Live Blog: Syracuse at UNC
North Carolina hosts Syracuse in a game that was just added to the ACC schedule four days ago. Both the Tar Heels and Orange had games with Clemson scheduled, but COVID issues with the Tigers wiped out both games. So the two teams left without partners got together. It was much like North Carolina’s game against Notre Dame, hastily added to the schedule on Jan. 2, after Syracuse’s COVID issues postponed the originally scheduled game between the Orange and Heels.
The hastily scheduled game gave Carolina precious little time to prepare for Syracuse’s matchup zone, an issue that will be even more problematic given that UNC’s offense is in the hands of RJ Davis and Caleb Love, two freshmen still learning the ropes. Love and Davis have struggled with shot selection and turnovers at times this season, two issues that could be fatal against the zone.
Carolina got some good news before the game. Anthony Harris, who has been out since the middle of last season with a knee injury, will be in uniform after going through pregame warmups. It will be a game-time decision whether he sees time. Big man Sterling Manley, who missed all of last season and has yet to play this year, also worked out earlier but was in street clothes by game time.
Syracuse also has three players with game-time decisions—Senior big man Bourama Sidibe, who injured his knee in the opener but is close to a return, freshman center Frank Anselem, waiting to be cleared by the team’s COVID protocol, and freshman forward Woody Newton, who has struggled with injuries that held him to a total of three minutes in the last two games.
Syracuse only has 10 players going through the pregame layup line, none of the three injured guys. Two of the three--Sidibe and Anselem--are in warmups but watching from the sideline.
Woody Newton has joined his teammates and is warming up.
Today's officials: John Gaffney, Brian O'Connell, Tommy Morrissey
Kerwin Walton gets a start! Along with Bacot, Brooks, Love and Black
Love looks comfortable against the zone early. Nice bullet pass inside to Brooks for a layup and an open three on the first 2 possessions
A Syracuse foul takes us to the under 16 tied at 10. Brooks with 6 early. Boeheim with 8 for Cuse
Bad foul by Walker Kessler in the backcourt takes it to under 12. 16-15 UNC
7-0 run puts Carolina up 23-18 at the under 8. Brooks had 8, Bacot 6. UNC winning the rebounding battle 14-8
Carolina runs it to 30-22 and Syracuse takes time with 6:01 in the first. Lead hits double digits at the under four, 36-26.
Carolina's strategy of giving Buddy Boeheim open looks doesn't seem to be working. He almost single-handedly wipes out the Carolina lead as Syracuse ties it with 30 seconds left in the half.
Boeheim is 7-of-12, 4-of-7 from three for 18 points. Syracuse makes its last five shots (four of them by Boeheim) and Bacot is blocked on a dunk attempt at the buzzer. We hit the break tied at 40 as Carolina wasted an opportunity to put this one away.
My harsh words before the half seem to have motivated the Heels. UNC scores the first 7 points of the second half.
Now up to a 9-0 second half run and Syracuse takes time. 49-40 UNC with 17:20 to go
Back-to-back Syracuse threes cut the lead to three. UNC taking shot after shot at the other end. Can't make any, but they're getting every offensive rebound. Out of bounds to UNC takes us to under 16, 49-46 Heels
UNC will attempt to take its fifth shot of this possession ... and make its first ... when play resumes. Carolina misses two more after the break before Syracuse gets the rebound. 0-for-6 on that possession, which lasted 1:13
Carolina has now missed eight straight shots and given up the lead. Syracuse has hit four straight in a 10-0 run
Platek picks up two quick fouls. The second sends us to the under 12. Syracuse up 53-51. UNC is 5 of 20 this half, 0 of 7 from three.
Flagrant foul on Syracuse helps spur a 9-0 UNC run. Heels retake the lead, 60-56. Time out Syracuse
UNC has hit five of its last eight after that 5-of-20 start to the half. Heels lead at the under eight, 64-58.
Syracuse has battled back again. At the under four, it's a one-point game, 67-66 UNC. Carolina has missed five straight, while Cuse has made its last three.
Bacot scores, while being fouled by Gurrier--that's his fifth. Bacot going to the line with UNC up 73-70. 1:22 to play.
Bacot misses but UNC runs down the rebound. That's the Heels' 23rd offensive board of the game. And Bacot lays it in for a five-point lead. Under a minute.
Platek with a transition layup to put the Heels up seven. Carolina jumps on a loose ball at the other end and calls time out. 34.9 left.
And the Heels dribble it out for an 81-75 win.
