Live Turnovers vs Second Chance Points
In the first half, Kentucky pounced on flat passes along the perimeter and converted them into easy runout dunks. The Wildcats had six steals that they turned into ten points. It was a frustratingly easy way for them to stack points in an otherwise offensively stale half, which saw both teams score just 31 points. 32% of your points scored without a hand in your face is a smart way of doing business.
North Carolina countered with their prowess on the boards, out-rebounding Kentucky by seven and turning 11 offensive rebounds into nine second chance points. UNC turned its best feature into a steady stream of scoring as well.
Ultimately, Hubert Davis found the right formula for curbing turnovers (just five in the second half) which was just enough to get Carolina over the line. In such a tight game, those fine margins pay huge dividends.