University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: Heels Lose Power In Smith Center, Fall To UK
January 7, 2003 | Lucas
Dec. 7, 2002
By Adam Lucas
To have lived in Chapel Hill over the past three days is to have learned how to do without what you formerly considered "the basics."
Hot water? Don't need that. Television? Not a necessity. Lights? Hey, the sun is out for at least 12 hours a day. Even this column is being written by flashlight, and if we just had some candles and a covered wagon, the byline could be changed to Laura Ingalls Wilder.
ut for one half on Saturday afternoon, electricity was restored in part of Chapel Hill, as Carolina put together a crackling first half that saw them play what may have been the best combined half by two teams of the young season.
With the Tar Heels holding a 43-40 lead at the break, there was an undercurrent feeling of, "They can't keep this up." The "they" in question being the Kentucky Wildcats, who rumor had it came into this game wounded, shorthanded, and struggling.
As it turned out, the pace couldn't be continued. Only it was UK who turned their play up a notch and Carolina that petered out. By the time the game was over, this bunch of 18th-ranked Wildcats had slowly, methodically, and deliberately sucked every bit of power out of the Smith Center.
Say this for certain: no Tar Heel fan should ever again believe reports of Kentucky's demise. Two years ago, there was grumbling about Tubby Smith when the 'Cats came into Chapel Hill with a 1-3 record and proceeded to lay a 93-76 whipping on the sixth-ranked Heels. Last year, Tayshaun Prince ignited a 79-59 win, and this season, again with some grumbling in Lexington, Tubby Smith's team spoiled what was supposed to be a welcome-home party for Carolina's 5-1 Tar Heels with an outstanding second-half effort.
Dean Smith had Indiana that consistently seemed to pose problems for his teams. Matt Doherty, three years into his Carolina career, has Kentucky.
"I was disappointed with our defense in the second half," Doherty said after the game. "We've been bragging about our defense and there has been a lot of talk about our defense, but we certainly didn't play any defense in this game. Our defense was non-existent."
Perhaps the head coach might have been being a little harsh on his team, because for much of the second half his team's primary defenders were saddled with foul trouble. The head of the defensive hydra, Raymond Felton, picked up his fourth foul just three minutes into the second half, and Kentucky proceeded to stretch their lead from five points to 13 in a matter of one minute and five seconds. Felton wouldn't re-enter the game until there were 12 minutes left, but that quick spurt after his exit was all UK would need to hold on for the win.
Much of the attention on Carolina's rookie point guard goes to his offense--his spin-o-rama double-pump layup will be a staple of highlight reels for years to come--but it's defensively where he drives this team. He's quick enough to set a perfect trap, fast enough off the ball to keep his wiry arms in the passing lanes. Without that, even with improved athleticism, it's hard for the Heels to slow down a team executing as well as Kentucky did in the second half.
The other half of the equation, Sean May in the paint, also struggled with fouls, allowing Kentucky's Marquis Estill to zip from two first-half points to 20 overall for the game.
"I learned even though I have three fouls, I can't play passive," May said. "Estill went from two points to 20 points and that's my man. I take responsibility for that."
So is there anything to be excited about after a second straight disappointing loss? Well, if the Heels had lost two games in New York like everyone expected and then won their last two to sit with the same 5-2 record going into a long 12-day break, everyone would be giddily exchanging high-fives. More practically, this Tar Heel team was supposed to be susceptible to a zone defense. That's what Kentucky tried in the first half, and Rashad McCants bombed it for 17 points in the opening stanza.
The 'Cats switched to man-to-man in the second half and limited McCants to just five points, proving the theory that even the greatest of scorers need someone to pass them the ball. It wasn't until Felton returned that the Heels began clicking against the man-to-man, and by then Kentucky was already cruising. Like the rest of the Chapel Hillians, Carolina can survive for only a limited amount of time without their necessities. Felton and May are to this team what light and heat are to the rest of us. On Saturday, there just wasn't enough of either.
Anyone got a candle?
Adam Lucas is the publisher of Tar Heel Monthly and can be reached at alucas@tarheelmonthly.com. To subscribe to Tar Heel Monthly, click here.
