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UNC Basketball: Random Observations – Iowa State Loss

By Aaron Conrad

Nov 24, 2022; Portland, Oregon, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Pete Nance (32) drives to the basket during the second half against Portland Pilots guard Tyler Robertson (2) at Moda Center. North Carolina won the game 89-81. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 24, 2022; Portland, Oregon, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Pete Nance (32) drives to the basket during the second half against Portland Pilots guard Tyler Robertson (2) at Moda Center. North Carolina won the game 89-81. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /
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UNC Basketball lost a lead and then the game to an Iowa State team that played with a chip on their shoulder. These are some random observations. 

We really didn’t think that the UNC Basketball team was going to go undefeated this season, did we? Some of us might have even been expecting this for a few games now.

In the first half, there were flashes of the kind of team that they can become. At times it looked like they would run away with this game. At times they looked like they might be beaten by double digits.

This is the 2022-2023 season so far. Talent is not a question. The depth is not a question. The connected play that this team had all the way to the championship game is what is missing.

I have mentioned it before but Armando Bacot still seems to be searching for his place. Other teams are double and triple teaming him which is not helping. However, it appears that he is out on the floor but not commanding the ball and doing the work that we became so used to last season.

Teams are being physical with the Tar Heels. Remember in the tournament when Coach Hubert Davis talked about punching back? They might need to get that mentality back again too. There was some fight in them versus Iowa State but not for 40 minutes.

Puff Johnson continues to make an immediate impact off the bench. He is getting the minutes because he is making a contribution somewhere on the stat sheet.

Leaky Black’s defense has not rounded into the kind of lockdown performances we saw last season either. He is playing well but not that next-level defense that shuts down the opposing player.

The pattern for the first six games has been to hang around and then close it out at the end. Dominant teams do it from the opening tip until the final horn. Today it looked like they would do it again but the Cyclones had other plans.

The schedule only gets tougher. Hopefully, the loss will get them to lock in and find their chemistry groove.

Next. UNC Basketball: Tar Heels Suffer First Loss of Season To ISU. dark

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