Chansky's Notebook: Late in the Game

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Losing second-half leads could be fatal for the Tar Heels’ season.

So, here we are with our collective backs against the wall when it comes to the ignominy of possibly missing the NCAA tournament with a team that was the preseason No. 1 pick in the polls.

And saying “we” goes beyond the team that is hurting more than anyone. Carolina alumni and fans have long been invested in the results on the basketball court, and we have suffered through a litany of historically heartbreaking losses for once top-ranked teams. Indiana in Atlanta, Syracuse at the Meadowlands, Boston College at Landover and Kansas in St. Louis come to mind – and that was in the NCAA tournament trying to get to the Final Four.

This regular season is in a different category and is especially painful because the Tar Heels are way underperforming to expectations that were way over the top in the early rankings. And the way they have been unable to close out games they led in the second half is particularly perplexing.

Six times they’ve had leads deep into the second half only to squander them and victories that seemed at hand and, in the past, would have been closed out far more often than not. And regardless of Hubert Davis’ popularity and his magical run to the national championship game last year, coaching is under serious scrutiny after N.C. State followed the two Pitt games all the way back to Alabama and Iowa State losses in November.

I’ll use Dean Smith as an example, because Davis played four years for him; many coaches utilize the same philosophy that the most important parts of the game, especially near the end of the season, are the last 4-5 minutes. While that represents about one tenth of regulation, the very best coaches are known to devote as much as 20 percent of their practices to late-game situations, time and score and strategy.

Carolina has been one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in program history. From open looks that don’t go down and settling for tougher shots to fewer transition baskets resulting from not forcing turnovers or triggering fast breaks by no longer dominating the rebounding, how to take care of the ball and make the most of every possession is magnified as the shot clock winds down and the pressure mounts. Execution cannot be achieved without the kind of “preparation and practice” that Hubert talks about constantly.

The questions must loom in our minds: Do the Tar Heels practice enough of how to protect leads they have worked hard to build? That is up to Davis and his staff to review and fix while there is still time left.

Featured image via Associated Press/Chris Seward

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3 Comments

Don 2020 on February 21, 2023 at 3:47 pm

Wes Miller!
William Mathis on February 21, 2023 at 5:31 pm

It’s basically the same team as last year – so what’s the problem?
HoppyHap on February 21, 2023 at 10:45 pm

Not the same team at all. Year later and Manek made a bigger difference than most think. Is the problem the coaching staff? You would be crazy not to ask that question. I think the answer will come when we see the number of players that hit the transfer portal from UNC.

Chansky’s Notebook: Late in the Game

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