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. |
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