North Carolina Basketball: Fall to the Wildcats in Overtime

 


(Photo Courtesy Jim Hawkins/Inside Carolina)

Starters 

R.J Davis - 41 MIN, 23 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST, 8-22 FG, 2-8 3PT, 5-6 FT
Cormac Ryan - 38 MIN, 18 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 7-12 FG, 2-6 3PT, 2-3 FT
Harrison Ingram - 32 MIN, 20 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 6-8 FG, 4-5 3PT, 4-6 FT
Jae'Lyn Withers - 20 MIN, 2 PTS, 7 REB, 0 AST, 0-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, 2-2 FT
Armando Bacot - 34 MIN, 8 PTS, 18 REB, 2 AST, 4-10 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT

Bench 

Paxson Wojcik -  20 MIN, 2 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 1-3 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT
Elliot Cadeau - 17 MIN, 3 PTS, 0 REB, 5 AST, 1-4 FG, 1-1 3PT, 0-2 FT
Seth Trimble -  14 MIN, 5 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 1-4 FG, 0-1 3PT, 3-3 FT
Jalen Washington - 6 MIN, 0 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-1 FT
James Okonkwo- 2 MIN, 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT
Zayden High - 2 MIN, 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT 

Chapel Hill - #14 North Carolina took their first loss of the season to the Villanova Wildcats in the quarterfinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament by a score of 83-81 on Thanksgiving Day.

UNC Unable to Stop Post-Up Plays 

From the jump, Villanova's game plan was very evident to everyone. Feasting on isolation plays, they would use their pure strength to muscle through the Tar Heel's defense.
 
Unfortunately, UNC had no answer.
 
A defensive adjustment was nowhere to be found for the Heels down the stretch in overtime, and that hurt big-time.
 
Along with Eric Dixon and Justin Moore rolling for Villanova, North Carolina could not catch a break during the one-on-one situations.
 
The defensive adjustments throughout the game are so key and something to look at as this season continues to progress.

Foul Trouble Plague Down the Stretch 

In the end, Harrison Ingram, Jae'Lyn Withers, and Elliot Cadeau exited the game due to reaching the 5-foul limit, which left the Tar Heels without two starters and their talented freshman off the bench.
 
The three guys combined for a total of 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. Unfortunately, this left Coach Davis with fewer options when it mattered the most in the final seconds of a tightly contested matchup. 

Cormac Ryan Injury 

A beautifully drawn-up play by Coach Davis resulted in freshman Elliot Cadeau making a baseline drive to the rim and a dish-out to the corner for a Cormac Ryan catch-and-shoot three-ball to notch the game at 68.
 
With overtime coming to a close, Ryan lined up to shoot free throws, which he converted on the first attempt, but the Tar Heels were down two and needed a miss to gain possession again.
 
As Ryan aimed at hitting the rim for a potential offensive rebound, he ended up tweaking not one but two of his ankles in the act of going for the ball.
 
The sharpshooter transfer from Notre Dame, who completed the game with 18 points, making 7 out of his 12 field goals, converting 2 for 6 from downtown, and adding on 2 free throws, made a huge impact against the Wildcats.
 
A bigger concern than the loss is whether or not Coach Davis can play his fifth-year senior out of New York.

Bounce Back Opportunity Against Arkansas 

UNC is presented once again with a highly competitive game as they face off against #20 Arkansas, led by Eric Musselman, today in their final game of Feast Week.
 
The game is going to be featured on ESPN2 at 1:00 p.m.
 



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