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University of North Carolina Athletics
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Lucas: Rapid Reactions
March 7, 2020 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Quick takeaways from the rematch with Duke.
By Adam Lucas
1. A frustrating way to end a frustrating regular season, as Duke prevails 89-76.
2. Despite the result, Garrison Brooks was terrific, making yet another case for first-team All-ACC. Brooks becomes the first Tar Heel to score 25+ in four straight games since Antawn Jamison in 1998. The junior finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds in a team-high 37 minutes and was by far the most consistent Carolina player on the floor all night.
3. Even as Carolina has gotten things together offensively in the final couple weeks of the regular season, they still have not become a good defensive team. Duke took control of the game in the second half offensively, as the Tar Heels closed to 55-54 in the second half but then could never get consistent defensive stops. The Blue Devils scored on 15 of their final 17 possessions.
4. Vernon Carey was the best player on the court, but Duke largely did it with three-pointers (they were 10-for-21) and at the free throw line (they were 29-for-33). Carolina, meanwhile, was 4-for-12 from 3 and 14-for-20 from the free throw line.
5. While Carolina couldn't get stops, Duke's defense was consistently intense and difficult for Carolina to diagnose. It felt like virtually every pass was contested and multiple sets were blown up, and the Tar Heels managed just seven assists on 29 field goals--indicative of the way Duke prevented the visitors from playing team basketball and forced them to either go one-on-one or score off offensive rebounds.
6. One way to loosen that defense up would have been by making jump shots, but the Tar Heels could never do it consistently. Brandon Robinson went 3-for-5 from the three-point line, but the rest of the team was 1-for-9.
7. Robinson's contributions largely came in the first half, as he suffered an injury near the end of the first half and has now been injured this season from head (elbow to the jaw) to foot (sprained ankle on an end-game three-pointer) while being called for fouls. The senior, who missed the first matchup entirely, was first ruled out but came back in the second half.
8. Armando Bacot had a nice evening when he was able to wriggle free of foul trouble. The freshman was active around the basket and had his tenth double-double of the season, finishing with 13 points and 12 rebounds. But Bacot was limited to just 23 minutes with foul issues. His fourth foul came after he had just scored on two straight offensive rebound putbacks and was starting to become a factor in the game. Roy Williams has consistently talked to Bacot this season about limiting his silly fouls; Carolina needs him on the court in Greensboro.
9. And Greensboro is now where the attention turns, as that's Carolina's remaining hope this year. The Tar Heels will play Tuesday night against Virginia Tech, and the winner of that game will play Syracuse late on Wednesday night. The winner of that game would then turn around and play Louisville late on Thursday night. The full bracket is here.
1. A frustrating way to end a frustrating regular season, as Duke prevails 89-76.
2. Despite the result, Garrison Brooks was terrific, making yet another case for first-team All-ACC. Brooks becomes the first Tar Heel to score 25+ in four straight games since Antawn Jamison in 1998. The junior finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds in a team-high 37 minutes and was by far the most consistent Carolina player on the floor all night.
3. Even as Carolina has gotten things together offensively in the final couple weeks of the regular season, they still have not become a good defensive team. Duke took control of the game in the second half offensively, as the Tar Heels closed to 55-54 in the second half but then could never get consistent defensive stops. The Blue Devils scored on 15 of their final 17 possessions.
4. Vernon Carey was the best player on the court, but Duke largely did it with three-pointers (they were 10-for-21) and at the free throw line (they were 29-for-33). Carolina, meanwhile, was 4-for-12 from 3 and 14-for-20 from the free throw line.
5. While Carolina couldn't get stops, Duke's defense was consistently intense and difficult for Carolina to diagnose. It felt like virtually every pass was contested and multiple sets were blown up, and the Tar Heels managed just seven assists on 29 field goals--indicative of the way Duke prevented the visitors from playing team basketball and forced them to either go one-on-one or score off offensive rebounds.
6. One way to loosen that defense up would have been by making jump shots, but the Tar Heels could never do it consistently. Brandon Robinson went 3-for-5 from the three-point line, but the rest of the team was 1-for-9.
7. Robinson's contributions largely came in the first half, as he suffered an injury near the end of the first half and has now been injured this season from head (elbow to the jaw) to foot (sprained ankle on an end-game three-pointer) while being called for fouls. The senior, who missed the first matchup entirely, was first ruled out but came back in the second half.
8. Armando Bacot had a nice evening when he was able to wriggle free of foul trouble. The freshman was active around the basket and had his tenth double-double of the season, finishing with 13 points and 12 rebounds. But Bacot was limited to just 23 minutes with foul issues. His fourth foul came after he had just scored on two straight offensive rebound putbacks and was starting to become a factor in the game. Roy Williams has consistently talked to Bacot this season about limiting his silly fouls; Carolina needs him on the court in Greensboro.
9. And Greensboro is now where the attention turns, as that's Carolina's remaining hope this year. The Tar Heels will play Tuesday night against Virginia Tech, and the winner of that game will play Syracuse late on Wednesday night. The winner of that game would then turn around and play Louisville late on Thursday night. The full bracket is here.
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