UNC Tar Heels Basketball Team Has Strong Finish Against the Deacons

by Derrick Clyburn

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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.