UNC Falls to Georgia Tech, Drops to 0-2 in ACC Play

UNC’s search for its first ACC win will continue, as the Tar Heels lost to Georgia Tech 72-67 on Wednesday to drop to 0-2 in conference play.

Carolina (5-4, 0-2 ACC) controlled the game for more than 30 minutes — including the entirety of the first half – but Georgia Tech (4-4, 1-1 ACC) rebounded late in the game to take a slim lead over the Tar Heels.

This is just the sixth time in program history that Carolina has started 0-2 in conference play.

UNC started the game with a new lineup — R.J. Davis, Kerwin Walton, Andrew Platek, Day’Ron Sharpe and Armando Bacot. Garrison Brooks, Caleb Love and Leaky Black came off the bench for the Tar Heels. It was the first time since 2007 that UNC has started three freshmen.

Roy Williams said the decision about the starting lineup was made in part from the poor defensive grades after the NC State game. Brooks, who had the majority of games for the Tar Heels over the past three seasons, saw his starting streak snapped.

“The hardest one was Garrison, his defensive grade wasn’t as bad as the other two,” Williams said. “To save time, I’ve tried to treat everyone fairly.”

After the game, Brooks said he understood why he was benched and that it stemmed from his play on the defensive side of the ball.

“Either you’re gonna play better or you’re gonna sit down,” Brooks said. “We both thought I wasn’t doing enough and I recognize its a privilege to start. Day’Ron is playing better than me. Either I get better or sit down.”

Carolina got out to an early lead against the Yellow Jackets, but could never quite pull away. Georgia Tech kept it close and used an 11-2 run and some hot shooting from three-point range at the end of the first half to keep the game close.

In previous games this season, UNC fell behind early to opponents. While the Tar Heels were able to get a lead of their own against Georgia Tech with a new starting lineup, Williams still expressed his dismay for their performance.

“We were able to have the lead, I wasn’t pleased with how we played,” he said. “I don’t think the starting lineup had anything to do with us having the lead.”

Georgia Tech took the lead for the first time in the game midway through the second half. Carolina went on a 12-1 run with less than 10 minutes left in the game and looked to be pulling away, but Georgia Tech chipped away and fought back to retake the lead.

A critical moment came when Sharpe was called for a turnover with 33 seconds remaining. The ball seemed to be going back to Carolina with an opportunity to score, but officials reversed the call after a review.

In his postgame availability, Williams harped on Carolina’s continued lackluster performance on the defensive side of the ball. Williams said that the Tar Heels aren’t gifted enough on offense to have lapses on defense.

“The defensive end of the floor is the most important thing in this level of college basketball,” Williams said.

Bacot led the Tar Heels with 14 points, while Leaky Black chipped in with 10 points. Carolina’s major freshmen contributors (Love, Davis and Walton) combined for 22 points on 7 of 21 shooting from the field.

The Tar Heels saw a noticeable improvement in three-point shooting in the game, something that Roy Williams has harped on. UNC shot 40 percent from three-point range, helped by Walton’s 3 for 4 performance from beyond the arc.

Photo via Curtis Compton.

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UNC Falls to Georgia Tech, Drops to 0-2 in ACC Play

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