolina in the paint in the first half. Even with all the early success the Mustangs had for most of the half, the Tar Heels was able to weather that storm and go on a 13-5 run to cut into SMU’s lead. The key to UNC’s turnaround and run was forcing SMU into more contested shots, better ball movement offensively that generated more quality shots, and getting into the paint to put pressure on SMU’s defense and take advantage of their ability to score inside. The Heels’ ball movement and dribble penetration helped generate open threes and Carolina made 6 of their 12 three-point attempts. Jarin Stevenson was tremendous off the bench in the first half with nine points to go along with Dixon and High who also impactful contributions off the bench and was huge part of their better defense to end the half as the Tar Heels went into halftime tied 39-39.
In the second half, SMU came out and their offense just looked unstoppable. It felt like the Mustangs made almost every shot they put up even if it was contested. SMU would go on to score 58 points in the second half including 9 made threes, capping off UNC’s worst defensive performance of the season. The Mustangs just got whatever they wanted offensively in the paint or the perimeter. The Tar Heels had no answers for SMU’s offense and really struggled to stop SMU’s guard Boopie Miller, who had 27 points and 12 assists and was the engine of their offense. UNC’s offense was fine and kept them in the game but if the Heels had any consecutive empty possessions SMU would just score and extend their lead. Carolina just never matched the intensity, energy, effort of SMU consistently in this game, and in the second half all the shots falling for SMU just took a toll on UNC and their belief that they had a chance to come back and win the game. For the first time all season long, the Tar Heels allowed over 75 points in a game and had one of the worst defensive showings in UNC history. SMU shot 62% from the field in this game, outscored the Heels in the paint and on the fast fastbreak, made 14 threes while shooting 50% from behind the arc, and just overwhelmed Carolina with their tough shot making. North Carolina was outplayed, never made SMU uncomfortable, and allowed the Mustangs to dictate the pace, the style of play, and force the Tar Heels to do things out of their character and identity, leading to the second loss of the season.
UNC Stats
| 1 | 2 | T | |
| 12 North Carolina 13-2 | 39 | 44 | 83 |
| SMU 12-2 | 39 | 58 | 97 |
| Starters | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | MIN | STL | BLK | TO |
| S. Trimble | 22 | 3 | 5 | 8/16 | 3/7 | 3/7 | 2 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| H. Veesaar | 14 | 6 | 2 | 4/11 | 2/4 | 4/4 | 4 | 32 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| C. Wilson | 13 | 7 | 4 | 6/11 | 0/1 | 1/2 | 1 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| L. Bogavac | 8 | 4 | 6 | 2/4 | 2/4 | 2/2 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| K. Evans | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1/2 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Bench | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | MIN | STL | BLK | TO |
| J. Stevenson | 16 | 4 | 0 | 5/6 | 3/4 | 3/4 | 4 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| D. Dixon | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1/5 | 1/4 | 0/0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Z. High | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Powell | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1/4 | 0/3 | 0/0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Young | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| I. Denis | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| I. Matlekovic | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| J. Brown | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| E. Davis | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| J. Holbrook | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| E. Smith | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 83 | 26 | 21 | 29/60 | 12/28 | 13/19 | 12 | – | 4 | 1 | 9 |
| Starters | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | MIN | STL | BLK | TO |
| B. Miller | 27 | 4 | 12 | 10/13 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 2 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| C. Washington | 23 | 6 | 2 | 7/10 | 5/7 | 4/7 | 4 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| B. Edwards | 15 | 4 | 6 | 6/9 | 2/4 | 1/2 | 2 | 39 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| J. Pierre Jr. | 13 | 3 | 0 | 5/13 | 1/6 | 2/2 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| S. Yigitoglu | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2/6 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 4 | 26 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Bench | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | MIN | STL | BLK | TO |
| J. Toombs | 12 | 2 | 0 | 5/7 | 2/3 | 0/0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| B. Davis-Ray | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1/1 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| S. Walters | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. O’Neal Jr. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Utter | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| N. Walls | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| M. Holmes | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| N. Kalischer-Stork | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| C. Puryear | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| B. White III | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 97 | 25 | 23 | 36/60 | 14/27 | 11/16 | 17 | – | 4 | 5 | 6 |
UNC Bright Spots
Seth Trimble had 22 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds.
Jarin Stevenson had 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal.
Henri Veesaar had 14 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block.
Caleb Wilson had 13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals.
Needs Work
The Tar Heels’ perimeter defense needs to be better. They must be better closing out on shooters, containing ball handlers, and even running their opponent off the three-point line when their hot from behind the arc. Their rotations must be faster, and their communication must be better to make sure everyone is on the same page when they are either switching, hedging, doubling, or going under or over on their pick and roll coverages.
When teams get hot offensively, I would like to see Coach Davis and his staff do a better job of making adjustments on the fly. They must be better with switching defenses and coverages to throw different looks at the opposing offense, which will help disrupt their flow and rhythm. Being more aggressive offensively and getting the other team’s best player in foul trouble can also be another way to disrupt the rhythm and flow of the opposing team’s offense.
The Tar Heels also need to make sure they don’t allow teams to take them out of their game and dictate the way they play. Offensively, they are at their best when they’re pushing the pace, the ball is moving, the bigs are getting touches, and the guards are getting dribble penetration because it usually leads to great shots. They must play that way no matter what defense the opponent throws at them.
Final Observations
The Tar Heels fall to 13-2 on the season. This loss was a learning experience for the Heels. When you play good teams on the road, you must match or exceed the physicality and energy of your opponent. You cannot allow them to get too comfortable early in the game and never disrupt their rhythm. That is what happened in this game. Carolina couldn’t stop SMU’s best player and never took any of the role players out of their rhythm either. SMU just scored the ball too easily and that should never happen. UNC is a good defensive team, but they do have limitations. Other than Seth Trimble, the guards like Kyan Evans, Derek Dixon, Luka Bogavac struggle to stay in front of their man because at times they are too small or not laterally quick enough.
For most of this season, the Heels have been able to cover for those players’ defensive limitations, but in this game, it was exposed. Coach Davis and his staff must do a better job of putting their players in a better position by switching up defenses and coverages that will make them more effective and disruptive on defense. The Tar Heels are a really good team, but when things are not going their way, they must learn not to panic and continue to do what has been successful all season long. With the upcoming week off, North Carolina should be focusing on their defense and ways they can make it better along with continuing to emphasize fast pace, ball movement, and inside out play offensively. Next up is Wake Forest on Saturday January 10 at 6:00 P.M. on the ACC Network.