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Off the cuff: Kentucky's Ashton Hagan set the tone for the game with a steal and layup in the first 20 seconds of the game. Hagan scored only seven points on the day but he had eight steals.

Keldon Johnson hit one of his four threes on the day to give Kentucky a 19-17 lead with 10:52 left in the first half and the Tar Heels never led again.

After a 14-4 run late in the firs half, Carolina wasn't really in it again. The Heels cut it to five at 54-49 but Kentucky quickly got the lead back up to double digits.

Kentucky took Carolina out of its game early and simply showed more effort.

The rebounding edge was huge as the Tar Heels often have to go to a smaller lineup to keep up on the court. Perhaps Carolina just matched up better with Gonzaga than Kentucky but the Heels looked like two different teams.

After the Gonzaga win, Carolina fans had the Final Four dancing in their heads but after the Kentucky game they probably think it will be tough to finish in the top three of the ACC.

If Brooks and Manley aren't going to be difference makers inside, this team's chances are going to rest on freshmen Coby White and Nassir Little. Both played like freshmen against Kentucky.

Coach Williams certainly knows his team better than I but if I were coaching I think I would sit White a bit more with Seventh Woods playing more. Also, while Little probably isn't playing well enough to earn more time, I think he'd play better if you'd just roll with him.

Kentucky 80, Tar Heels 72
UNC's a step behind Kentucky all day

North Carolina led Kentucky for only a couple of minutes and after losing a lead midway through the first half, the Tar Heels never led again, falling to a tougher, slightly less sloppy Kentucky team, 80-72. (12/22)

“I don't think either team played exceptionally well but John's club played better," UNC coach Roy Williams said. "They were better prepared and it's a little frustrating for us right now."

Each team turned the ball over 18 times. Carolina turned it over 10 times in the first half en route to a 40-31 deficit at the break.

The Wildcats hit seven more free throws than the Heels in the first half to account for most of the difference. For the game, the Tar Heels, normally one of the nation's best rebounding teams, were outrebounded 44-33.

Coach Williams attributed that to Kentucky's effort, toughness and size.

"We have to do a better job of holding our team accountable and coming back off a big win with the mindset that we've got to get another one," said Carolina's Luke Maye, who scored 16 points. "We just didn't come in and do that today."

The loss takes some of the luster off of a good effort and good win against Gonzaga at home. Carolina has had trouble at neutral sites, losing twice to "tough teams at tough places" as Coach Williams calls it.

He noted that his team, which starts one freshman and plays another two more than 10 minutes per game, is trying to learn against tough teams like Kentucky, Texas and Michigan - all losses.

Freshman point guard Coby White turned the ball over four times with only two assists while hitting only three of 10 shots. Freshman Nassir Little, who many think could opt for the NBA after one season at UNC, was just two of eight from the field and contributed little elsewhere.

Senior Cameron Johnson, who had five turnovers himself, led the Tar Heels with 17 points.

North Carolina falls to 8-3 while Kentucky improves to 9-2.

Box score


UNC's Cam Johnson led the Heels with 17 points. (UNC Sports Information photo)



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