Lucas: Baylor Rapid Reactions

By Adam Lucas

1. Safe to say there's never been a game like that in Carolina basketball history, or maybe in college basketball history.

2. There will be a lot of talk about the officials, and we'll get to that in just a second, because it's well-deserved. But you know what? A Carolina team that was left for dead in January just beat the defending national champions in a virtual home game for the Baylor Bears and is going to the Sweet 16. And when everyone wakes up tomorrow, the Heels are still going to be playing. RJ Davis scored 30 giant points in one of the all-time UNC NCAA Tournament performances.

3. You saw the game, so you already know it completely changed when Brady Manek was ejected for a flagrant two foul. A formerly 25 point Tar Heel lead evaporated almost instantly, aided by an incredible number of whistles--by a crew that included Kip Kissinger, who also did Carolina's game at Clemson that turned into a whistle-fest. At one point, nine straight fouls were called on the Tar Heels as the Bears swiped, grabbed and reached for the ball at every possible moment. The game, with the constant whistles and reviews, was a clinic on how not to officiate an NCAA Tournament game as the stripes cherished their one shining moment. Fifty-three fouls were called in the game, and 58 baskets were made.

4. But don't pin it all on the officials. The Tar Heels essentially fell apart, committing ten turnovers over the final ten minutes of the game, almost all in the backcourt that led to quick Baylor points. Part of the problem was the absence of Caleb Love, who picked up a silly fifth foul on a charging call at the 6:15 mark. Love was ineffective in the game, but they could have used both his ball-handling and his foul shooting in the closing seconds.

5. Carolina called timeout with 11 seconds left to set up a play in the halfcourt, but settled for a very long RJ Davis three-pointer. Given the way the whistles had been blowing, it's impossible to know what would have happened if the Tar Heels had attacked, but it would have been nice to get something going downhill. Of course, the absence of Love also hurt here.

6. The Tar Heels have been one of the best free throw shooting teams in school history this year, but the charity stripe hurt them in this game. Most noticeable will be Armando Bacot, who went 4-for-10 from the line and missed three of four late in regulation and then another three in overtime. But if you're going to talk about what Bacot didn't do, you need to acknowledge that he was an absolute warrior on the glass, hauling in a game-high 16 rebounds on a day when no other Tar Heel had more than five.

7. Hubert Davis has consistently said all season that he doesn't know when the opportunity will come, but that everyone will get an opportunity. That opportunity came for Dontrez Styles on Saturday afternoon. With the Tar Heels hit with a couple players with two early fouls, Styles played ten minutes in the first half--more than he had played in six of the previous seven full games. He wasn't flawless, committing one turnover with too much dribbling, but he grabbed two rebounds, scored a basket, had a nice assist, and--likely the reason he was in the game--his athleticism was a good match for Baylor's athleticism. That was good preparation for the second half, when it feels--an hour later--like Styles was pretty much in the game the entire day. The Kinston freshman scored nine points and grabbed three rebounds, and he made an absolutely giant three-pointer in overtime.

8. A huge first half stretch happened with 12:44 left in the period. Armando Bacot was whistled for a (questionable) offensive foul, but in the ensuing scrum, Baylor's Jeremy Sochan was hit with a contact technical foul. That call turned into two Caleb Love free throws. And when Carolina took possession after the free throws, Brady Manek swished a three-pointer, giving the Heels five quick points in a situation where they had already relinquished possession.

9. Among the former Tar Heels in attendance: Garrison Brooks, whose Mississippi State season ended this week. He traveled from Starkville on Friday to be in attendance for Carolina's second-round game.

10. Some historical facts from Saturday's game: it marked the first time Carolina has ever played Baylor. And it was the first time the Tar Heels have played the defending national champion in the NCAA Tournament since facing Arkansas in 1995.

11. Why does playing road games matter? Because you never know when you might need a little composure. Playing an hour from Waco, the Tar Heels built on their 8-3 regular season road record to get the win.

12. See you in Philadelphia.

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University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Armando Bacot

Garrison Brooks

RJ Davis

Caleb Love

Brady Manek

Dontrez Styles

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