Discussion
Fresh off of a big win over Duke, UNC was caught sleeping by an eager bubble team in Clemson. UNC scored 0.93 points per possession, just under its goal of 0.95. Defensively the Heels had yet another bad game. This time the opponent scored 0.99 points per possession.

Offensively UNC shot just 37% overall. We've only seen worse on 93 of the last 1014 occasions. That poor shooting, however, was offeset by an incredibly squeaky clean 7% Loss of Ball. We've only seen that 16 times in the last 1014 games.

On the other hand, UNC's chief defensive problem is the lack of turnovers forced, and it continued tonight with Clemson's turning it over on only 6% of its possessions. We've only seen that 16 times, as well. This wasn't due to the absence of Seth Trimble. This is a philosophic problem with the way this team is defensively coached. We've seen it over the course of 2.5 seasons now, and there is no reason to expect to see more ball pressure on opposing guards based on what we have seen.

Where is the defense going to come from if the guards aren't delivering? Down low? Despite scoring 24 points Armando Bacot was -7 tonight, so he was virtually non-existent on the defensive end. I don't have an answer, but defensive pressure is a problem for this team. When opponents show up and do an average job of hitting open shots we start to see tremendous pressure on our offense. Tonight's evidence: a 40%-shooting team was too overwhelming for a 0.93 offensive performance by the Heels.

Interesting to hear Bacot and Ingram say several players were late to pregame shoot around today. Being a veteran led team, things like this shouldn’t be happening. Hopefully, there will be some lessons taught at practice the next few days. Also makes me wonder, was Seth hurt or was he late to shoot around?

Edit: I am seeing other information that Seth was hurt in practice due to lethargic/lazy play. Either way, let’s hope this is a big wake up call to everyone on the team.

Another tough three game stretch for the good guys with the Tigers in a rematch first. Clemson started the season red hot on fire but have come down to earth once they started playing actual teams instead of cupcakes.

Hall may be a first team all ACC this season as he reminds me of Flipowski offensively as he can score in the paint with numerous moves and for a big man when open can hit from downtown.As he goes so do the Tigers. Syracuse transfer Joe Girard also is an offensive threat.

Clemson likes to run when they can but as Duke found out on Saturday running against Carolina can be very hazardous to your health and the total game plan.

Is there a real possibility there could be a let down after the behind the barn beat down of the Blue Devils maybe but I do not believe that is going to happen especially at home.

Just hold that Tiger, hold that Tiger, yes just hold that Tiger and take no prisoners and leave no doubt…

CLEMSON 80, UNC 76
FEBRUARY 6, 2024
ROY WILLIAMS COURT AT THE DEAN E. SMITH CENTER
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.

UNC Scoring Leader: Armando Bacot 24
UNC Rebound Leader: Bacot 13
UNC Assist Leader: RJ Davis 5
Team Records: Carolina 18-5, 10-2 ACC; Clemson 15-7, 5-6 ACC

• This was Carolina’s first home loss in 11 games this season.
• Carolina did not lead in a game for the first time since losing to Duke in Chapel Hill on 2/5/22.
• UNC shot 36.9% from the floor, its second-lowest shooting percentage of the season. Carolina shot 36.4% a week ago in the loss at Georgia Tech.
• Clemson had no second-chance points in the first half and 13 in the second.
• The Tigers shot 31.4% in the second half and 39.7% for the game. It was the first time since Villanova on 11/23/24 a team shot below 40% from the floor in a win over the Tar Heels.

• Clemson made 11 three-pointers, most since Florida State made 12 in a losing effort on December 2.
• Clemson went on a 13-0 run to lead 15-2. It equaled the largest run of the season by an opponent (also 13 by Florida State on 12/2/23).
• Clemson led by nine (43-34) at the half, Carolina’s largest halftime deficit of the season. The previous largest halftime deficit was
six against UNI and Florida State (at home). UNC won both of those games.
• Carolina trailed by 16 in the first half, the second-largest deficit the Tar Heels have faced this season (UConn led by 17 on December 5).

• The Tar Heels shot 31.4% from the floor in the first half (11 for 35), which matched the second half at Pittsburgh on January 2 for the lowest percentage in any half this season.
• Clemson’s 43 points were the most in the first half since UConn scored 44 on December 5.
• Armando Bacot led UNC with 24 points and 13 rebounds. It was his second double-double in a row, 10th of the season and 78th of his career.
• Bacot made 10 of 11 free throws. He tied his career high for made free throws (Tennessee earlier this season).
• Bacot has scored 20 or more points in back-to-back games for the first time since doing so in the first three games this season.

• Bacot passed Penn’s Ernie Peck (1,557) and Seattle’s Elgin Baylor (1,559) for 18th in NCAA history with 1,566 rebounds.
• Bacot played in his 155th game, tying Leaky Black for the most games by a Tar Heel.
• RJ Davis scored 22 points and had five assists and no turnovers. He was 5 for 12 from three. He tied his season high with five 3FGs, the seventh time in his career he made five or more in a game.
• Davis extended his UNC record with games with multiple 3FGs to 20 consecutive games.
• Davis attempted a career-high 12 three-pointers.

