Lucas: Rapid Reactions

By Adam Lucas

1. If you remember the Michigan State game in Portland, Sunday's game should have looked very familiar. Texas A&M completely dominated Carolina in every way possible in handing the Tar Heels just the program's second NCAA Tournament defeat in the state of North Carolina.

2. Simply a horrendous first half from Carolina in which the Tar Heels dug themselves a deep 42-28 deficit after struggling mightily offensively. The Tar Heels built a 20-13 lead by beating the Aggies down the court in transition, but then had to play in the half court and went to pieces; UNC had four fast break points in the first 2:56 and then had only four in that category the remainder of the game.

3. It wasn't much of a secret all year that the Tar Heels were susceptible to big teams that could pound them in the paint. That's exactly what happened, as Texas A&M simply dominated in the lane, repeatedly throwing the ball in to Tyler Davis and letting him operate. The Texas A&M first half run stretched to 15-0 and eventually to 19-2 as Carolina seemed very tentative on offense and simply unable to slow down the opponent on defense.

4. And the other weak point for Carolina? An off night from the perimeter. The Tar Heels made just one of 13 three-pointers in the first half and missed eight in a row to close the period, and eventually 13 in a row overall from three. They finished the night a meager five for 30 from the outside. That's the tradeoff you make when you go small and why Roy Williams doesn't like doing it--you're so vulnerable to one off night.

5. Sometimes what you try simply doesn't work. Tired of watching the Aggies dominate against the man-to-man, Roy Williams went to a zone for one possession in the first half...and promptly watched D.J. Hogg toss in a three-pointer. Then the Tar Heels tried trapping in the second half to take advantage of an Aggie team that hadn't been great taking care of the ball...and promptly gave up a dunk.

6. It's hard to understate how completely and how physically Texas A&M dominated that game. On the glass, in the paint...they simply did it in every possible way. That must be the frustration level of what it's like in a typical year to play against Carolina.

7. How complete was the Texas A&M win? The slow-paced Aggies had an 13-8 edge in fast break points against the racehorse Tar Heels.

8. Every Carolina fan watching that game probably expected the same thing: the Tar Heels to come out after halftime and put together a much better effort, get the deficit into single digits, and then make a push in front of a roaring crowd. None of that ever happened. Texas A&M got eight quick points to take the momentum and eliminate any chance of a Carolina run. The first half was demoralizing. But it was that start to the second half that was the death knell.

9. All of us are frustrated with how Carolina played. But don't overlook how good Texas A&M was. The Aggies shot 53 percent from the floor, 67 percent from the line, and 43 percent from the three-point line while also blocking seven shots.

10. That's not the way Theo Pinson and Joel Berry deserved to go out. But the second-round loss does nothing to diminish the legacy of two of Carolina's most important players of the Roy Williams era. What a horrible one night...and what a great four years.

University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Theo Pinson

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