UNC Tar Heels Basketball Team Has Strong Finish Against the Deacons
by Derrick Clyburn
The Tar Heels basketball team allowed Wake Forest to have their way in the first half with dribble penetration and open 3 pointers. North Carolina put the focus on getting the ball inside to the big men. They had good looks but Garrison Brooks and Day’Ron Sharpe couldn’t finish around the rim which gave the Deacons a two-point lead to end the half.
In the second half UNC picked up the defensive intensity which created turnovers leading to easy baskets for the Tar Heels. Caleb Love had his best game of the season leading the team with a career-high in scoring with 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assist.
UNC Game Stats
1 2 T North Carolina 31 49 80 Wake Forest 33 40 73 North Carolina Pts FG 3FG FT REB A TO Min +/- 1 BLACK 8 3-5 0-1 2-2 6 8 1 30 11 2 LOVE 20 7-12 2-3 4-7 4 3 3 33 11 5 BACOT 18 8-10 0-0 2-4 6 3 2 22 8 15 BROOKS 10 3-11 0-1 4-6 7 1 1 33 15 24 WALTON 7 3-8 1-4 0-0 4 2 2 25 12 0 HARRIS 0 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 6 -8 3 PLATEK 0 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 1 8 -1 4 DAVIS 13 4-7 0-0 5-6 2 0 1 17 -3 11 SHARPE 4 1-6 0-0 2-2 6 0 1 22 -7 13 KESSLER 0 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 3 -3 14 JOHNSON 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 TOTALS 80 29-62 3-9 19-27 38 18 12 200 46.8% 33.3% 70.4% Wake Forest Pts FG 3FG FT REB A TO Min +/- 1 MUCIUS 27 9-16 7-12 2-3 7 1 3 30 0 4 WILLIAMSON 27 8-15 3-6 8-10 3 5 3 38 0 20 ANTONIO 3 1-5 1-4 0-0 2 2 1 25 -7 25 MASSOUD 0 0-4 0-3 0-0 5 0 1 25 -11 33 OGUAMA 8 2-6 0-0 4-4 7 2 1 20 -4 0 NEATH 0 0-2 0-1 0-0 0 2 4 11 2 2 JOHNSON 6 2-6 2-6 0-0 3 1 1 22 0 23 WILKINS 0 0-1 0-1 0-0 1 1 0 7 -1 30 OKPOMO 2 1-2 0-0 0-0 4 0 0 16 -5 35 WHITT 0 0-2 0-1 0-0 1 0 5 6 -9 TOTALS 73 23-59 13-34 14-17 36 14 20 200 39.0% 38.2% 82.4%
UNC Bright Spots
Caleb Love had 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Armando Bacot had 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists.
R.J. Davis had 13 points and 2 rebounds.
Garrison Brooks had 10 points and 7 rebounds.
Needs Work
The Tar Heels have to limit the dribble penetration. They also need to defend the 3-point shot more effectively. The big men need to finish with a higher percentage around the basket.
Final Observations
UNC is starting to develop their chemistry as a team. The freshmen guards are hitting shots, playing better defense, and cutting down on their turnovers.
The North Carolina big men have to shoot at a higher percentage to put more pressure on the opponents. Roy has to be more aware of the player combinations. Kessler, Platek, and Sharpe shouldn’t be on the floor at the same time. Opponents go on double figure runs which leads to the Tar Heels having to play from behind.
It’s good to see UNC finish the game strong, They must keep work on closing out games.