Well, at least Carolina knows the road from good to great.
The Tar Heels lost their first game of the season but have a chance to learn from it and turn a not-so-happy Thanksgiving into some needed lessons. And that goes for the players and coaches.
The loss to Michigan State in Fort Myers set a season low for points scored (58), field goal shooting (32 percent), total field goals (21), three-pointers (4), three-point shooting (17 percent), rebounds (30) and assists (9).
The Spartans’ 52 percent shooting was also the highest UNC allowed in seven games this season and has to improve on its 33 percent. The Heels are 6-16 in Hubert Davis’ tenure when the opponent shoots 50 percent or better.
Michigan State scored 46 points in the paint, the most by an opponent since the Spartans scored 50 inside while beating UNC in Maui last November. Yet after trailing at the half, 33-28, the Heels cut the deficit to three with less than eight minutes remaining in the game.
Then came what has put 31-year head coach Tom Izzo’s program among the elite. The No. 14-ranked Spartans upped the pressure defense to outscore, outrebound and outhustle Carolina and end the game on a 19-6 run to seal their seventh win (7-0) of the season.
Yes, the Tar Heels shot poorly, but it was more than having a bad night. They went 4 for 23 from outside, including 0 for 3 by Caleb Wilson, 0 for 5 from Kyan Evans and 1 for 6 from Luka Bogavac – a losing formula against almost anyone.
Carolina sort of solved Michigan State’s reputed aggressive play and defense in the first half, once leading by seven points before giving up a 12-0 run that set the tone for the rest of the game.
Davis said, and it was obvious, that his team stopped moving without the ball and swinging it “side to side” to get better shots like against Kansas and much of its six previous wins that included a runaway victory over St. Bonaventure in the Tuesday game.
And that had a lot to do with the Spartans’ man-to-man defense that pushed the Tar Heels farther from the basket than they like to be.
That resulted in Carolina having tougher shots and leaving only Henri Veesaar and Wilson as scoring threats in the second half. Meanwhile, Michigan State was on its way to making 22 of 50 two-point shots and half of the 10 attempted from beyond the arc.
Davis added the Heels “got some good looks that didn’t go in,” but despite scoring a team high 18 points freshman Wilson lost some of his normal joie de vivre while not having the same success on isolated one-on-one moves he did with several first half dunks.
Most teams must play good defense to help their offense. The Heels did neither and now know what they have to do as their next game is at Kentucky.
Featured image via Associated Press/Mike Carlson
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.
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