Wofford 68-UNC 64
Oh boy. The worst thing that could happen to this already thin UNC roster came to fruition, and Cole Anthony sat out this game and will be sidelined an estimated 4-6 weeks after discovering a partially torn meniscus in his right knee. This team wasn’t playing very well with him, but without him they probably aren’t even an NCAA Tournament team.
Carolina has struggled to put the ball in the basket this season, and Cole Anthony has been by far the best scorer on the team. He’s been the only guy on the roster who can consistently create his own shot, and if no one can step in and at least partially fill the void, this season will go down the tubes quickly.
Cole Anthony isn’t the best passer, but he’s been pretty much the only Carolina player who can make plays with the ball in his hands. Armando Bacot and Garrison Brooks have been good and typically have an advantage inside, but they need a teammate to get them the ball in spots where they can be successful. Someone has to step up and be the primary ball handler and playmaker, and realistically it’s gonna take a couple guys to do that for this team to win games.
K.J. Smith started against Wofford, and he did an admirable job pushing the tempo and creating shots for teammates. He may even be a better passer than Cole Anthony, so there’s a chance UNC could play with improved ball movement and end up with more open looks with Smith on the floor. The question will be if anyone can make those shots.
K.J. Smith hasn’t looked like a great shooter, although he has shown the ability to get to the rim and finish. Jeremiah Francis can handle the ball and has shown glimpses of being a playmaker, but it doesn’t look like he’s much of a shooter either. Anthony Harris is the guy who has to take the reins of this team if they’re going to stay afloat and make the tournament, and he’s going to have to grow up quick to do it.
Harris is the one guy with the confidence and swagger to take his game to the next level quickly. He plays extremely hard, and he has the capability to handle, score, and create for his teammates. He’s been a little out of control and clearly has a lot to learn, but I think he’s the only hope of keeping this team in the hunt for a postseason berth. He has to be fully unleashed and allowed to play through mistakes, because the alternative is a bunch of losses and potentially even a losing record.
Wofford did a great job creating open three-point looks off of screens, and they made just enough to hold on for a 68-64 win in Chapel Hill. As expected the Tar Heels were dominant inside, but they were ultimately done in by their poor shooting. Armando Bacot had an extremely hard time finishing around the basket, going 2-14 on mostly layups and put-back attempts. He was great defensively, but he has to be better on the offensive end.
Brandon Robinson had one of his better all-around games, finishing with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks. He’ll need to continue this kind of output to give Carolina a chance, and I’m not sure that’s a realistic expectation.
Christian Keeling had one of his better games as well, but he’s still far too soft. Keeling has almost every skill you look for in a guard, except for the fact that he’s very weak and not nearly aggressive enough. This isn’t something that changes all the sudden, so hoping for him to be a major contributor isn’t realistic either.
The schedule is about as favorable as it can be over the next month and a half, but the next game is not. Carolina travels to Spokane, Washington to take on Gonzaga, a national championship contender and one of the most well-rounded teams in the country. This is gonna be ugly.
Game 11: Gonzaga
Gonzaga is favored by 11, but I’d be completely shocked if they don’t win by a lot more. The Bulldogs are very skilled, organized, and have a lot of ways to hurt you on both ends of the floor.
Filip Petrusev and Joel Ayayi should both be NBA first-round draft picks, and they’re joined by Killian Tillie, Corey Kispert, and Ryan Woolridge to make up what is arguably the best starting five in the country.
Petrusev is an extremely skilled big man who fights hard for position and makes great decisions with the ball in his hands. He’s a great passer and rebounder with a deft touch around the rim, but he’s also a very good shooter with three-point range.
Joel Ayayi is an under the radar player who in my opinion is playing as well as any point guard in the nation. He’s a great ball handler with a phenomenal feel for the game, and he’s got elite quickness, size and length to go with it. He’s able to get wherever he wants to go with ease, and he can score from anywhere on the floor. He has a great floater and is a very good shooter with deep range, but he also has elite court vision that facilitates high-level ball movement for this team.
UNC is simply outmatched in this game. Gonzaga doesn’t get a lot of elite programs visiting their home arena, so a raucous environment is sure to greet the Tar Heels and likely rattle them early.
It will take a great effort for Carolina to keep this close, but at this point I don’t think they have enough to hang in there on the road against one of the nation’s best teams. Gonzaga is coming off two huge road wins at Arizona and Washington, and I look for them to keep rolling with an easy victory tonight over UNC.
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