University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: Rapid Reactions
February 25, 2016 | Men's Basketball
By Adam Lucas
1. That was a pretty complete road performance over an NC State team that always considers it paramount to beat the Tar Heels. After a shaky beginning that allowed the PNC Arena crowd to get into the game, the Tar Heels played well on both ends of the floor until the final 90 seconds or so on the way to an 80-68 win.
2. Theo Pinson helped change the flow of the game with some tough defense on Cat Barber, who started the game on fire and had 16 points in the first eight minutes while the Pack was building a 23-10 lead. With Pinson defending him, Barber managed just two more points the rest of the half. He had 22 points with 16:35 left in the game, but Pinson held him scoreless for a four-minute stretch, Carolina stretched out the lead, and Barber didn't really score effectively again until the game was decided. It might have been the most inconsequential 32 points in ACC play this season (he needed 26 shots to get his 32).
3. It feels like the Tar Heels might be getting back in a rhythm after going through some doldrums that first began showing up around the first time these two teams got together. Put this game with Saturday's rout of Miami, and you've got one of Carolina's best back-to-back performances of the league season. The Tar Heels have a one-game lead with three to play, but hold the tiebreaker over Miami and Louisville is not eligible for the postseason. Saturday's UNC visit to Virginia is the ACC game of the year.
4. Very fitting for Marcus Paige to hit his last three-pointer at PNC Arena, which came with a minute remaining. Paige has had some terrific games in Raleigh, drew by far the biggest boos from the Raleigh crowd, and left them with a nice memento of his decorated career as a Tar Heel.
5. Brice Johnson had another double-double, but he'll hear from Roy Williams after celebrating a little too much following an offensive rebound and putback in the game's closing minutes. Williams quickly reminded Johnson to, "Sprint back!" and then forcefully reminded Kennedy Meeks the next time he put Meeks in the game. Still, Johnson had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and completely outplayed the State frontcourt.
6. Roy Williams said he started Isaiah Hicks against Miami partially to send a message to Kennedy Meeks. The Charlotte native was back in the starting lineup against NC State, but after the Wolfpack got three offensive rebounds on the first possession, Williams removed both Meeks and Brice Johnson in favor of Hicks and Joel James. The Pack continued to control the offensive glass in the first half, however.
Carolina eventually tightened up on the glass and the offensive rebound battle ended the game tied at 17.
