Lucas: Michigan State Rapid Reactions

By Adam Lucas

1. Frustrating game in Maui, as Michigan State hangs on in overtime to win, 94-91.

2. There's plenty to talk about regarding that game, but there is absolutely no question that the technical foul whistled on Hubert Davis with 13:16 changed the game. Carolina had all the momentum and the lead, 58-57, at that point and Michigan State was trying to call timeout. The Tar Heels needlessly got involved in the play and were whistled for a foul. At that point, we'll have to see what the postgame explanation was, but from across the court it certainly looked like a prominent member of the MSU bench directly addressed the UNC bench. As the Tar Heels responded, an official came from across the court to whistle a technical foul on Hubert Davis--the first in the head coach's career--for being out of the coach's box, a rule that of course is stringently enforced here in the Maui Invitational. Given the histrionics we've seen on the sideline, it's incredible that was the moment that earned a technical foul.

3. What was the result of that play? Michigan State--which needed every timeout it had in the final minutes because they couldn't get the ball up the court, and ended regulation with zero timeouts available--did not have to call the timeout they were desperately trying to call. The Spartans also got two free throws to retake the lead.

4. So that was unfortunate, and of course we won't get the opportunity to hear from the game officials about what they saw in that sequence. But Carolina still had plenty of chances as the Spartans melted down in the final 4:30 of regulation (and Carolina still trailed by seven with 1:24 remaining in the second half). Elliot Cadeau was extremely frustrated after missing a great shot right at the rim with 19 seconds left that would have given UNC a one-point lead.

5. And even after all that, once Seth Trimble swished a three-pointer to send the game into overtime, it felt like Carolina had the momentum. But the Tar Heels couldn't turn it into points, as they only recorded two field goals in the extra session--one a three by Drake Powell and another a three by RJ Davis.

6. Powell has arrived. He was part of a freshman duo with Ian Jackson that provided 20 of the Heels' 34 first half points (ten for each). A Carolina rotation that is still developing on the wing and in the frontcourt is going to have to make room for more Powell. He finished with 18 points in a career-high 33 minutes. There are brighter days ahead for him.

7. The Carolina offense again struggled to get to the line. The Heels attempted just 21 free throws to MSU's 31 (the Heels did have to foul late), with only six of those attempts from the combination of Trimble and Davis, a duo that has been very successful in getting to the line earlier in the season.

8. For the third straight game, Carolina faced a double digit deficit in the first half. Michigan State had some unexpected offensive success and led by as many as 14 before the Heels cut it to nine at the break. It was almost worse, but a buzzer-beating Spartan three-pointer didn't actually beat the buzzer. That cushion--with the Heels playing from behind yet again--proved to be just enough. It's a trend that has to be corrected.

9. Part of that deficit was due to the fact that the UNC guards again faced foul trouble. Cadeau picked up two quick fouls and Davis was also hit with two. That put the duo on the bench for a significant stretch of the first 20 minutes.

10. Tough break for Tom Izzo's team, as the Spartans played without Jase Richardson, who has been very good early in his career in East Lansing. Richardson was coming off an 18-point performance against Memphis, but was ruled out Wednesday with a head injury. As Dean Smith often said, though, a team can withstand the loss of an important player for one game, because everyone raises their level of play. Four different Spartans had career highs in Wednesday's game.

11. You will see this matchup again next Thanksgiving. Carolina and Michigan State will be part of a Thanksgiving Day game in 2025 at the Fort Myers Tip-Off in Florida.

12. More important than the series as of right now is the weight this win might carry throughout the season. Because of the strength of the ACC, the Tar Heels may not get many chances for big wins to add to their postseason credentials. They needed this one and are now are close to desperate facing a home game with talented Alabama on Wednesday.

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University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Elliot Cadeau

RJ Davis

Ian Jackson

Drake Powell

Seth Trimble

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