.png&width=36&height=36&type=webp)
University of North Carolina Athletics
Armando Bacot
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Lucas: Wake Forest Rapid Reactions
January 20, 2021 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Quick takeaways from Carolina's home matchup with Wake Forest.
By Adam Lucas
1. Carolina got a win it needed to have with a 80-73 win over Wake Forest. The first half wasn't pretty, but the second half had some encouraging signs.
2. Nice inside-outside combination from Armando Bacot and Caleb Love. Bacot powered up 18 points on 8-for-10 shooting and also added five rebounds while playing through some foul trouble. And Love added 20Â points and three assists. Most encouragingly, Love took seven free throws, indicating a better aggressiveness. Love had attempted two free throws in his last five games combined. Pretty amazing stat, as six different Tar Heels have led the team in scoring in the last six games.
3. Stop me if you've heard this before: an opposing team went unconscious from the three-point line. The ringleader was Isaiah Mucius, who had made four three-point shots this entire season coming into the game. He made seven of them in the game. That was the catalyst for a Wake offense that leaned heavily on the arc, especially in the second half, when they attempted 18Â three-point shots (making eight). For the game, the Deacs made 13 of 34 three-point shots.
4. Carolina's defensive intensity helped change the game early in the second half. The Tar Heels were more active in the passing lanes and defensively created some easier transition opportunities for an offense that had been laborious in the first half. For the game, Carolina had a season-high twelve steals and seven different Heels had a steal.
5. The Tar Heels have established themselves as a potent offensive rebounding team. But they have to get better at converting those boards into points. As you might guess from a squad that has struggled with two-point shots, Carolina simply isn't doing a good enough job of making opponents pay when Carolina gets an offensive rebound. The Tar Heels grabbed five offensive boards in the first half, but turned them into just two points. For the game, they turned ten offensive rebounds into nine points.
6. Carolina's first half offensive performance was not good. The Tar Heels trailed, 33-31, at halftime, and it could have been worse were it not for the perimeter shooting of Caleb Love, who drained two three-pointers in the first half, including one in the closing seconds before halftime that followed the Deacs slapping the floor to indicate defensive intensity. As mentioned on Saturday, Love's shooting is coming around. It's reasonable to guess that his decision making might follow eventually.
7. Give Wake Forest credit for largely shutting off Carolina's offensive rebounding prowess. The Deacs aren't a particularly big team, but they were completely committed to the glass, and they dominated the second chance points category, 18-9. Expect Roy Williams to harp on that stat between now and Saturday's game. Carolina surged late to narrowly lead the overall rebounding category, 38-36.
8. Leaky Black continues to be one of Carolina's best playmakers. The junior had seven assists to go with his eight points and six rebounds, an all-around solid performance and exactly the type of game the Tar Heels need him to play.
9. Granted, RJ Davis is not shooting a high percentage right now. But the fearlessness with which he attacks the basket and is willing to take important shots is impressive. With the boisterous Wake Forest bench in his ear in the first half, Davis swished a long two-point jump shot with the shot clock expiring that was a momentum changer. His willingness to take those types of shots (and ability to get them off)Â will make him an important player for the Tar Heels as his career develops.
10. Expect Love to hear from Williams in the film room about his celebration following his dunk after a steal with under three minutes to play. The freshman celebrated the play by raising the roof, and the head coach would rather him celebrate by calling the defense. One minute later, Love dunked again...and this time simply raised a fist to call Carolina's man-to-man. Wise move by the rookie.
11. Wednesday's win makes Carolina 5-0 at home for the season. Just for the sake of comparison, Florida State has played eight games at home and Louisville has played seven. Everyone's schedule is a bit jumbled in this unusual year, but the Tar Heels are hoping to capitalize on chances to play at the Smith Center over the next two months.
12. As you know, Carolina is scheduled to play NC State on Saturday at the Smith Center at 2 p.m. The Wolfpack hasn't played a game since January 13 due to COVID reasons, but as of now, that game against the Pack is slated to happen in what will be another important home game against an in-state opponent.
1. Carolina got a win it needed to have with a 80-73 win over Wake Forest. The first half wasn't pretty, but the second half had some encouraging signs.
