Off the cuff: Seth Trimble wouldn't have started and been in the game when Carolina got down 15-2 early but his loss may have been the difference once the Heels caught up. “Seth, his athleticism and his energy. The way that he can defend, having another guy on the perimeter that from an offensive standpoint, his ability to be able to attack the basket and have another guard out there. Yes, we would have loved to have Seth available," Coach Davis said. "But the way that Clemson played and the way that we played I'm not sure if that would have been any different. You just really have to tip your hat and congratulate Clemson on what they were able to do tonight.” That's all true but Trimble gives Carolina a spark and I'm confident the Heels would have caught up sooner, giving them a better chance to take the lead. Regardless, it shouldn't have been close. It was Carolina's first loss at home this season and it came to a team with an under .500 record in the ACC. Carolina shot the ball the worst that it has all season at under 36 percent. You're not going to win many games shooting that poorly. I like Cormac Ryan but you can't have a starter - much less one that was supposed to be your ace long-distance shooter - going one of 10 from the floor including zero of six from three-point land. And Elliott Cadeau did not pick up the slack with the loss of Trimble, who was injured in practice the day before the game. He was just two of six and committed three silly fouls and turned the ball over twice. Carolina had only six turnovers for the whole game but turned it over three straight times after tying the game at 70-70. That makes it seem like the Tar Heels don't have the coolness for prime time. Only time will tell but the Georgia Tech loss should have been the wake-up call. Not sure what this game portends for the rest of the season. |
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