UNC Tar Heels Basketball Team Outlast Miami and Will Meet Duke in the Semi-Finals

by Derrick Clyburn

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams and players react after a basket against Miami during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Atlantic Coast Conference men’s tournament Thursday, March 8, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

The Tar Heels didn’t come to play basketball for the first seven minutes and five seconds. That’s how long it took North Carolina to hit their first basket, and it was from an unlikely source, Seventh Woods. UNC was down by 14 points before Seventh Woods completed a three-point play. Roy had to put all reserves in the game because the starters were sleepwalking and were 0-12 from the field. The Tar Heels finally started to play ball and clamped down on defense and led by one at halftime. North Carolina took control of the second half led by Theo Pinson who had a career-high 25 points and 11 rebounds.

UNC Game Stats

North Carolina

MIN  FG    3PT     FT     REB  AST STL BLK  TO  PF  PTS

  1. Pinson        35   9-12    2-2     5-6     11      3       3       1       4       2        25
  2. Maye           30   1-15    0-5     0-0     13      2       0       0       1       1        2
  3. Berry II       32   4-14    1-6     2-2       2       2       1       1       1       1        11
  4. Johnson     31   3-8     1-4     6-7       7       5       1       1       0       1        13
  5. Williams    34   4-9     1-5     2-2       5       1       0       3       0       3        11
  6. Rush               1   0-0     0-0     0-0     0       0       0       0       0       0        0
  7. Brooks          9   2-3     0-0     1-2      3        1       0       1       0       1        5
  8. Manley         6   2-2     0-0     0-0      1       0       0       1       1       1        4
  9. Miller             1   0-0     0-0     0-0     0       1       0       0       0       0        0
  10. Rohlman     1    1-1      0-0     0-1     0       0       0       0       0       0        2
  11. Huffman     1    1-1     0-0     0-0     1       1       0       0       0       0        2
  12. Ma                 1   0-0     0-0    -0     0       0       0       0       0       0        0
  13. Platek         4   0-2     0-2     1-2     2       0       0       0       0       1        1
  14. Robinson  8   1-1     1-1     0-0     3       2       0       0       1       1        3
  15. Woods       6   1-3     0-0     1-1     0       1       0       0       0       1        3

TEAM     29-71   6-25    18-23   52   19      5     8       8       13        82

40.8%   24.0%   78.3%

Miami

MIN    FG    3PT     FT    REB  AST STL  BLK  TO  PF   PTS

  1. Huell               22      2-8     0-0     1-2     7       0       1       0        1       0        5
  2. Newton         33     7-16    2-2     1-2     7       1       0       0       4       3        17
  3. Lawrence II 27     4-7      2-2     2-3     6       1       1       3        0       2        12
  4. Lykes             27     3-11    0-4     0-0     1       1       1       0        1       4        6
  5. Walker IV     35    4-14    0-5     1-2     6       3       1       0       1       2        9
  6. Stowell           1       0-0     0-0     0-0    0       0       0       0       0       0        0
  7. Waardenburg 19 1-2     0-0     0-0     3       3       0       2       1       2        2
  8. Miller Jr.        5        1-2     0-0     1-2       1       0       0       0       0       0        3
  9. Izundu          13      2-3     0-0     1-2      5       2       0       1       0       4        5
  10. Robinson      1      0-1      0-1     0-0      0       0       0       0       0       1        0
  11. Vasiljevic     17    2-6      2-5     0-0      1       0       0       0       0       2        6

TEAM          26-70   6-19    7-13    41      11      4       6       8       20        65

37.1%   31.6%   53.8%

UNC Bright Spots

Theo Pinson had 25 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 assists.

Cameron Johnson had 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Kenny Williams had 11 points, 5 rebounds,  3 blocks and 1 assists.

Joel Berry had 11 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, and 1 steals.

Needs Work

North Carolina needs to work on eliminating scoring droughts by attacking the basket and getting to the free throw line.

Luke Maye needs to get out of his shooting slump. Be a playmaker in other areas until the shots start falling again.

Final Observations

We know that it is March Madness, and you survive and move on taking it one game at a time. UNC has found other scoring options the last couple games to keep the team moving forward. Theo Pinson has been big. They need Berry and Maye to get back into their scoring groove to make the games run a little smoother.

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