1. Just an entire win for Alabama, as they completely executed their gameplan on the best way to a 94-79 win on the Smith Center. The Heels have now led for simply 11:13 of the final 165 minutes they’ve performed (three video games in Maui and tonight). Size was once more a big drawback, as Alabama despatched waves of lengthy, athletic our bodies at Carolina.
2. Carolina actually struggled to attain. The Tar Heels did not shoot properly total, checking in at 41 p.c, however they have been very dangerous from the three-point line, the place they made simply 5 for 28. On an evening after they wanted to make productive offensive journeys, they simply could not generate the factors.
3. The shiny spot offensively was Ian Jackson, who contributed 23 factors and shot 10-for-17. Going into ACC play, the rotation is under no circumstances set–both on the perimeter and within the publish, the place the Tar Heels rotated a sequence of gamers with out ever actually discovering one who was constant (Ty Claude in all probability got here the closest, getting six factors and 5 rebounds in 10 minutes earlier than leaving with an damage).
4. After the 1-2 efficiency in Maui, Hubert Davis indicated he and the teaching workers could be evaluating adjustments that may very well be made. One of these was instantly obvious on Wednesday evening: the Tar Heels began Drake Powell rather than Jae’Lyn Withers. Powell was a team-high +16 in Maui (the following highest was Ven-Allen Lubin at +7, after which Seth Trimble at +2). The freshman had some moments (six factors and three rebounds) however total had a type of video games freshmen typically have, the place issues are shifting slightly too quick. He was removed from alone in that class.
5. Rough evening for RJ Davis, who by no means discovered a rhythm offensively and completed 7-for-24 from the sphere and 1-for-11 from three-point vary. That now offers him a 1-for-20 mark from three in opposition to the Tide within the final two conferences. That will get probably the most of consideration, however Davis’ backcourt accomplice, Elliot Cadeau, additionally had a tough evening, ending with one level and 4 turnovers (he has 18 assists and 16 turnovers in his final 4 video games). The pattern continues: when Cadeau is sweet, the Heels are good. When he is not, they battle. The total beginning backcourt trio (Seth Trimble completed -19) simply did not have an important evening. With this yr’s workforce, any time all three of these gamers battle, it is going to be a tough evening.
6. For the fourth straight recreation, Carolina discovered itself trailing by double digits within the first half. The Tar Heels struggled to carry on to the ball early, committing seven turnovers within the first a part of the primary half, after which as soon as they discovered the deal with had bother capturing, hitting simply 36.1 p.c from the sphere and a paltry 15.4 p.c from the three-point line.
7. Combine these numbers with the truth that the Tar Heels weren’t very profitable attending to the line–they made simply 6-for-7 on the charity stripe–and it is truthfully shocking the halftime deficit was simply 9. It might have been a lot, a lot worse.
8. Here’s the issue with guarding the Crimson Tide within the first half. During that 20 minutes, they tried 37 area objectives. Eighteen of these have been three-pointers. Fifteen have been layups or dunks (they made eight). So of the 37 photographs they took, 33 have been both layups or three-pointers. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels took 13 of their 33 photographs from the midrange, an space that simply is not very environment friendly or productive.
9. Carolina often flashed some full-court and three-quarters courtroom defensive strain. That could need to be a much bigger a part of the gameplan going ahead. The Tar Heels aren’t nice at it simply but, nevertheless it does give opponents a distinct look and has the potential to create turnovers.
10. The rigorous early season schedule now contains three top-10 opponents within the first eight video games. It’s the primary time for the reason that 1967-68 season the Tar Heels have confronted that stern a gauntlet within the first eight video games. And developing Saturday: the ACC opener, with Georgia Tech visiting the Smith Center at 2 p.m. Keep in thoughts that Carolina has performed three of the perfect 10 groups in America to this point and clearly is a lower under them proper now. Now you need to win some video games in opposition to groups which can be exterior of that elite vary.
11. Reminder about two issues for this weekend: first, Saturday’s ACC opener in opposition to Georgia Tech additionally options the return of the Tip-Off Club exterior the Smith Center.
12. Second, the annual children clinic with the basketball workforce has been moved up this yr. It will happen on this Sunday, Dec. 8. Cost to attend is $75. More info will be discovered right here or keep watch over all of the Carolina Basketball social media shops within the days to return. It’s an important alternative for teenagers to work together with this yr’s workforce.
13. Good turnout from Tar Heel alums. Mitch Kupchak, Ed Davis, Tyler Hansbrough (on the THSN name), Tyler Zeller and Marcus Ginyard have been all in attendance. And it wasn’t simply basketball–Drake Maye and Vance Honeycutt have been additionally readily available.
