North Carolina Tar Heels: Not the Way To Do It
The North Carolina Tar Heels survived yesterday. SURVIVED. They ran into a number of problems against Harvard that the Crimson did not really cause. In the end, they had to wait out a shot from Harvard’s best player Wesley Saunders to see if they would advance. Saunders missed it, but not by much. That shot seemed to represent much of the game.
The game had some good spots. Justin Jackson and Marcus Paige had good games minus a four point play given up by Paige. Jackson will offer a tough matchup for other teams throughout the tournament if he can keep up his level of play. Kennedy Meeks almost returned to form, one stretch saw him draw four Harvard fouls in four straight possessions.
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However there was a lot of bad in this game.
1. 17 Turnovers
The Tar Heels had a decided talent advantage in the game. The only way Harvard was going to get back in it was if the Heels turned the ball over through poor passes or decisions. The Tar Heels did just that over and over again. During the first half they seemed to be better than the second half. Did they get complacent? Fortunately Harvard’s three point shooting never materialized. Their second-chance points were key to keeping the game going.
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2. Brice Johnson Brain Fart Game
Johnson flirted with foul trouble, but not for good reasons. Johnson picked up his first foul on an illegal screen call. Johnson had three turnovers, two less than Meeks by the way, but he clearly did not look focused. His seven rebounds were important, but this should have a game where he imposed himself on Harvard’s smaller front line and he could not do it. He was on the bench.
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3. Fouls
Harvard’s other fountain of points came not from turnovers but from the foul line. Even in the first half, when Harvard could score no other way, they were able to get to foul line. Harvard shot 18-20 from the free throw line. North Carolina only made eight of thirteen. There was a series where the Heels committed three straight fouls. Fouls limited the time that Tokoto and Jackson could play together, meaning that Paige spent less time at point guard.
All these things must change if North Carolina wants to get past Arkansas tomorrow. The things that Harvard could not fully take advantage of will be like candy to the running Razorbacks led by Coach Mike Anderson.