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University of North Carolina Athletics
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Lucas: Florida Rapid Reactions
December 17, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Quick takeaways from the Jumpman Invitational.
By Adam Lucas
1. A second half comeback fell short and Carolina couldn't control the glass, falling 90-84 to a good Florida team.
2. Carolina came into the game knowing Florida was extremely proficient on the offensive glass. They proved it when it mattered, and that was the difference in the game. Florida scored 17 second chance points in the second half alone, and 11 of those second chance points came in the final 6:30. That's a stretch when it was essentially a one-possession game the entire time, meaning the Tar Heels were getting the initial stop but then not finishing it with the defensive rebound. For the game, Florida had a 46-36 edge on the glass and grabbed 16 offensive rebounds from 35 missed shots, meaning they recovered almost half--right at their season average.
3. Combined with the struggles on the backboard, the Heels also missed three of the final four free throws they attempted, including two front ends of one-and-one opportunities.
4. That was part of a disappointing final few minutes that saw Carolina take a four point lead with 4:03 left, a three-point lead with 2:44 left, and a two-point lead with 2:13 left. But Florida answered every one of those Tar Heel hoops, with two of the three answers coming off offensive rebounds. The Tar Heels simply could not get a stop when they needed it and that was the difference in the game.
5. Much of the second half was due to great work by the UNC guards. During one stretch, the Carolina trio of RJ Davis, Ian Jackson and Seth Trimble combined to score 22 straight UNC points. Davis finished with 29, Jackson and Trimble each had 11, and Elliot Cadeau also added 11 but struggled mightily in the final 90 seconds.
6. The end was a frustrating way to end what had been an encouraging second half until that point. The Heels immediately had much more energy as soon as the second half began, sparked first by Ven-Allen Lubin and then fueled by Hubert Davis after an early Gator timeout.
7. That helped the Heels recover from a rough first half, as Florida put up 46 points. Carolina stayed in the game in the first half at the free throw line. The Tar Heels went 10-for-13 at the charity stripe, which was the only way they marginally offset an 11-for-37 showing from the field and 2-for-16 from three. Florida's nine turnovers were the only way the deficit at halftime wasn't worse than 46-34. The second half finish will mask the fact that the Heels simply weren't intense enough again in the first 20 minutes--continuing what has been a pattern that the coaches have constantly emphasized needs to change.
8. Davis's 29 passed Phil Ford for third all-time in Carolina scoring. But some of the most fun moments came from Jackson, who took advantage of some mismatches against Florida big men and had the Spectrum Center crowd electrified with some of his drives to the rim.
9. Florida assisted that comeback by committing eight turnovers in the second half. Carolina knew exactly what to do with them, turning those miscues into 16 points. With a couple of three-point plays mixed in, they turned seven of those eight errors into points.
10. But here's what you can say about Florida: they played turnover-free for the final 7:30. When they had to take care of the ball, they did. That plus their ability to pound the glass decided the game.
11. The Tar Heels have work to do defensively. They simply have to get better, with the ceiling somewhat limited by the personnel and absence of a big man to challenging opposing drivers or clean up missed shots. The Gators finished the game at 46.2 percent from the field. Some of the late issues were physical limitations, but a couple key ones appeared to be simple miscommunications and the five players on the court not being on the same page. Clean up just those two possessions and we could be talking about a different outcome.
12. Three-point shooting.is a concern. Carolina went 5-for-28 from three, meaning they are 25-for-111 (22.5%) from three over the last four games.
13. Carolina stayed in the game in the first half at the free throw line. The Tar Heels went 10-for-13 at the charity stripe, which was the only way they marginally offset an 11-for-37 showing from the field and 2-for-16 from three. Florida's nine turnovers were the only way the deficit at halftime wasn't worse than 46-34.
14. Tuesday's game was Carolina's third in the Jumpman Invitational. The event was originally scheduled as a three-year commitment, meaning it could open a slot in Carolina's schedule next year. The Heels are now 2-1 in the event and 18-3 in the Spectrum Center.
15. And the Tar Heels are looking for those openings. As Hubert Davis discussed in this week's Checking In interview, this year's schedule is formidable even beyond UNC's lofty standards. In fact, that conversation prompted this look around the league: Carolina is the sole program in the ACC that will play only five times at home out of the first dozen games. Every other team except for Florida State plays at least seven home games (the 'Noles have six). Nationally, the only teams in the current top 25 that only have five home games in the first dozen contests are Auburn and Alabama. Tuesday's game marked only the second time in program history the Heels have played four top-10 opponents before New Year's Day (the other was 1967).
16. No surprise since Carolina was back in his hometown of Charlotte, but it was great to see Tar Heel standout Antawn Jamison at Tuesday's game. That meant that two of Carolina's five living retired jersey recipients were at the Spectrum Center, as Phil Ford was also in attendance. Other Heels on hand: Brendan Haywood and Dante Calabria, among others.
