Lucas: Rapid Reactions

By Adam Lucas

1. If you'd known before the game that Armando Bacot was going to miss virtually all the game and that Carolina would shoot 27 percent from the field, you'd probably have guessed...pretty much exactly what happened in a 74-49 Ohio State win.

2. Needless to say, the biggest story from this game will be the health of Bacot. The outstanding freshman went down with 12:48 remaining in the first half and did not return. Carolina simply isn't the same team without him.

3. Even when Bacot was in the game, the Buckeyes were beating the Tar Heels on the boards. Ohio State built a quick 9-3 edge on the glass during an opening stretch when they were rebounding virtually every miss, and they held that advantage for the rest of the first half (stretching it to 26-17 at the break). Garrison Brooks had five rebounds in the first half, but minus Bacot (who had four in his limited minutes), the next-highest Tar Heel in the first 20 minutes was Cole Anthony with two. Ohio State ended the game with a massive 44-29 edge on the boards, and doubled up the Tar Heels in second chance points, 16-8. The Tar Heels managed just ten points in the paint for the game--ten. That will likely prove to be close to or at a Williams-era low.

4. Remember, Ohio State came into the game the second most efficient defensive team in the country. They showed why (helped by some bad Carolina shooting) on Wednesday night. The Tar Heels managed just 10-for-36 on two-point shots, to say nothing of the overall field goal problems. Without Bacot, of course, Carolina's game inside the three-point line was severely limited.

5. The "highlight" of the game was the execution by the five substitutes went Roy Williams went five-for-five with 10:42 remaining while trailing by 14 points. There was more movement on offense, and both Walker Miller and K.J. Smith drew charges. Unfortunately, that was a very limited highlight.

6. With Bacot out and Cole Anthony limited after taking a shot to the forehead (and a sickness earlier in the day), the Tar Heels somehow managed to be down only two points at halftime. That was due largely to Ohio State committing ten first half turnovers.

7. Leaky Black struggled on offense. The sophomore made an early three-pointer but finished two-for-nine from the field. Black, who was clearly limited by the same foot issue that slowed him in the Bahamas, looked just a step tentative and left several shots short. He remains, however, a key part of this year's rotation--the Tar Heels must figure out a way to best use his skill set.

8. The transition game continues to struggle. Carolina managed just five fast break points even on a day when Ohio State committed 15 turnovers. Part of the issue is missing shots, but another part is simply not running at the pace Carolina is accustomed to and occasionally looking confused about where to go on the court.

9. Good to see Rasheed Wallace at the game, but the Tar Heels could have used him on the court. Wallace was good-naturedly heckling Greg Anthony after the game.

10. Carolina has now shot below 50 percent from the field in all eight games this season. That remains the longest stretch since the 1959-60 team went 15 games below 50 percent before breaking the mark against Duke in the 16th game of the year.

11. A positive sign for the season as a whole: Jeremiah Francis and Anthony Harris warmed up with the team. Both players have the potential to give the Tar Heels important minutes at some point this season.

12. How rare is this stretch Carolina is in right now? Wednesday was the front half (along with Sunday's trip to Virginia) of the first time since the 2009-10 season that the Tar Heels were involved in back-to-back games in December in which both teams were in the top ten.

Players Mentioned

Cole Anthony

Armando Bacot

Leaky Black

Garrison Brooks

Jeremiah Francis

Anthony Harris

Walker Miller

K.J. Smith

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