Even uber-positive Hubert Davis was at a loss for words.
The Carolina coach wasn’t sure what to make of his top-ranked, still undefeated team’s third slow start this season. The first game against UNC-Wilmington, the Tar Heels were up by 11 points at the half and could only extend the final margin by two. They trailed College of Charleston by 7 points at halftime before exploding for a 16-point win by shooting 71 percent.
Their third game against winless Gardner-Webb Tuesday night was sluggish throughout, and if Pete Nance hadn’t transferred in, they would have lost by 12. Armando Bacot finished last season with a record six straight double doubles in the NCAA tournament, but he hasn’t had one so far.
The team shot 38 percent from the floor, 32 percent from the arc and only out-rebounded the considerably smaller Bulldogs by two. Other lowlights were G-W had at least the first five dunks of the game, and UNC had no bench points in the first half and finished with 8 assists and 10 turnovers.
“Heading into the season, I thought there would be a hunger and a thirst to do all the little things that put you in position to have a successful team,” Davis said, adding that not getting loose balls or attacking the glass, lacking the needed physicality, not moving the ball and finding the open man. There were zero fast break points in the first half, when the grad transfer took over.
Nance had his best game so far, making his first three 3-pointers on his way to 18 points. It’s a good thing, too, because Bacot shot 1 for 7 and the rest combined to go 3 for 17 in the first half. The preseason ACC Player of the Year and a member of numerous All-American teams so far does not seem to have the fire he had for most of his junior season.
Caleb Love was hot coming out of the locker room, scoring 17 points to finish with 20 but combined with R.J. Davis to shoot only 4 of 14 from the arc. The Heels led by 16 early in the second half and won by just 6. Next up Sunday is James Madison, which is 4-0 and has blown out all four opponents.
As the schedule toughens with Power 5 opponents over Thanksgiving, starting slowly won’t be as forgiving. Last season, the Tar Heels were 3-0 going to the Hall of Fame Tip-off tournament, fell behind Purdue by six points and Tennessee by seven and could not recover in the second half of either game.
“There was never an expectation for this year’s team to look anything other than having a chance to grow and to build,” Davis said. “The frustrating part is the times where the effort and the energy isn’t there.”
Featured image via Todd Melet
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
