North Carolina - Kentucky Gameday Open Thread
North Carolina closes the non-conference schedule with the CBS Sports Classic in Cleveland against Kentucky.
The game against the Wildcats came from a last-minute opponent switch. The Tar Heels were originally scheduled to face Oddly, the change didn’t come from a team dropping out due to positive tests. Instead, it the two games flipped opponents to "more closely align COVID-19 testing protocols between the competing programs and their respective conferences."
On paper, the move is good for UNC, who drops unbeaten, No. 20 Ohio State in favor of Kentucky, who is off to a 1-4 start, its worst in 35 years.
Kentucky is trying to work six freshmen into its lineup and has struggled with chemistry.
That probably sounds familiar to the Tar Heels, who are working in six freshmen of their own. Carolina has started off 4-2, with losses to Texas and Iowa.
The Tar Heels have had a habit of falling behind early in games, forcing second-half comebacks. The Heels, who have two freshmen point guards in Caleb Love and RJ Davis, have struggled with turnovers and outside shooting. Carolina shot just 2-of-15 from three and turned it over a quarter of the time in its last game, a comeback from an early double-digit deficit to NC Central to win by six.
Kentucky has seen similar problems while losing four straight, including home losses to Richmond and Georgia Tech. The Wildcats shot 0-for-10 from three against the Spiders and also had 3-of-21 and 5-of-23 nights from three during the losing streak.
Usual suspects for starters: Leaky Black, Armando Bacot, Garrison Brooks, RJ Davis, Caleb Love
North Carolina with two long three attempts on the first possession. Not the type of shots Roy Williams wants. Carolina down early, 4-0.
UNC battles back with four points in the paint. Then Kentucky hits a three and gets a transition layup. UNC shooting just 2-of-7, down 9-4 at the under 16.
Kentucky can't miss. 3-of-5 from three, 7-of-9 overall, up 17-8 and looking to become the latest team to go up double-digits on the Heels. And a runner in the paint does it. 19-8 Wildcats.
And Carolina responds with seven straight, including its first three (by Walton) after four misses. At the under 12, it's 19-15.
Sharpe with a very ill-advised three attempt with UNC trailing 20-17.
Now Brooks takes an ill-advised three. UNC 1-of-7 from outside.
We hit the under eight with UNC down 25-22.
Carolina pulls in front by two at the under four. Another successful comeback
Heels just 1 of 4 on free throws. Kentucky continues to puke up second chance points. Back up by 3
7-0 Kentucky run all on second (or third) chance points
Love gets a three point play in the waning seconds to cut UNC’s halftime deficit to 38-34
Platek replaces Davis to start the second half.
Fouls every trip down the floor on both ends. No flow to this game right now, and both teams are going to be short-handed at this rate.
Sharpe hits a tough shot in the paint and is fouled (of course). Shooting one after the time out. 42-40 UK at the under 16.
Walton ties it with a three. He's 3-for-3 from outside. Rest of the team is 1-for 10. At the under 12, it's 49 all.
Love draws a charge for the second straight Kentucky turnover. Bacot hits one of two from the line on the possession (UNC is 8 of 15 on FT) for a three point lead.
Puff with a runner and UNC is on an 8-0 run. Kentucky calls time out. With 9:42 left, it's 54-49 Heels.
Last possession before the under 8 was a microcosm of the game: Kentucky misses twice, gets the offensive rebound twice, then commits an offensive foul. It's 54-51 Heels with 8:00 left.
Ware is the first to foul out for Kentucky. Four Wildcats and three Heels have at least three fouls.
And Jackson fouls out for UK on an offensive foul.
And that will be it for Sarr. Three Kentucky players foul out in just over three minutes. UNC up 7 with 4:33 left.
There were 22 fouls called in the first half. We're already at 27 for the second. The teams have also combined to miss 21 free throw attempts.
The game actually had some flow for almost a minute, with three straight made shots by the two teams. Clarkes fourth foul for Kentucky sends us to the under 4 with UNC up 66-58.
Bacot with a three-point play with 2:00 left, and UNC goes up nine.
Kentucky commits its 15th turnover, and then Clarke becomes the fourth to foul out. UNC now up double digits with just over a minute left. 71-60
And the Tar Heels finish things off, 75-63.
