Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Basketball: Tar Heels cant steal the joy in Hoosville

By Brandon Griffin

Feb 27, 2017; Charlottesville, VA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Nate Britt (0) shoots as Virginia Cavaliers forward Mamadi Diakite (25) looks on in the first half at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2017; Charlottesville, VA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Nate Britt (0) shoots as Virginia Cavaliers forward Mamadi Diakite (25) looks on in the first half at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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UNC gets pressed by Virginia’s pack line defense. What did the Tar Heels do to leave as losers against the hometown Cavaliers?

The Tar Heels four-game winning streak comes to an end in Charlottesville.

Despite the loss the Carolina still controls its own destiny for a second consecutive ACC regular season championship.

So what exactly happened to end the Tar Heel’s streak?

First Half

The story of the first half was turnovers and three point shooting.

The Tar Heels had 12 first half turnovers. They only had nine total in the first game against Virginia. The Cavaliers scored 18 off those turnovers. They had 27 first half points, meaning they got two-thirds of those from turnovers.

Virginia meanwhile only committed three turnovers. UNC was not able to get out and run because the Cavaliers weren’t giving them easy opportunities.

Virginia also was hitting their threes. In the first game they went 2-for-20 from behind the arc. In the first half they were 4-of-13. It isn’t a great percentage but anything beats the 10 percent they shot in the first match-up.

Additionally UNC only had a slight advantage on the boards, while Kennedy Meeks, Isaiah Hicks, and Tony Bradley all had two fouls each. Virginia started the game with a small line-up and it worked early on.

Jackson led all Tar Heel scorers with five at the half. Kyle guy led all scorers with nine, all coming off three’s where he went 3-for-4 from downtown.

Feb 27, 2017; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Kyle Guy (5) gestures after making a three point field goal against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the first half at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2017; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Kyle Guy (5) gestures after making a three point field goal against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the first half at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Second Half

Unfortunately, for the Tar Heels, the second half was just more of the same.

UNC finished with a season low 43 points on 17-49 shooting. Joel Berry finished with 12 to lead all Tar Heels who did at least only turn it over two additional times after halftime.

Isaiah Hicks continued his foul problems, fouling out with just two points, one shy of a 1,000 for his career.

Also in what has become a theme in UNC losses, the Tar Heels were out rebounded. Not for the game, but on the offensive glass. Sometimes a team just wants it more.

In the end it was just too much Kyle Guy who finished with 17 points and six rebounds. Guy hit five three pointers. The entire Tar Heel team hit four. London Perrantes also tossed in13 points including a dagger three with about three minutes remaining to put the Cavs up ten.

If there is any solace for the Tar Heels it should be last season UNC went into Virginia and lost. They followed that up by winning 10 straight games before falling in the National Title.

If Carolina wins 10 straight games again, they win the National Title this year.

Next up for the Tar Heels is Duke. Rivalry aside, the outright ACC crown and undefeated home season is on the line for the Tar Heels.

Oh and it’s Senior Night, as if UNC needed anything else to play for agains the Blue Devils.

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