Following a Ven-Allen Lubin bucket, the UNC basketball program held a 10-point lead with 2:15 remaining in the first half.
From that point on, execution was a major issue for North Carolina in what ended up being another head-scratching loss.
Execution continues to be an issue for this team, especially in regard to handling the basketball. The Tar Heels coughed up the ball 14 times, errors that resulted in 22 points off turnovers for Pittsburgh. To put it into comparison, North Carolina scored just four points off Pittsburgh's six turnovers.
As Jay Williams noted late on the broadcast, this team looked disconnected, especially late in the game. The Panthers four point lead with just over 29 seconds remaining felt like an insurmountable deficit, as the look of defeat on the faces of the Tar Heels essentially tells the tale.
In a game that was one that heavily felt like a must-win, this team unfortunately once again came up short. It all comes down to execution, as this group had some really good moments and stretches, all of which were erased by sloppy and disappointing stretches that allowed Pittsburgh to not only hang in the game, but have a lead at the final buzzer.
At this point, this team is unfortunately what it is. From the lack of a true leader on the court to frustrating defensive miscues and offensive breakdowns, the UNC basketball program continues to find ways to show the world that at this point, they are not an NCAA Tournament team.
We keep saying that this team has time to turn things around, but the opportunities continue to diminish as we inch closer to the end of the regular season in just a few short weeks.