University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: Rapid Reactions (Halftime Edition)
March 27, 2015 | Men's Basketball
By Adam Lucas
1. Solid half of basketball by Carolina to take a 33-31 lead into the break. The Tar Heels turned it over just twice and were able to push the pace just enough to get some easy baskets in transition. Carolina ended the half scoring on six of its final eight possessions.
They struggled early to keep Wisconsin off the offensive glass, then cleaned up the box outs for the better part of the half before allowing Sam Dekker to work free for a momentum-sapping put-back right at the halftime buzzer.
2. Carolina needs to do a better job defensively against the dribble. Wisconsin's Sam Dekker has 15 points and has made six of eight shots, most of them layups or dunks after penetrating into the lane. The danger with Wisconsin is that if you help against the dribble, they might pitch it out for a three-pointer, so UNC defenders need to be more effective stopping their man one-on-one.
3. Free throws are going to play a role in the second half. Wisconsin is a 76 percent shooting team from the stripe and made six of eight in the first half. Carolina, meanwhile, made just two trips to the free throw line, with Theo Pinson converting one of two shots.
4. As you would expect in Los Angeles, it was a star-studded night at the Staples Center. Antawn Jamison, Rick Fox and James Worthy were in the Carolina rooting section decked out in their UNC gear, and Cal Ripken Jr. was seated directly across the aisle.
Star studded @UNC_Basketball night at Staples Center. That's @ericmontross, @rickfox and Antawn Jamison. pic.twitter.com/AI4wky3kkx
— Adam Lucas (@jadamlucas) March 27, 2015
5. Would've liked to see Carolina get two for one in the half's final minute. The Tar Heels had the ball with 51.4 seconds left in the period, and it looked like Joel Berry had the idea of going quickly. But the play eventually bogged down, and Marcus Paige turned it over on a jump ball.
6. Watch the foul situation early in the second half. Both Kennedy Meeks and Brice Johnson have two, and both sat for much of the close of the first half. Meeks had two points and three rebounds, while Johnson had eight points and a board.
