Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Tar Heels struggle on the road

By Zack Pearson

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 28: North Carolina Tar Heels Head Basketball Coach Roy Williams watches the action during the second half of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Center on November 28, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated North Carolina Tar Heels 84-67. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 28: North Carolina Tar Heels Head Basketball Coach Roy Williams watches the action during the second half of the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Center on November 28, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated North Carolina Tar Heels 84-67. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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The UNC Basketball program suffered a major wake up call in their loss to Michigan on Wednesday night in Ann Arbor

Talk about a wake up call.

That’s exactly what happened to the North Carolina Tar Heels on Wednesday night on the road at Michigan in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. After a hot start for the Tar Heels who led 21-11 in the first half, Michigan turned it on and it got ugly in the second half.

The Wolverines used an 11-0 run to grab a 22-21 lead over the Tar Heels and that’s where things really turned for the worse.

UNC’s defense really struggled in this one as Michigan took advantage by running back door screens and pick-and-rolls, something the Tar Heels couldn’t figure out how to stop.

After what was a close first half, the Wolverines dominated the second half and went on a 32-14 run with 9:33 left in the game to take a 71-49 lead. That pretty much sealed it after it was just a four-point game at halftime.

The Tar Heels couldn’t muster much on the offensive end in the second half, really struggling to shoot the basketball. Combine that with poor defense and it was a recipe for disaster on the road against a Top 10 opponent.

At one point in the second half, head coach Roy Williams left his five starters on the bench for a significant period of time as a way to send a message. We’ve seen Williams do this in the past to hopefully get the starters back on track.

While the starters were on the bench, Michigan still couldn’t miss on the offensive end. The Wolverines totally dominated the Tar Heels in every aspect of this game.

There was a point where UNC did go on an 11-0 run to cut the lead to 11 late in the game and even had a chance to get it down to single digits. Senior Kenny Williams hit two three-pointers in that run late but other than that, he as well as fellow seniors Cam Johnson and Luke Maye were quiet.

The trio finished a combined 10-of-26 for 27 points, another struggle for the seniors this season which is becoming an alarming trend.

Freshman Coby White had a solid game shooting 50 percent from the field and finishing with 12 points.

Stat of the game

The Wolverines went on a 52-22 run at one point in this game which put it away. UNC really had no answer all night long and really struggled to get any momentum going.

When a team dominates like that, it really says something about where this program is at right now. There’s a lot of season left and the Tar Heels can obviously turn things around and this should serve as a wake up call.

UNC player of the game

Hate picking players of the game in losing efforts but we are giving this one to the freshman White. He scored 12 points and was the lone bright spot in this game.

What’s next?

The Tar Heels return to Chapel Hill to take on UNC-Wilmington next Wednesday in the Dean Dome with a chance to get back in the win column. Then after that, UNC will host No. 1 Gonzaga on Saturday, December 15th in a primetime showdown on ESPN 2.

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