UNC Tar Heels Basketball Team Stiff-Arm Duke and Punch Their Ticket to the ACC Finals

by Derrick Clyburn

North Carolina guard Joel Berry II (2) reacts during the first half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Duke in the Atlantic Coast Conference men’s tournament Friday, March 9, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

The Tar Heels basketball team got “Revengence” coined by Joel Berry. The two teams split the regular season home and home. North Carolina played with a purpose. They controlled the game on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. UNC had 24 assists on 28 field goals. They moved the ball and attacked the gaps in the zone. Five players got in double figures led by Luke Maye who broke out of his slump and had 17 points and 10 rebounds.

UNC Game Stats

North Carolina

Box Score   FG     3PT    FT   REB  AST STL BLK  TO  PF   PTS

  1. Pinson          3-8    0-1     2-2     4       7       3       0       2       4       8
  2. Maye             8-18  0-1     1-3     10      4       2       1       3       3       17
  3. Berry II         3-11   3-7     4-4     5       6       3       0       1       1       13
  4. Johnson      4-10  2-7     0-0     4       1       1       0       1       1       10
  5. Williams     4-9    2-7     0-0     6       6       1       0       2       1       10
  6. Brooks        3-7    0-0     4-6     4       0       1       0       1       3       10
  7. Manley        3-6   0-0     0-0     2       0       0       0       0       2       6
  8. Huffman    0-0   0-0     0-0     0       0       0       0       2       0       0
  9. Robinson   0-1   0-1     0-0     0       0       0       0       0       0       0
  10. Woods        0-1   0-0     0-0     1       0        0       0       1       0       0

TEAM           28-71   7-24    11-15   39      24      11      1       13      15      74

39.4%   29.2%   73.3%

Duke

Box Score   FG    3PT     FT   REB  AST STL BLK TO   PF   PTS

  1. Carter Jr       4-7    0-1     6-8     9        1       1       4       2       1       14
  2. Bagley III      7-13 0-1     5-6     13      0       0       1       4       3       19
  3. Allen               4-11 4-10    4-5     4       4       2       0       4       4       16
  4. Duval             0-6   0-3     0-0     3       7       2       0       5       2       0
  5. Trent Jr.        7-16  2-7     4-4     6       1       3       0       0       1       20
  6. DeLaurier   0-0   0-0     0-0     0       0       0       0       0       2       0
  7. Bolden         0-0   0-0     0-0     1       0       0       2       0       2       0
  8. O’Connell    0-1   0-1     0-0     1       0       0       0       2       0       0

TEAM 22-54   6-23  19-23   40   13      8       7       18      15      69

40.7%   26.1%   82.6%

UNC Bright Spots

Luke Maye had 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Joel Berry had 13 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals.

Cameron Johnson had 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist.

Kenny Williams had 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Garrison Brooks had 10 points and 4 rebounds.

Needs Work

UNC needs to finish games off. Put their foot on the opponent’s neck. Play the whole 40 minutes. Don’t let up. Establish that killer instinct.

Final Observations

Many Sports Analyst wrote the Tar Heels off. Stated that UNC didn’t have a chance against such a talented team as Duke. What they don’t know is that you cannot measure the heart of a champion! It’s win or go home! Team ball wins over talent tonight. The Freshmen bigs stepped up tonight. They will be needed the rest of March Madness.

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