Rebounding was a second-half emphasis for the Tar Heels.
Lucas: Rapid Reactions
February 9, 2019 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Quick takeaways from the home game against Miami.
By Adam Lucas
1. Sometimes your very best teams have to win games just like that. And sometimes your teams that aren't quite as good lose games like that. Just something to bear in mind.
2. Carolina has now started 9-1 in the ACC for the first time ever under Roy Williams. That's fairly incredible when you consider the success Williams has had in Chapel Hill. The last overall better or equal start for the Heels in ACC play was the 2000-01 team that began the conference slate 11-0.
3. Wow, Coby White. The freshman was sensational in the late stages of the second half and came very close to singlehandedly keeping Carolina in the game. Other Tar Heels were making plays...but White was making shots. The rookie had 33 points on 11-of-16 shooting and 7-of-10 from the three-point line. Five of White's three-pointers came in the final seven minutes of regulation to help bring the Tar Heels back from a seven-point deficit.
4. Roy Williams is going to talk about rebounding in the days to come. And then he's going to talk about rebounding some more. And then he'll mention rebounding. Miami, a team Carolina dominated on the glass in Coral Gables, held a 39-32 edge on the boards. The Canes also got more offensive rebounds (nine to six) and were virtually even in the second chance scoring category (UNC led 11-10), an area the Heels almost always win. Ebuku Izundu was big for Jim Larranaga's team, with ten rebounds.
5. Even though the freshmen will get significant attention from Saturday's win, the Tar Heels don't win that game without the seniors. Luke Maye hit the game-tying three-pointer in regulation and finished with 20 points and six rebounds, Kenny Williams hit a tough three-pointer in overtime, and Cameron Johnson made two clutch free throws with the game on the line. It's nice to have talented freshmen...but it's even better when they are supplemented by quality seniors.Â
6. Speaking of the freshmen, Nassir Little was very good in the second half. He made a couple shots, battled for an offensive rebound that turned into a basket, and his doubleteams on Lykes created a couple of turnovers, including a big one that turned into a Williams layup that trimmed the deficit to one point. The freshman still looks a little hesitant in some of the late clock situations, but on balance he's an important asset.
7. White said after the game on the Tar Heel Sports Network that the defensive plan on Miami's final possession was to foul if the opportunity presented itself (with the Heels up three, they had only six team fouls and Miami would've had to shoot a one-and-one) but play aggressively no matter what since a foul wasn't disastrous. That enabled White to take a chance on a steal, which turned into a turnover and sealed the game.
8. White remains a blur in transition. While Izundu was celebrating a follow dunk that gave the Canes a 26-24 lead, White sprinted down the court and laid the ball in before the Canes even knew what had happened. White did it again in the second half, this time victimizing a celebrating Anthony Lawrence.
9. This is the time of year when it never hurts to get unexpected contributions from reserves. With that in mind, Andrew Platek quietly gave Carolina three good first half minutes. It was his solid defense that led to the most spectacular play of the first half, when Nassir Little pushed the ball and fed Cam Johnson, who dropped a beautiful touch pass to Luke Maye for a two-hand dunk and the foul.
10. There's no question that the weeknight games at 7 p.m. are tough for folks to attend, and there's also some fatigue from a stretch that will see Carolina play three games in Chapel Hill in six days. But it's still a little surprising that a few tickets remain for the imminent showdown with Virginia. Monday night's game has the feel of being one of those for which you'll want to be in the building (and it's also one of only two games left, with Syracuse the other, for which tickets are remaining). Saturday's crowd was terrific, and played a role in the comeback. Monday has the potential to be even better.
11. Good to see Sterling Manley at least back in uniform for warmups on Saturday. It's easy to forget that Carolina has put together this impressive stretch without two key depth players, with Manley and Leaky Black both missing significant time. Manley, who has been out with a knee injury, participated in limited fashion at practice on Thursday and Friday.
12. You don't often hear good things about the officials. But that was a good piece of officiating with 1:22 left in regulation to pause the game to review a Lykes jumper and make sure it was a three instead of a two. Normally, they would wait for a stoppage. But the crew of Roger Ayers, Bill Covington and Tony Henderson knew that one point made a difference in a tight game and wanted to make sure both teams knew the correct situation.
