UNC Tar Heels Basketball Team Fall to the Hokies After a Lackluster Start
by Derrick Isaiah Clyburn
The North Carolina basketball team faced off against Virginia Tech in their first ACC matchup of the season on Sunday afternoon. The Tar Heels got some bad news right before tip-off with Armando Bacot and D’Marco Dunn both being ruled out with injuries. UNC got off to slow start and didn’t bring the intensity and effort needed at the beginning of the game with two of their top seven players out with injury. Virginia Tech took full advantage of the Tar Heels’ lackadaisicalness on both sides of the floor and extended their lead to as much as 12 in the first half.
The Tar Heels were out of position and out of rhythm on offense for most of the half without Armando Bacot, which led to bad shot selection and unforced turnovers. The Tar Heels were held to their lowest total of points in a half this season with 27 and shot just 39% from the floor, 1/9 from three, and only had 2 assists. Meanwhile the Hokies got whatever shot they wanted offensively, shot 51% from the field, and had 9 assists on 16 made baskets. Despite all the struggles from the Tar Heels on offense and defense, they only found themselves down 10 going into halftime.
In the second half, Virginia Tech scored the first five points of the half and extended their lead to 15. The Tar Heels couldn’t find any answers for the Hokies’ offense early in the second half. UNC also struggled to get anything going offensively. Virginia Tech’s ball pressure forced the Heels to settle for tough shots as the Hokies’ lead stayed in double figures for the first 13 minutes of the second half. With about 8 minutes left in the game, the Tar Heels finally started to play with more intensity and effort on both sides of the floor after a timeout.
It all started when North Carolina switched to a full court pressure defense and switched to a new lineup including RJ Davis, Caleb Love, Seth Trimble, Tyler Nickel, and Pete Nance. UNC started to bother Virginia Tech offensively with ball deflections and traps, which forced the Hokies into turnovers and bad shots that led to transition baskets for the Tar Heels. This new intensity on defense combined with the Tar Heels change in pace and concerted effort to get downhill and get points in the paint would allow them to cut into their double-digit deficit.
North Carolina’s run would allow them to cut the lead all the way to 3 after a Caleb Love steal and an And-One layup. However, Virgina Tech would score on the next possession extending their lead back to five. The Tar Heels would have a couple more chances to cut more into the lead, but couldn’t make enough stops and shots down the stretch to complete the comeback. This would lead to North Carolina’s fourth straight loss as the Hokies pulled out the 80-72 victory.
UNC Game Stats
1st 2nd TOT
#18 North Carolina 27 45 72
Virginia Tech 37 43 80
North Carolina
| STARTERS | PTS | REB | AST | PF | MIN |
| P. Nance | 18 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 37 |
| R. Davis | 18 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 36 |
| C. Love | 18 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 31 |
| L. Black | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 25 |
| P. Johnson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| BENCH | PTS | REB | AST | PF | MIN |
| T. Nickel | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 25 |
| S. Trimble | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 22 |
| J. McKoy | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| D. Styles | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| W. Shaver | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Va. Tech
| STARTERS | PTS | REB | AST | PF | MIN |
| J. Mutts | 27 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 38 |
| S. Pedulla | 14 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 36 |
| H. Cattoor | 13 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 29 |
| G. Basile | 12 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 29 |
| D. Maddox | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 37 |
| BENCH | PTS | REB | AST | PF | MIN |
| M. Collins | 8 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 21 |
| L. Kidd | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| M. Poteat | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
UNC Bright Spots
Caleb Love had 18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, one steal, and one block.
Pete Nance had 18 points and 10 rebounds.
RJ Davis had 18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, and 1 block.
Needs Work
The Tar Heels effort and intensity to start games has to be better especially when they have key players out due to injuries. It puts the team in a tough position when they get down big early and they have to exert so much energy to have to make a comeback.
They also have to do a better job defending the three-point line. They have allowed too many wide-open threes due to over helping in the paint or losing their man off ball. Their screen defense has to be much better. They need to do a better job of fighting over screens and running the opponent off the line.
The Tar Heels offense needs to be better against zone defenses. It seems like when teams go to zone defenses, they struggle to get good shots and settle too many times for jump shots. Caleb Love and RJ Davis try to go one on one and make poor decisions with their shot selection and it costs the team. Everyone out on the floor also tries to make difficult passes that get intercepted and allows the other team to get out in transition. The Heels must find plays that will exploit those defenses.
The Tar Heels have to be better on the glass. They allow too many offensive rebounds which lead to second chance points for the opponent.
Hubert Davis and his coaching staff need to make in-game adjustments sooner rather than waiting until they get down double figures before changes are made.
The Tar Heels also need to be better job at the free throw line. They get in the bonus often and struggle to take advantage because they don’t make enough free throws.
Final Observations
The Tar Heels fall to 5-4 on the season. This season has not started the way most people thought it would. The Tar Heels have not played up to expectations. They have struggled offensively to consistently get quality shots throughout games because opponents have adjusted to their high pick-and-roll offense. The coaching staff needs to make adjustments so the offense can become more effective and allow the players to flourish.
Defensively, they need be more connected, communicate better, and play with more energy and effort to disrupt the opponents’ offense. One big takeaway from this game is that freshmen Seth Trimble and Tyler Nickel were able to get extended minutes and build confidence, which should bode well for the team’s depth going forward. The Tar Heels will have to regroup and get back to winning habits from last season to turn the season around. Next up is Georgia Tech on December 10th.