University of North Carolina Athletics
Car-O-Lines: This One Lived Up To Its Billing
February 5, 2001 | Men's Basketball
By Rick Brewer, SID Emeritus
In highly-anticipated matchups such as the one between North Carolina and Duke last Thursday night, the game itself often falls short of the hype that precedes it.
Such was not the case at Cameron Indoor Stadium as the Tar Heels pulled off a stunning 85-83 upset.
This series has been filled with classic confrontations and this battle of nationally-ranked Top Five teams will certainly join that group.
Contributions coming in unlikely places, the brilliance of Joseph Forte and Jason Williams, Carolina's ability in preventing Duke from ever getting a sizeable lead and Matt Doherty's first appearance as the Tar Heel coach against the Blue Devils all combined to make this game one that fans will remember for quite a while.
While there had been a lot of hype about this first showdown of the year between the two old rivals, many basketball people actually did not expect a close game. The second-rated Blue Devils had been crushing opponents with such efficiency that some expected an eventual blowout on Thursday.
However, this was a game filled with more contradictions than the Florida Presidential election.
Duke came into the game as the best shooting team from the floor (50.4 percent) and from three-point range (41.1 percent) in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In addition, the Blue Devils were the league's second-best free throw shooting team, making 72.2 percent of their opportunities overall and 79.5 percent in conference play.
Carolina, meanwhile, was last in the league in foul shooting at 64.8.
But, the Blue Devils struggled with their shooting against the Tar Heels. They made only 29 of 73 field goal attempts (39.7 percent) and just 34.3 percent (12 of 35) from behind the three-point arc. Even more stunning was the fact they converted just 13 of 27 foul shots.
The Tar Heels, meanwhile, hit 13 of 18 free throws (72.2 percent). In addition, they were 51.5 percent from the field, making 34 of 66 shots.
"Our guys were almost too emotional," said Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski. "They were trying too hard and that really hurt our shooting, especially at the foul line. Carolina's defense had a lot to do with our shooting from the floor."
The Tar Heels also had 10 fast break points to eight for Duke. The Blue Devils only outscored Carolina, 16-13, on points off turnovers as the Tar Heels limited their ballhandling errors to 16 against Duke's pressure defense.
Forte and Williams, the teams' two star guards, were both brilliant. Williams had a game-high 32 points and converted six of 12 three-pointers.
The Blue Devils alternated Williams, Nate James and Mike Dunleavy on Forte. The 6-4 sophomore from Greenbelt, Md. still was dynamic. He hit 10 of 18 field goal attempts and scored 24 points. He also handed out six assists and grabbed 16 rebounds, most in history by a Tar Heel guard.
It was a Forte pass to Max Owens for a three-pointer which gave Carolina a 19-17 lead with 13:40 to go in the first half. Duke never led again in the first 20 periods.
Forte sparked a 9-0 run six minutes later and a 13-point lead. He grabbed a defensive rebound and fed Jason Capel for a layup. He then had a steal and breakaway dunk. He came right back to drill a three-pointer on a pass from Capel. Capel had an assist on the final basket in that stretch when he hit Kris Lang inside for a short hook.
Duke battled back and cut the lead to seven by halftime.
After Carolina went up 45-34 early in the second half, Duke went on a 16-4 run to take the lead. Williams fueled this drive, but three-pointers from James and Shane Battier were also instrumental in the comeback. Only 14:19 remained in the game and neither team would lead by more than seven the rest of the way.
With Ronald Curry in foul trouble, freshman Adam Boone had to play a good deal as Carolina's point guard. He didn't score a point. But, in 15 minutes of action he committed just two turnovers and had three great passes for baskets.
When Dunleavy tied the score, 83-83, with a three-pointer and just three seconds on the clock, it appeared the game was headed to overtime. But, Forte took the inbounds pass and found Brendan Haywood behind the Duke defense. Battier crashed into the Carolina center as the ball hit his hands and was whistled for his fifth foul.
Haywood, who had come into the game shooting under 50 percent from the foul line, sank both free throws with 1.2 seconds left.
Chris Duhon got off a desperation heave from beyond midcourt that banged off the back of the rim at the buzzer. It was reminiscent of the desperation throw Danny Ferry had made and barely missed against Carolina in the 1989 ACC Tournament championship game.
The win pushed the Tar Heels to 8-0 in the league after their first round of ACC games. Doherty knew the next eight would be even more difficult. He was especially concerned about having to face Georgia Tech just two days later. There was little time for preparation, while Tech hadn't played in a week.
Plus, the Duke game had been physically, as well as emotionally draining. In fact, Curry and Capel had both been shaken up in the game at Durham.
However, the Tar Heels broke away to a 44-29 halftime lead over the Yellow Jackets and seemed to have the game under control.
But, Tech refused to go away and chopped an 18-point lead to just eight with 4:26 to play. It was a nine-point game moments later when Boone made perhaps the game-clinching basket. With the shot clock winding down, he was trapped at the foul line by two defenders. He somehow spun away and got the ball in the air just before the clock expired. It settled in the basket and Carolina went on to an 82-69 win.
"This one wasn't pretty," said Doherty. "But, it was good enough, considering it came just two days after the Duke game.
"Boone and Julius Peppers really gave us a lift off the bench. Brendan did a good job defensively and Forte and Capel made some big shots when we needed them."
Boone finished with a career-high 10 points and Peppers matched his career-best with 14.
It was a good way to start the second half of the ACC season, especially with people still talking about the latest classic against Duke.