• Davis passed Michael Jordan for 15th in UNC scoring with 1,794 points.
• Davis has 231 three-pointers. He passed Wayne Ellington (229) for fourth most by a Tar Heel.
• Davis has 384 assists. He passed Steve Bucknall (382) for 20th in UNC history.
• It was the second game in a row and fifth time in his career Davis had at least five assists and zero turnovers.
• Bacot and Davis both scored 20 or more points for the third time this season and 10th time overall. This was the first time UNC lost when Bacot and Davis score 20 or more points.

• This was Bacot’s 32nd career 20-point game (sixth this season) and Davis’ 27th career (15th this season).
• Paxson Wojcik scored seven points, his most as a Tar Heel.
• Harrison Ingram made three 3FGs, the eighth time he made three or more as a Tar Heel.

Carolina-Clemson
• Carolina is 136-24 all-time against the Tigers.
• Carolina is 60-2 in Chapel Hill, including 29-2 in the Smith Center. The Tigers have won two of the last three games in Chapel Hill (2020 and 2024).
• This is the first time in series history that dates back to 1926 that each team won on the other’s home court in the same season.
• Carolina lost to Clemson as an AP top-10 team for the first time since 2/18/2001.

Next Game: Saturday, Feb. 10, at Miami (4 p.m., ESPN)

Some sort of upper body injury. Anyone have any more details? Hope it's nothing long term.

ODDS
-9.5 UNC
Over/Under 154.5



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Clemson Tigers​

14-7, 4-6 CONF

ESPN
2/6
7:00 PM



3

North Carolina Tar Heels​

18-4, 10-1 CONF





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AJ and Jacob are upstairs and I’ll be on the court shooting photos.

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...and that score didn't reflect what we did to them.

It's late so I'll keep this brief:
- as y'all likely know, there was a players-only meeting after the GaTech game. As I alluded to previously, the subjects covered --- recommitmemt to ball movement, playing inside-out, toughness, and making the extra effort to finish --- apparently took.

- FINISHING. Sudddenly Mando was the finisher we saw 2 years ago and took Flopowski to school... Cormac and Seth converted thru contact, Ingram was in absolute beast-mode

- JWash and Withers weren't asked to do much tonight but they delivered when they were in

- To his credit, RJ didn't let a game-long f***ing mugging goad him into forces --- he trusted his teammates --- Cormac played the all-around floor game we've looked for, and Cadeau came outta the gate running the show like a thing of beauty.

- speaking of that, at the half, 23 of our 45 points had come in TRANSITION --- we secured the rebounds, claimed loose balls and got in our lanes --- and Eliot drove the Ferrari. Hell, even when Mando was absolutely GASSED in the first half (from the refs not stopping play) the big fella nonetheless ran the floor like he was on a mission. And when we forced a TO, we converted, baby.

- except for a few lapses of seeing man-and-ball, we played solid D 1-thru-5 --- at least 12 of dook's points came on just throwing up a prayer and getting lucky

- But of course, we've seen this movie too often --- after calling a solid game in the first half, the zebras allowed dook to get away with absolute mayhem. How many times did friggin Mitchell come over somebody's back or dive at our legs on rebounds and loose balls?

- And on that note, Christian Laettner Kyle Flopowski is a dirty POS. Cheap-shotting jackass instigated 3 scuffles and should've been called for 2 flagrants. Just breaks my heart that he was -11 for the game. F*** him.

- Finally, yeah, that was more like it. Mando and Ingram being the first 20-10 duo in a game like this since Jameson/Carter? Only 5 TOs vs 18 Assists? Hell yes... although on one annoying note, we need to replace whoever is keeping home stats. Hell, EC himself had 5 dimes tonight and that's not even arguable. That's like 15 shorted already this season. Come on, man.

Anyway, we fought off every bit of adversity and dookie nonsense and never let them get within less than 8 after halftime, and folks, it very easily could've been a bigger margin. Man... if Eliot could just see a couple of 3s go down, or Seth could knock one down that's not from the corner? Just dayum at what we could do to teams! Let's hope we can carry tonight's effort over to Tuesday though. Clemson has been the hard-luck kids, and we can't afford a letdown vs an angry team. With that said, I am enjoying this one tonight...
😁

Login to view embedded media I've seen it before; I think Ronald Acuna will do that after a big hit/play sometimes. Apparently it's called the "too small" taunt. I never thought much of it until I saw Okonkwo and Wojcik's add-on of a stomp at the end. Seems to take it way overboard and I think it's understandable if someone finds it offensive or unsportsmanlike.

Any further insight or explanation of the stomp would be appreciated.

Are there more important things for me to worry about? No. haha. Yes, of course. Thanks for asking.

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