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Carolina got a hands-on look at the basketball team it wants to become.
First things first, UConn is the defending national champion and looks like it could repeat for the first time since Florida did it in 2006 and ’07.
The Tar Heels competed, but not as hard as the Huskies. The Heels shot the ball well at times but did not match their fifth-ranked opponents in making them when they needed to make them. They came off two wins that featured periodically great defense but could not stop UConn’s barrage of 3 balls that broke the game open.
Hubert Davis’ program has a lot further to come as evidenced by the 87-76 loss in a game that was competitive for much of the night, before the Huskies proved physically tougher and too strong with the ball.
After competing hard in a five-point first half, the Tar Heels fell behind by double figures in the second. They cut the deficit down to five points before missing some very good looks from outside while UConn put the game out of reach with a decisive 18-6 run.
The Huskies not only share the ball so well but also move to get good shots – where their 25 assists on 34 made baskets came from – and set effective screens and exploit match-ups. Besides playing so hard, they are well-coached and seemingly intentional.
Carolina was not only outrebounded by 10 and missed a very untypical nine free throws that included Armando Bacot, who came in at 85 percent, clanging 5 of 10 along with his 4 for 12 from the field on the way to another double-double of 13 and 13.
R.J. Davis and Harrison Ingram played up their resumes, Davis scoring 26 points on 8 for 17 shooting that included 4 of 8 from 3-point land and 6 for 6 at the free throw line; Ingram had 20 points on 8 for 13 from the floor with 4 rebounds and five assists that were matched by Bacot and Elliot Cadeau.
“I am discouraged because we lost and I want to win everything,” Coach Davis said, but he was also “encouraged” by the good things that his team did at intimidating Madison Square Garden, where UConn has now played 132 games and had most of the loud and capacity crowd on its side.
Now 7-2, the Tar Heels have plenty of season left, resuming after final exams with dates against ranked Kentucky in Atlanta and Oklahoma in Charlotte. At least they have memories of how UConn played and video tape to study where they want to be in the ACC race and in March.
Featured image via Dakota Moyer
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In the 2nd half at one point we were 4/8 and uconn was 7/8 with three of those being 3 pointers I believe. Our defense played well enough that at least two of the three’s were balls thrown up at the buzzer, and went in.
We shot poorly at times and shot a season low % of our free throws. I think it happens in these type arena’s.
UConn played better but with just a bit more luck that game might have had a different ending. I’m not disappointed as I think Uconn is playing near their best, and we still have a lot of room to grow.