North Carolina Tar Heels: Defense beats Pitt to Advance
The North Carolina Tar Heels used defense and a big game from Joel Berry to beat the Pitt Panthers in the ACC Quarterfinals.
The North Carolina Tar Heels beat the Pitt Panthers for the second time yesterday to earn a spot in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament in Washington, DC. The seventeen point 88-71 win was just what the Tar Heels needed as it enabled them to play reserves for the last few minutes of the game so that the team would be relatively rested when they play Notre Dame tonight.
The victory over Pitt had some improvements over the last game with the Panthers. This time the Tar Heels were not outhustled on the boards or for loose balls. Brice Johnson had double digit rebounds and five blocks. Joel Berry had four steals and largely kept Pitt senior point guard James Robinson under wraps.
Nor was the defensive effort limited to them. Isaiah Hicks had an emphatic block (and later a goaltending call trying to do the same thing). Kenny Williams was used to track down Jamel Artis for a few minutes in the second half.
Artis started the game hot but adjustments kept him from keeping that up. The same was true for Pitt forward Michael Young, who scored some buckets late in the first half but was held quiet during the second.
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In fact it is arguable that the game turned on a couple of good defensive possessions right at the first half. Creating turnovers and getting a Marcus Paige block resulted in a Tar Heel lead at the half instead of going in behind. That provided some confidence for the slow starting Heels.
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In the end it was a good start for Johnson (19 points), Berry (20 points), Hicks (10 points), and even Nate Britt (9 points). Paige hit a couple of threes including a big one to reclaim the lead in the second half. Justin Jackson had eleven points and helped attack the post. Williams hit his first three after passing one up to Berry earlier in the game. Theo Pinson did not have much of a stat line, but he continued to be a strong defensive presence.
All in all, the Tar Heels played their best when they played their game. The 43% from the three point line was just the icing.
Next: Tar Heels to face Lovie Smith
Notre Dame will likely try to do the same things they did last game against the Heels, so a good defensive effort will be needed. Berry will need to guard Demetrius Jackson similar to how he handled Robinson. The Heels will likely also experiment with smaller lineups so that Bonzie Colson does not burn them again in mismatches.
Of course you need not wait long for that, tip off is at 7:00 PM.