13. Jim Larranaga is an excellent whistler.Â
1. Sometimes your very best teams have to win games just like that. And sometimes your teams that aren't quite as good lose games like that. Just something to bear in mind.
2. Carolina has now started 9-1 in the ACC for the first time ever under Roy Williams. That's fairly incredible when you consider the success Williams has had in Chapel Hill. The last overall better or equal start for the Heels in ACC play was the 2000-01 team that began the conference slate 11-0.
3. Wow, Coby White. The freshman was sensational in the late stages of the second half and came very close to singlehandedly keeping Carolina in the game. Other Tar Heels were making plays...but White was making shots. The rookie had 33 points on 11-of-16 shooting and 7-of-10 from the three-point line. Five of White's three-pointers came in the final seven minutes of regulation to help bring the Tar Heels back from a seven-point deficit.
4. Roy Williams is going to talk about rebounding in the days to come. And then he's going to talk about rebounding some more. And then he'll mention rebounding. Miami, a team Carolina dominated on the glass in Coral Gables, held a 39-32 edge on the boards. The Canes also got more offensive rebounds (nine to six) and were virtually even in the second chance scoring category (UNC led 11-10), an area the Heels almost always win. Ebuku Izundu was big for Jim Larranaga's team, with ten rebounds.
5. Even though the freshmen will get significant attention from Saturday's win, the Tar Heels don't win that game without the seniors. Luke Maye hit the game-tying three-pointer in regulation and finished with 20 points and six rebounds, Kenny Williams hit a tough three-pointer in overtime, and Cameron Johnson made two clutch free throws with the game on the line. It's nice to have talented freshmen...but it's even better when they are supplemented by quality seniors.Â
6. Speaking of the freshmen, Nassir Little was very good in the second half. He made a couple shots, battled for an offensive rebound that turned into a basket, and his doubleteams on Lykes created a couple of turnovers, including a big one that turned into a Williams layup that trimmed the deficit to one point. The freshman still looks a little hesitant in some of the late clock situations, but on balance he's an important asset.
7. White said after the game on the Tar Heel Sports Network that the defensive plan on Miami's final possession was to foul if the opportunity presented itself (with the Heels up three, they had only six team fouls and Miami would've had to shoot a one-and-one) but play aggressively no matter what since a foul wasn't disastrous. That enabled White to take a chance on a steal, which turned into a turnover and sealed the game.
8. White remains a blur in transition. While Izundu was celebrating a follow dunk that gave the Canes a 26-24 lead, White sprinted down the court and laid the ball in before the Canes even knew what had happened. White did it again in the second half, this time victimizing a celebrating Anthony Lawrence.
9. This is the time of year when it never hurts to get unexpected contributions from reserves. With that in mind, Andrew Platek quietly gave Carolina three good first half minutes. It was his solid defense that led to the most spectacular play of the first half, when Nassir Little pushed the ball and fed Cam Johnson, who dropped a beautiful touch pass to Luke Maye for a two-hand dunk and the foul.
10. There's no question that the weeknight games at 7 p.m. are tough for folks to attend, and there's also some fatigue from a stretch that will see Carolina play three games in Chapel Hill in six days. But it's still a little surprising that a few tickets remain for the imminent showdown with Virginia. Monday night's game has the feel of being one of those for which you'll want to be in the building (and it's also one of only two games left, with Syracuse the other, for which tickets are remaining). Saturday's crowd was terrific, and played a role in the comeback. Monday has the potential to be even better.
11. Good to see Sterling Manley at least back in uniform for warmups on Saturday. It's easy to forget that Carolina has put together this impressive stretch without two key depth players, with Manley and Leaky Black both missing significant time. Manley, who has been out with a knee injury, participated in limited fashion at practice on Thursday and Friday.
12. You don't often hear good things about the officials. But that was a good piece of officiating with 1:22 left in regulation to pause the game to review a Lykes jumper and make sure it was a three instead of a two. Normally, they would wait for a stoppage. But the crew of Roger Ayers, Bill Covington and Tony Henderson knew that one point made a difference in a tight game and wanted to make sure both teams knew the correct situation.
13. Jim Larranaga is an excellent whistler.Â
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