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Off the cuff: You know things aren't going well when Robbie O'Han, a hardly ever used walk-on guard, gets in a Carolina game in the first half. Coach Roy Williams got mad at Jeremiah Francis, then lifted backup K.J. Smith before turning to O'Han for 38 seconds.

Not sure if he was sending a message or if he wanted to talk with the other guards and there wasn't anyone else to put in.

It was truly the worst start to a game for a Carolina team ever at the Smith Center, which opened in 1986.

Francis had his worst game as a Tar Heel, going one of eight from the floor and turning the ball over three times. But the biggest disappointments remain Leaky Black, who I felt all along was the key to the success of this team, and Armando Bacot, who has no business turning pro after one and probably even two seasons at Carolina.

Black isn't really playing poorly, he's just a non-factor when he should be a key factor. He's not doing much. He didn't turn the ball over but he didn't have any assists either and shot only seven times.

Bacot, who many thought would turn pro after one year at Carolina, has a hard time making shots. He went one of six from the floor and the big man got just three rebounds. As a result, he mostly sat on the bench as the starter played just 16 minutes, which was not only the fewest of any starter on either team but was fewer than two Carolina reserves.

Christian Keeling has surely been a disappointment too as he was known as a scorer before transferring to UNC, where he has become known as a turnover machine.

This team can turn it around but it needs to get some players healthy and it needs guys like Keeling, Bacot and Black to play up to their potential.

Georgia Tech 96, Tar Heels 83
Historic failure as Jackets jump on Heels

UNC coach Roy Williams was going for the Tar Heel coaching record. North Carolina's basketball team made history alright - it was a historic failure as Georgia Tech got out to a 19-2 lead and went on to defeat the Heels 96-83 in Chapel Hill. (1/4)

The Tar Heels missed their first 18 shots and were turning it over at a one per minute clip. Add the fact that Carolina didn't hit a field goal (the first six points were from the free throw line) until more than 13 minutes into the game and it was the worst start for a Carolina team at the Smith Center.

Meanwhile, Georgia Tech was getting to the hoop easily with a number of dunks en route to a 24-point lead in the first half. The Jackets led 47-27 at the half.

"We weren't ready to play right from the first five minutes of the game," UNC coach Roy Williams said.

"I apologize to all of the North Carolina fans, people that care about our basketball program, former players, everyone who cares about us because we stunk it up tonight and that's got to be my responsibility."

He went on to say that it was the most negative he'd ever been about himself or any of his teams.

Before the game started Coach Williams told one of his assistants that something was off about the players and their attitude. "When I'm standing in the locker room talking to them about the game and doing our things that we do in pregame, I'm feeling like they're not listening," he said. "They're not involved, not buying in."

After a talking to at the half, Carolina did come out ready to play in the second half, going on a 16-5 run to cut the deficit to single digits at 52-43.

But then came an 18-10 Georgia Tech run, highlighted by a pair of three pointers by Jose Alvarado, who led the Jackets with 25 points.

Carolina, which amazingly scored 56 points in the second half, got the deficit down to 10 points on a couple of occasions but could not get enough stops as Georgia Tech shot more than 60 percent in the half.

The lone bright spot for Carolina was Garrison Brooks, who became one of 23 players in UNC history to score at least 35 points in a game as he scored exactly 35 points, which included going 17 of 18 from the free throw line.

The Tar Heels, now 8-6 overall and 1-2 in the ACC, play Pittsburgh at home Wednesday night.

Box Score


UNC's Roy Williams seemed dejected and helpless during parts of the Georgia Tech game. (UNC Athletic Communications)


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