2. Nice inside-outside combination from Armando Bacot and Caleb Love. Bacot powered up 18 points on 8-for-10 shooting and also added five rebounds while playing through some foul trouble. And Love added 20Â points and three assists. Most encouragingly, Love took seven free throws, indicating a better aggressiveness. Love had attempted two free throws in his last five games combined. Pretty amazing stat, as six different Tar Heels have led the team in scoring in the last six games.
3. Stop me if you've heard this before: an opposing team went unconscious from the three-point line. The ringleader was Isaiah Mucius, who had made four three-point shots this entire season coming into the game. He made seven of them in the game. That was the catalyst for a Wake offense that leaned heavily on the arc, especially in the second half, when they attempted 18Â three-point shots (making eight). For the game, the Deacs made 13 of 34 three-point shots.
4. Carolina's defensive intensity helped change the game early in the second half. The Tar Heels were more active in the passing lanes and defensively created some easier transition opportunities for an offense that had been laborious in the first half. For the game, Carolina had a season-high twelve steals and seven different Heels had a steal.
5. The Tar Heels have established themselves as a potent offensive rebounding team. But they have to get better at converting those boards into points. As you might guess from a squad that has struggled with two-point shots, Carolina simply isn't doing a good enough job of making opponents pay when Carolina gets an offensive rebound. The Tar Heels grabbed five offensive boards in the first half, but turned them into just two points. For the game, they turned ten offensive rebounds into nine points.
6. Carolina's first half offensive performance was not good. The Tar Heels trailed, 33-31, at halftime, and it could have been worse were it not for the perimeter shooting of Caleb Love, who drained two three-pointers in the first half, including one in the closing seconds before halftime that followed the Deacs slapping the floor to indicate defensive intensity. As mentioned on Saturday, Love's shooting is coming around. It's reasonable to guess that his decision making might follow eventually.
7. Give Wake Forest credit for largely shutting off Carolina's offensive rebounding prowess. The Deacs aren't a particularly big team, but they were completely committed to the glass, and they dominated the second chance points category, 18-9. Expect Roy Williams to harp on that stat between now and Saturday's game. Carolina surged late to narrowly lead the overall rebounding category, 38-36.
8. Leaky Black continues to be one of Carolina's best playmakers. The junior had seven assists to go with his eight points and six rebounds, an all-around solid performance and exactly the type of game the Tar Heels need him to play.
9. Granted, RJ Davis is not shooting a high percentage right now. But the fearlessness with which he attacks the basket and is willing to take important shots is impressive. With the boisterous Wake Forest bench in his ear in the first half, Davis swished a long two-point jump shot with the shot clock expiring that was a momentum changer. His willingness to take those types of shots (and ability to get them off)Â will make him an important player for the Tar Heels as his career develops.
10. Expect Love to hear from Williams in the film room about his celebration following his dunk after a steal with under three minutes to play. The freshman celebrated the play by raising the roof, and the head coach would rather him celebrate by calling the defense. One minute later, Love dunked again...and this time simply raised a fist to call Carolina's man-to-man. Wise move by the rookie.
11. Wednesday's win makes Carolina 5-0 at home for the season. Just for the sake of comparison, Florida State has played eight games at home and Louisville has played seven. Everyone's schedule is a bit jumbled in this unusual year, but the Tar Heels are hoping to capitalize on chances to play at the Smith Center over the next two months.
12. As you know, Carolina is scheduled to play NC State on Saturday at the Smith Center at 2 p.m. The Wolfpack hasn't played a game since January 13 due to COVID reasons, but as of now, that game against the Pack is slated to happen in what will be another important home game against an in-state opponent.
Players Mentioned
F/C
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballUNC Field Hockey: Hak's OT Winner Sends Tar Heels Over Duke to Final Four
Sunday, November 16
NCAA Field Hockey Second Round: Duke Presser vs. North Carolina
Sunday, November 16
Carolina Field Hockey: NCAA Second Round Presser vs. Duke
Sunday, November 16
UNC Volleyball: Tar Heels Slide Past Hokies in Straight Sets
Sunday, November 16