Barring an ACC tournament run, it’s down to three games for Carolina.
The last time the Tar Heels hit rock bottom, a 63-50 loss at Clemson, they came back with their best game of the season by beating Duke in an empty Cameron Indoor Stadium. Now, well over 3,000 fans will be allowed in for Saturday’s critical home contest with No. 11 Florida State, followed by a trip to Syracuse and Senior Night v. Duke, both toss-up games at this point. Could the crowd be a source for inspiration?
Almost 3,000 fans were in the arena at Florida State when Carolina hung in there with the Seminoles before losing a seven-point decision. The Heels played and shot pretty well that night, but FSU was better by making 50 percent on 3-pointers and 96 percent on free throws.
Unranked on January 16, the ‘Noles have been climbing in the polls ever since and are on their way to a second consecutive ACC regular season championship, thanks to Virginia’s recent collapse. Roy Williams talked about lacking urgency in the loss to Marquette, and his team needs two games worth of resolve to pull this upset. FSU comes here having won 9 of its last 10.
But it’s possible, and fans in the stands will bring the dead Dome off life support to have some semblance of atmosphere. And if the old adage is true that there is only one place to go from rock bottom, the Tar Heels have a chance. For sure, they’ll be anxious to play another game after what will have been two days of hell at practice following the egg Ol’ Roy said they laid.
Carolina matches up okay with FSU, which likes to run even more than the Tar Heels. The key, as always, will be to stall fast breaks by staying in front of the ball and get the heck out on the ‘Noles great 3-point shooters. Offensively, UNC’s bigs better man up more than ever against a team that is even bigger and as deep in the paint.
As bad as the loss was to Marquette, and it was bad, the Heels did not lose any ground in the ACC regular-season race, so they still have a chance for a top-four finish by winning out. And it will take everything they have between the lines and between the ears.
Of the 14 thus far, they do not have a great win against a quality and so-called quadrant 1 opponent. This is their chance to prove they can find urgency and execution in their game.
Be quick but don’t hurry, as they say.
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Ol’ Roy needs to spend more time with family!