“I apologize to all the North Carolina fans, anyone that cares about North Carolina basketball, and all the former players. This is the most disappointed and upset that I have ever been in my life about a basketball team. It’s not even close.” These were the bone-chilling words of a hall of fame head coach, who like many, was at a loss for words after the Tar Heels fell to a struggling Georgia Tech team on Saturday night. Roy Williams entered the game looking for his 880th win, but learned pretty quickly that would be a much tougher than many thought entering the game.
Earlier in the season following the loss to Wofford, I said this team had hit rock bottom. I was wrong about that, unfortunately. This team hit rock bottom on Saturday night, when they went the first 13:21 of the game without hitting a single field goal. The team started 0-15 from the field and at one point trailed 30-6 to a team that was average 65.7 points per game entering this game. The Tar Heels went to the halftime break down 20, the largest halftime deficit in Smith Center history.
The second half was much better on the offensive end, but Georgia Tech’s hot shooting and easy looks carried over into the second half. Combine that with timely rebounding on the offensive glass, and it’s easy to see why Carolina was never to get within more than nine points in the second half.
This was supposed to be one of the easier games left on the schedules for the Tar Heels in ACC play, but instead they proceeded to get dominated. With the depth issues and lack of shooting on this team right now, this team can not afford to many, if any, like this if they plan to be dancing in March.
-Garrison Brooks was phenomenal on the offensive end for the Tar Heels. Brooks poured in 35 points on 9-18 from the field. He did the bulk of his damage from the free throw line, where he was 17-18 on the day. He also led the Tar Heels in rebounds, pulling down 11 rebounds, including seven offensive boards.
-After a slow start that saw the 0-15 start from the field and 8 turnovers, the Tar Heels rebounded to finish 27-63 from the field, a 42.9% clip that ranks above the season average entering the game. The Tar Heels would also turn it over just seven times, a number that still isn’t great but that is a major step forward from what we saw in the first half.
-The Tar Heels really struggled to take away the lane off the dribble and the ill advised double teams continued. That aloud Georgia Tech to get plenty of easy looks, leading to the Yellow Jackets best shooting night of the season, as they scored 96 points, a number that is tied for the most in a game under Josh Pastner and shot 59% from the field.
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