Lucas: Rapid Reactions

By Adam Lucas

1. That was a setback on multiple levels as Carolina fell, 96-83, at home to Georgia Tech.

2. The first 12 minutes of Saturday night's game may very well have been the worst stretch in the Roy Williams era at Carolina. By that point it was 27-4 Jackets, and the last two Georgia Tech baskets had been dunks. The first Carolina field goal of the half came at the 6:49 mark, when Garrison Brooks converted in the paint. That stopped an 0-for-15 beginning from the field.

3. Points in the paint in the first half: 32-6, Georgia Tech. That pretty much says it all about the aggressiveness around the basket for the home team. The 47-27 halftime deficit was the biggest margin by which Carolina has trailed in the history of the Smith Center. The Tar Heels had ten turnovers in the first 20 minutes compared to just three assists. The bad numbers just really don't stop coming.

4. As concerning as the first half was, you can also chalk it up to just being one of those nights. Almost as worrisome was the second half, when Georgia Tech had key players limited by foul trouble, Garrison Brooks was having a career performance, the Tar Heels played much better...and only outscored the Jackets by seven.

5. Speaking of Brooks, he was great. The junior got a well-deserved ovation when he finally fouled out, finishing with 35 points and 11 rebounds, including 17-18 from the free throw line. Brooks' effort and production was consistently the best on the floor for the Tar Heels for all of his 36 minutes.

6. It's hard to believe that Saturday marked Roy Williams' 600th game as Carolina's head coach. He is the fourth ACC coach to coach 600 games at the same school; the others are Mike Krzyzewski, Gary Williams and Dean Smith. Williams has now won 461 of his first 600 games at Carolina.

7. Imagine that you had told Williams before the season that he'd play an ACC game without Cole Anthony, Anthony Harris and Andrew Platek. That's significantly depleted perimeter depth. A rough early performance from freshman Jeremiah Francis, who had one of those games freshmen occasionally have (1-8 from the field and three turnovers with two assists), meant that Robbie O'Han saw the first meaningful minutes of his UNC career, and Shea Rush also played two first half minutes.

7. Keep in mind that Georgia Tech played nine games without Jose Alvarado. That doesn't excuse the performance, but the Jackets are better than their record.

8. Carolina's offense has gotten most of the attention this season, but the defense was atrocious in stretches against Tech. Georgia Tech shot 59 percent for the game and a blistering 63 percent in the second half. The Jackets entered the game in the bottom third in the country in effective field goal percentage. They also were one of the most turnover prone teams in the nation, and Carolina could force only 13 miscues. An incredible 24 of Georgia Tech's 36 field goals--fully two-thirds--were classified as either layups or dunks.

9. It felt in the building like the Tar Heels were about to make a run when they cut the deficit in half in the first 3:59 of the second half, closing to within 52-43. And when Brandon Robinson banked in a three-pointer with 14:30 remaining, it seemed like maybe it was one of those nights. But it wasn't, as the Tar Heels simply couldn't get enough stops to continue the momentum.

10. The offensive production other than Brooks was severely limited. Armando Bacot's struggles continued, as the freshmen went 1-for-6 from the field. Justin Pierce, with 11, was the only other Tar Heel in double figures.

11. In the past, dropping a home game like that would've been unfortunate but not horrendous, since you figured the Tar Heels could make it up on the road somewhere. But in a season when the Tar Heels probably need at least ten ACC wins to make the NCAA Tournament, the home matchup with Tech on paper looked like one of the best opportunities to stack up a victory. Carolina desperately needs to get healthy and very much needs a win against Pitt on Wednesday night back in the Smith Center.

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University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Cole Anthony

Armando Bacot

Garrison Brooks

Jeremiah Francis

Anthony Harris

Robbie O'Han

Justin Pierce

Andrew Platek

Brandon Robinson

Shea Rush

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