North Carolina men’s basketball team defeated Gardner Webb Tuesday night 72-66 in a game of runs, turnovers and inconsistency from the Heels. After the win, you would have thought the Tar Heels were defeated as they talked about their lackluster performance.
“We can’t keep saying the same thing after every game. It’s about to get real here in the next couple games We gotta fix it, and we gotta fix it fast” Caleb Love said after the game.
What Love was referring to the inconsistency and slow starts by the Heels. Controlling the boards has been an issue for North Carolina – having been out-rebounded in their first two contests prior to last nights win. Northwestern transfer Pete Nance finished the game with 18 points, including three three-point baskets in the first half. In the second half he only attempted two shots, a discrepancy that Hubert Davis said had happened in his playing days would warrant a discussion with his teammates.
Davis did not throw any specific players under the bus when he said he expects more hunger, fight and joy from his team. However, he added that he will not take players not following coaching.
“I think there is yellow flags in our commitment to defense, commitment to our scouting report, getting to the offensive glass and sharing the basketball. I don’t think there are any red flags, but there’s a number of areas where there are some yellow flags that need to be changed and will be changed”
Last night, North Carolina shot 38.3% from the field and 32% from deep. On the year, Carolina is shooting less than 30% from downtown and averaging less than 10 assists per game, which indicates two things – shots are not falling with the lack of ball movement and there’s poor shot selection outside of the flow of the offense.
The Tar Heels will face James Madison Sunday at home. With the way Hubert Davis was excited to get back to practice, expect a full and rejuvenated Tar Heels team Sunday at noon.