Lessons Learned from the UNC basketball program's last gasp loss to Florida

The Tar Heels made a furious comeback from a 12-point halftime deficit, but couldn't finish the job.

Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
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UNC must hit threes to open the paint

Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

North Carolina looked dead in the water in the first half. They couldn't get clean penetration, Florida got their hands on tons of interior passes, and disrupted drives before the ball handler could initiate a shot. All of this was possible because they did not respect UNC's perimeter threat.

And why should they? North Carolina shot just 2-16 from three in the first half, and those two makes didn't come until the 4:05 and 2:11 time marks. It was barren for the first 16 minutes!

When North Carolina came out for the second half with their hair on fire, and RJ Davis hit a three 20 seconds into the half, all of a sudden, space opened up, and the offense looked a lot more fluid. Six of Elliot Cadeau's seven assists came in the second half. He had room to drive and dump, and had lanes to zip passes through traffic.

For North Carolina's offense to run optimally, they must, must, must hit three-pointers.

Schedule

Schedule