UNC Basketball: Five things from the Duke loss
By Zack Pearson
Where is Marcus Paige?
Every time Marcus Paige hits a three-pointer we all say “Paige is back!”, except he’s not really back. We are guilty of it too on our Twitter timeline.
Paige’s struggles have continued now in 2016 as he looks like a completely different player. The senior guard went 0-for-6 from the three-point line, contributing to the Tar Heels shooting struggles. He finished with just seven points on the game and even missed a crucial free throw with under four minutes to play.
UNC's starting back court of Marcus Paige & Joel Berry was a combined 4-22 from the field against Duke. Remember: guard play wins in March.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 18, 2016
So what’s wrong?
I honestly can’t answer that because I don’t know. But something is up and it’s not good. Paige hasn’t looked himself in weeks. He’s struggling shooting, he’s turning the ball over, his not automatic at the free throw line and he’s out of sync.
In 13 ACC games this season, Paige is shooting just 28 percent (22-of-79) from three-point range. That includes just two games in which he’s made more than three three-pointers in a game. He’s had five in a game twice this season, but he’s also gone four ACC games without making a three-pointer. It’s one of the worst shooting slumps in his Tar Heels career.
There’s time to fix it however, but it has to happen now.