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University of North Carolina Athletics
Caleb Love
Photo by: Peyton Williams
Lucas: Clemson Rapid Reactions
February 11, 2023 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Quick takeaways from the only meeting this season with Clemson.
By Adam Lucas
1. Carolina got exactly what it needed in a feel-good win over formerly first place Clemson, 91-71.
2. That's one of the best possible versions of the Tar Heels. Carolina shot it well (15-for-33 from three), mostly controlled the rebounding and played solid defense. Carolina had made 16-for-72 from the three-point line in the previous three games; they connected on 15 three-pointers in this game alone. Armando Bacot had yet another double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
3. Really nice game from Caleb Love, who in the first half alone hit three three-pointers, outfought PJ Hall for a defensive rebound, drew a charge and had an assist. When Carolina gets that kind of play from Love, they are very difficult to beat. And when he's feeling in, the other Heels know it--an extra pass from RJ Davis created a wide-open attempt for Love's third trifecta of the half. Love drew another charge in the second half and finished with 23 points on a very efficient 7-for-12 shooting. He also had five assists and just one turnover. Love was a big part of Carolina handling the Tiger defense very effectively; the Heels had just seven turnovers.
4. It was a vintage Leaky Black defensive performance on Hunter Tyson. The Clemson sharpshooter managed just two field goal attempts in the entire game and finished with three points. Black was draped over him most of the afternoon and Clemson was never able to get Tyson involved. Black also continued to hit the boards and has 27 rebounds in the last three games.
5. Carolina got a great bench rotation in the first half. Hubert Davis had three substitutes--Jalen Washington, Puff Johnson and D'Marco Dunn--on the floor with Clemson holding a 12-9 lead. By the time that trio left, the Heels had a 22-17 lead. A big part of the push was Dunn's twisting basket at the shot clock buzzer and his drive and dish to Washington for a dunk.
6. Speaking of Johnson, we may have seen the beginning of a changing Carolina rotation. Johnson played 18 minutes in the game and was outstanding, contributing eight points (including a couple of three-pointers), but also doing all the other little Puff Johnson things that make a difference to a winning team. Johnson forced a five seconds call and also scored off an offensive rebound in the second half. Pete Nance played 19 minutes.
7. What's the best way to keep a good free throw shooting team from hurting you? Keep them off the line. The Tigers came into the game shooting 86 percent from the charity stripe in ACC play (and are second in the nation at 80.3 percent overall), but attempted just two free throws in the first half as Carolina was whistled for just five fouls and built a double-digit lead. For the game, the Tigers were 16-for-18 from the line, a manageable amount when many of those came after the game was decided.
8. Brad Brownell gambled on reinserting PJ Hall with two fouls late in the first half. It almost worked, but RJ Davis stood in to take a charge with a minute left, which saddled Hall with three fouls.
9. Brownell mentioned in his pregame interview on the Tar Heel Sports Network that he'd emphasized the need for Clemson to be physical in the game in order to have a chance to win. Even with that backdrop, Carolina dominated the glass, holding a 22-12 overall rebounding advantage in the first half and picking up eight offensive rebounds on just 17 missed shots. They turned those offensive boards into a 9-2 edge in second chance points. In the game, Carolina attempted 14 more field goals than Clemson--when you're shooting well, that's an almost certain way to win the game.
10. Great to see Walter Davis at the game. The former NBA All-Star got a big hand when he was introduced in the second half.
11. The win, while it also continues an up-and-down recent stretch, also gives the Tar Heels the chance to build some momentum. It's a very quick turnaround to Monday night's showdown with Miami at the Smith Center. The Hurricanes host Louisville tonight and then must travel to Chapel Hill. Monday will be a big, big game at the Smith Center.
1. Carolina got exactly what it needed in a feel-good win over formerly first place Clemson, 91-71.
2. That's one of the best possible versions of the Tar Heels. Carolina shot it well (15-for-33 from three), mostly controlled the rebounding and played solid defense. Carolina had made 16-for-72 from the three-point line in the previous three games; they connected on 15 three-pointers in this game alone. Armando Bacot had yet another double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
3. Really nice game from Caleb Love, who in the first half alone hit three three-pointers, outfought PJ Hall for a defensive rebound, drew a charge and had an assist. When Carolina gets that kind of play from Love, they are very difficult to beat. And when he's feeling in, the other Heels know it--an extra pass from RJ Davis created a wide-open attempt for Love's third trifecta of the half. Love drew another charge in the second half and finished with 23 points on a very efficient 7-for-12 shooting. He also had five assists and just one turnover. Love was a big part of Carolina handling the Tiger defense very effectively; the Heels had just seven turnovers.
4. It was a vintage Leaky Black defensive performance on Hunter Tyson. The Clemson sharpshooter managed just two field goal attempts in the entire game and finished with three points. Black was draped over him most of the afternoon and Clemson was never able to get Tyson involved. Black also continued to hit the boards and has 27 rebounds in the last three games.
5. Carolina got a great bench rotation in the first half. Hubert Davis had three substitutes--Jalen Washington, Puff Johnson and D'Marco Dunn--on the floor with Clemson holding a 12-9 lead. By the time that trio left, the Heels had a 22-17 lead. A big part of the push was Dunn's twisting basket at the shot clock buzzer and his drive and dish to Washington for a dunk.
6. Speaking of Johnson, we may have seen the beginning of a changing Carolina rotation. Johnson played 18 minutes in the game and was outstanding, contributing eight points (including a couple of three-pointers), but also doing all the other little Puff Johnson things that make a difference to a winning team. Johnson forced a five seconds call and also scored off an offensive rebound in the second half. Pete Nance played 19 minutes.
7. What's the best way to keep a good free throw shooting team from hurting you? Keep them off the line. The Tigers came into the game shooting 86 percent from the charity stripe in ACC play (and are second in the nation at 80.3 percent overall), but attempted just two free throws in the first half as Carolina was whistled for just five fouls and built a double-digit lead. For the game, the Tigers were 16-for-18 from the line, a manageable amount when many of those came after the game was decided.
8. Brad Brownell gambled on reinserting PJ Hall with two fouls late in the first half. It almost worked, but RJ Davis stood in to take a charge with a minute left, which saddled Hall with three fouls.
9. Brownell mentioned in his pregame interview on the Tar Heel Sports Network that he'd emphasized the need for Clemson to be physical in the game in order to have a chance to win. Even with that backdrop, Carolina dominated the glass, holding a 22-12 overall rebounding advantage in the first half and picking up eight offensive rebounds on just 17 missed shots. They turned those offensive boards into a 9-2 edge in second chance points. In the game, Carolina attempted 14 more field goals than Clemson--when you're shooting well, that's an almost certain way to win the game.
10. Great to see Walter Davis at the game. The former NBA All-Star got a big hand when he was introduced in the second half.
11. The win, while it also continues an up-and-down recent stretch, also gives the Tar Heels the chance to build some momentum. It's a very quick turnaround to Monday night's showdown with Miami at the Smith Center. The Hurricanes host Louisville tonight and then must travel to Chapel Hill. Monday will be a big, big game at the Smith Center.
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