GREENSBORO, NC – North Carolina wiped out a double-digit deficit again, but lost in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament Friday night against Florida 15, 69-66.
The Tar Heels (18-10, 10-6 ACC) trailed by as much as 13 points in the first half before using an 11-0 lead to take a 51-46 lead halfway through the second half. UNC led 64-62 3:15, but then missed their next seven attempts in the field goal as the Seminoles took a four-point lead and continued to advance to the ACC Tournament title game against Georgia Tech in fourth place Saturday. night.
Caleb Love (13 points, 4-out-14 FG) and RJ Davis (7 points, 2-out-10 FG) both took bad shots in the last two minutes and Day’Ron Sharpe missed some free throws with 21 seconds on what would reduce the lead of the FSU to one point. The Tar Heels missed 11 of their 25 attempts to miss with the throw.
UNC, who played their third game in as many days, did not have enough energy, which he displayed 81-73 in Virginia Tech’s victory on Thursday before getting enough juice to tax his second half. The state of Florida, on the other hand, made its debut after the season after COVID-19 editions knocked Duke out of the tournament on Thursday.
UNC shot 33.8% from the floor, including 33.3% from the 3-point range. The state of Florida has turned on 45.3% of its field goal efforts. The Tar Heels outscored their opponent, 42-39, and took an 18-10 lead in the second-half points.
FSU dedicated 18 turnovers to UNCs 12, yet took a 19-15 lead in points of turnover.
Walton proves his worth
UNC’s offense is at its best when Kerwin Walton makes perimeter blows. The first-year wing started two rounds post-season quietly, though the size advantage of the Tar Heels softened his position from 2 to 7 from long range. The length of the FSU was just as effective in the first half and kept Walton pointless with just one attempt on goal.
When UNC did their duty in the second half, Walton was the catalyst and struck a three-man three-point kick in two minutes and two seconds to turn a six-point deficit into a 46-46 tie with 12 points. : 25 to play. He finishes with 11 points and five rebounds.
Kessler Struggles
Walker Kessler gave an example in the textbook of the contradictions with freshmen who have to make the adjustments even at this late stage of the season. The freshman center was the best player on the field against the Seminoles two weeks ago. He scored a career-high 20 points on 9-of-10 shots with eight rebounds and four rebounds. This effort earned him a plus / minus ratio of (+11).
In Friday’s rematch, Kessler was at his best in his nine minutes ahead, scoring two points and grabbing three rebounds. He also earned a team low (-13) in plus / minus.
First half misery
The Seminoles’ physical perimeter defense frustrated Caleb Love from the start, and the size of the UNC, which played a key role in the ACC tournament victory over Notre Dame and Virginia Tech, had a low discount. The first aid of the Tar Heels remained before the break with 4:21 left, and the basket was an 18-foot baseline.
UNC missed nine of its first ten field goal attempts and shot 26.7% for the half, including a 14.3% effort from the three-point range (1-out-7). The tar heels were 3-out-11 on shots at the edge and even struggled off the free-throw line, converting 7-out-14 attempts. They did force ten turnovers, but could only convert the FSU misconduct into five points.
ACCT Notes
UNC fell 104-49 all-time in the ACC tournament, including a 42-20 record in Greensboro.
Following
The first post-season tournament of the Tar Heels has been completed and they will now turn their attention to Selection to find out their play-off match and innings for the NCAA Tournament in Indianapolis. BracketMatrix.com follows 131 brackets in brackets, and the 101 brackets will be updated on Friday morning on the UNC project as an average of 8 seeds.