17. Pretty simple: Saturday's game against UCLA at Madison Square Garden is a must-win. The Heels desperately need that game on their postseason credentials.
1. A second half comeback fell short and Carolina couldn't control the glass, falling 90-84 to a good Florida team.
2. Carolina came into the game knowing Florida was extremely proficient on the offensive glass. They proved it when it mattered, and that was the difference in the game. Florida scored 17 second chance points in the second half alone, and 11 of those second chance points came in the final 6:30. That's a stretch when it was essentially a one-possession game the entire time, meaning the Tar Heels were getting the initial stop but then not finishing it with the defensive rebound. For the game, Florida had a 46-36 edge on the glass and grabbed 16 offensive rebounds from 35 missed shots, meaning they recovered almost half--right at their season average.
3. Combined with the struggles on the backboard, the Heels also missed three of the final four free throws they attempted, including two front ends of one-and-one opportunities.
4. That was part of a disappointing final few minutes that saw Carolina take a four point lead with 4:03 left, a three-point lead with 2:44 left, and a two-point lead with 2:13 left. But Florida answered every one of those Tar Heel hoops, with two of the three answers coming off offensive rebounds. The Tar Heels simply could not get a stop when they needed it and that was the difference in the game.
5. Much of the second half was due to great work by the UNC guards. During one stretch, the Carolina trio of RJ Davis, Ian Jackson and Seth Trimble combined to score 22 straight UNC points. Davis finished with 29, Jackson and Trimble each had 11, and Elliot Cadeau also added 11 but struggled mightily in the final 90 seconds.
6. The end was a frustrating way to end what had been an encouraging second half until that point. The Heels immediately had much more energy as soon as the second half began, sparked first by Ven-Allen Lubin and then fueled by Hubert Davis after an early Gator timeout.
7. That helped the Heels recover from a rough first half, as Florida put up 46 points. Carolina stayed in the game in the first half at the free throw line. The Tar Heels went 10-for-13 at the charity stripe, which was the only way they marginally offset an 11-for-37 showing from the field and 2-for-16 from three. Florida's nine turnovers were the only way the deficit at halftime wasn't worse than 46-34. The second half finish will mask the fact that the Heels simply weren't intense enough again in the first 20 minutes--continuing what has been a pattern that the coaches have constantly emphasized needs to change.
8. Davis's 29 passed Phil Ford for third all-time in Carolina scoring. But some of the most fun moments came from Jackson, who took advantage of some mismatches against Florida big men and had the Spectrum Center crowd electrified with some of his drives to the rim.
9. Florida assisted that comeback by committing eight turnovers in the second half. Carolina knew exactly what to do with them, turning those miscues into 16 points. With a couple of three-point plays mixed in, they turned seven of those eight errors into points.
10. But here's what you can say about Florida: they played turnover-free for the final 7:30. When they had to take care of the ball, they did. That plus their ability to pound the glass decided the game.
11. The Tar Heels have work to do defensively. They simply have to get better, with the ceiling somewhat limited by the personnel and absence of a big man to challenging opposing drivers or clean up missed shots. The Gators finished the game at 46.2 percent from the field. Some of the late issues were physical limitations, but a couple key ones appeared to be simple miscommunications and the five players on the court not being on the same page. Clean up just those two possessions and we could be talking about a different outcome.
12. Three-point shooting.is a concern. Carolina went 5-for-28 from three, meaning they are 25-for-111 (22.5%) from three over the last four games.
13. Carolina stayed in the game in the first half at the free throw line. The Tar Heels went 10-for-13 at the charity stripe, which was the only way they marginally offset an 11-for-37 showing from the field and 2-for-16 from three. Florida's nine turnovers were the only way the deficit at halftime wasn't worse than 46-34.
14. Tuesday's game was Carolina's third in the Jumpman Invitational. The event was originally scheduled as a three-year commitment, meaning it could open a slot in Carolina's schedule next year. The Heels are now 2-1 in the event and 18-3 in the Spectrum Center.
15. And the Tar Heels are looking for those openings. As Hubert Davis discussed in this week's Checking In interview, this year's schedule is formidable even beyond UNC's lofty standards. In fact, that conversation prompted this look around the league: Carolina is the sole program in the ACC that will play only five times at home out of the first dozen games. Every other team except for Florida State plays at least seven home games (the 'Noles have six). Nationally, the only teams in the current top 25 that only have five home games in the first dozen contests are Auburn and Alabama. Tuesday's game marked only the second time in program history the Heels have played four top-10 opponents before New Year's Day (the other was 1967).
16. No surprise since Carolina was back in his hometown of Charlotte, but it was great to see Tar Heel standout Antawn Jamison at Tuesday's game. That meant that two of Carolina's five living retired jersey recipients were at the Spectrum Center, as Phil Ford was also in attendance. Other Heels on hand: Brendan Haywood and Dante Calabria, among others.
17. Pretty simple: Saturday's game against UCLA at Madison Square Garden is a must-win. The Heels desperately need that game on their postseason credentials.
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