UNC Tar Heels Basketball First ACC Win

by Derrick Clyburn

The Tar Heels basketball team started off very sluggishly. They seemed to have the Christmas Holiday hangover. UNC came out with very little intensity in the first half. Carolina allowed a very young Wake Forest team build confidence on the road. Carolina shot 39 percent for the game. As a result, Wake was able to hang around for a possible upset. UNC had to fight and claw to pull out the victory. Led by Luke Maye with 17 points and 15 rebounds, and Joel Berry with 16 points and 6 rebounds.

UNC Game Stats

North Carolina

FG     3PT   FT    REB   AST STL BLK  TO   PF   PTS

1. Maye             7-18  1-3     2-3     15      2       0       2       3       2       17
2. Pinson          2-5    0-0     4-5     7       6       0       0       3       3       8
3. Brooks         2-3    0-0     2-6     7       1       0       0       0       1         6
4. Williams      4-11   1-6     4-4     3       4       2       0       0       2       13
5. Berry II         7-17  2-8     0-0     6       2       2       0       3       1       16
6. Huffman     0-2   0-0     0-0     2       0       0       0       2       1        0
7. Manley        1-3    0-0     0-0     2       0       0       3       0       2       2
8. Robinson   0-1    0-0     0-0     0       0       0       0       0       1       0
9. Platek         0-0   0-0     0-0     0       0       0       0       1       2        0
10. Felton          0-1    0-1     0-0     0       0       0       0       0       0       0
11. Johnson     4-7    3-4     0-0     5       0       0       0       0       0      11

TEAM    27-68  7-22 12-18  49    15     4       5      12      15      73

39.7%   31.8%   66.7%

Wake Forest

FG   3PT     FT   REB  AST  STL  BLK  TO  PF  PTS

1. Thompson   2-4   2-3     1-4      5       0       1       1       0       3       7
2. Moore            2-5   0-0     0-3     8       1       0       5       1       3       4
3. Wilbekin       3-9   3-6     0-0     2       2       1       0       0       2       9
4. Crawford      5-13 3-5    4-4     3       5       1       0       0       1       17
5. Brown            2-5   0-2     1-1      2       0       0       0       2       2       5
6. Mitchell         1-1    0-0     0-0     0       0       1       0       0       0       2
7. Sarr                 2-5   1-2     0-0     4       0       0       1       1       4        5
8. Woods          5-11  1-4     1-2     3       1         1       0       1       0       12
9. Childress     3-9   1-6     1-2     4       7       2       0       1        2         8
10. Eggleston   0-1   0-1     0-0     2       0       0       0       0       0       0

TEAM     25-63  11-29 8-16    34     16     7     7      7       17      69

39.7%   37.9%   50.0%

UNC Bright Spots

Luke Maye had his 8th double-double of the season with 17 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Joel Berry had 19 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.

Kenny Williams had 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Cameron Johnson is still working himself back into shape as he had a solid 11 points and 5 rebounds.

Needs Work

Carolina needs to begin the games with higher intensity, and not allow teams to build confidence on their home floor. The Tar Heels bigs need to play stronger around the basket on both ends of the floor. They must play with higher intensity and effort.

Final Observations

This Tar Heels basketball team must realize that they have a bullseye on their back because they are North Carolina and the reigning National Champions. Carolina must get faster starts so that teams don’t hang around so easily. The Freshmen bigs must finish around the rim better. But eeking out an ACC win at home. They will take it. It is better to learn from a win than a loss any day.