University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: Rapid Reactions
March 11, 2017 | Men's Basketball
By Adam Lucas
1. A disappointing second half means Carolina is going to go into the NCAA Tournament angry after a 93-83 loss to Duke in the ACC Tournament semifinals. The defeat means the Tar Heels still haven't beaten Duke in this event since 1998.
2. The game fairly clearly pivoted on Joel Berry's fourth foul with 15:04 left in the game. At that point, Carolina led 56-48. By the time Berry came back into the game at the 4:58 mark, the Tar Heels were down 77-70, a negative change of 15 points.
Nate Britt made a couple big baskets during Berry's absence, but the offense simply wasn't as dynamic without the junior guard. The Tar Heels were 23-47 from the field when Berry went out, but went 9-31 from the field (29%) after that.
3. Part of the problem during that stretch was that Justin Jackson's offense dried up (he missed all nine of his field goals after making a three-pointer as soon as Berry left and finished 6-for-22) and Kennedy Meeks was unable to get into his offense (he took one shot, missing it, after the 13:55 mark). That meant three of Carolina's four best offensive options were essentially absent from the game, and Duke took advantage.
4. If Joel Berry plays at the tempo he played the first half, the Tar Heels are going to have a very productive March. Berry consistently pushed the ball after both makes and misses and scored his first seven points a combined 19 seconds after a Duke shot--meaning he needed approximately six seconds after an opposing shot to put the ball in the basket.
But Berry's aggressiveness eventually overcame him, as he appeared to let his emotions get the best of him in the second half. Roy Williams gave him a lengthy, hands-on-knees talk when Berry left with the four fouls.
5. Terrific passing from the Tar Heels in the first half, piling up 15 assists on 20 made field goals. Several of those passes were of the spectacular variety, including six first half assists from Theo Pinson and some excellent post feeds from Justin Jackson.
6. Pinson had an understated solid game, even though he shot just two for nine from the field. He handed out eight assists and made a couple of subtly brilliant defensive plays.
7. For the second straight meeting, Duke enjoyed a hefty advantage at the free throw line. The Blue Devils have mastered driving to the rim and drawing fouls, while Carolina has trouble getting fouls when they throw the ball into the post. Duke attempted 37 free throws to UNC's 18 (the advantage was big even before Carolina had to foul late). What's more, the Blue Devils made them, sinking 33, making it nearly a 90 percent clip. Duke has now shot 72 free throws in the last two meetings with UNC, while the Tar Heels have attempted 39. Given those figures, it's a little surprising those two games have been as close as they have. Friday night's game took nearly two and a half hours to play.
8. A bright spot moving into NCAA play: Isaiah Hicks has now put together three straight very good games. Hicks had 19 points and seven rebounds against Duke and again knocked through all his free throws, making all seven of them.
