GREENSBORO, NC – North Carolina opened the postseason in the same way that it closed the regular season, which is a positive development for a team defined by inconsistency this season. Sixth-placed Tar Heels defeated No. 11, Notre Dame, 101-59 in an unbalanced clash in the second round of the ACC tournament on Wednesday night.
UNC (17-9, 10-6 ACC) relied on its internal strength and plates to take control in building a 50-36 lead in the interval. Tar Heels opened the game with a 37-2 run that lasted 11 minutes and 32 seconds in the second half.
The 42-point winning margin is the largest in UNC in the history of the ACC tournament, with almost a year to the day when a 81-53 loss to Syracuse set the program’s record for the biggest loss margin in the conference tournament. .
UNC shot 50.6% of the ground and 37.5% of the 3-point range (9 of 24), while holding Fighting Irish for 31.1% of shot (26.9% 3FG).
Armando Bacot, fresh out of his All-ACC selection of the third team, led the UNC with 20 points out of 7 out of 10 shots and 13 rebounds. His eight offensive rebounds are tied for second by a Tar Heel in an ACC Tournament game. Day’Ron Sharpe flirted with a triple-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, while RJ Davis added 14 points out of 5 out of 9 shots, including a transitional dunk to push UNC to three digits.
Board work
When the middle of the first half arrived, UNC had already tried 16 more shots than Notre Dame (26-10). Tar Heels doubled the Irishman in the first half on total rebounds (30-15). His 18-7 lead on offensive rebounds yielded a 19-8 lead on second chance points in the interval.
When all was said and done, UNC overtook his opponent, 54-31, including a 25-15 lead in the offensive glass. Tar Heels overcame the Irishman, 27-13, on second chance points.
Steady Point game
A key development hidden below the recovered totals was another solid performance by Caleb Love. The first-year owner has already made several diving trips, although he has endeavored to gather several.
Love was effective against Duke on Saturday (18 points, 6 out of 12 FG, 7 assists) and was even more so against Notre Dame, scoring 15 points out of 6 out of 14 shots (3 out of 6 3FG) and hitting six assists. The 1.80 m guard was patient in executing the midfield attack, while being aggressive in the transition. He also did not force perimeter shots, instead he gave a series of open looks and took them down.
Any chance of a post-season race for Tar Heels begins and ends with its owner, so it is certainly positive for Love to shine in his first game at the ACC Tournament.
Block Party
Walker Kessler (16 points, 12 rebounds) blocked eight shots, setting school records for freshman blocks and in an ACC tournament game. Its eight blocks are tied for fourth in a game in the program’s history and are also tied for fourth by a Tar Heel in an entire ACC tournament.
Brooks Out
Garrison Brooks did not play due to an injury to his left ankle. The senior striker dressed and did not participate in the warm-ups before the game, but was never officially discarded. He also did not train in the days leading up to the ACC tournament.
Brooks landed at Matthew Hurt’s feet and turned his ankle in the first moments of the UNC victory over Duke on Saturday. He limped off the court and entered the locker room, but came back at the end of the break and finished the game with 14 points and five rebounds in 25 minutes.
Featured game
?? Kessler DENIAL x2! ??@UNC_Basketball | @GoHeels
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– ACC Men’s Basketball (@accmbb) March 11, 2021
ACCT Notes
UNC improved to 103-48 at all times in the ACC Tournament, including a 41-19 record in Greensboro. Tar Heels is now 3-1 in the second round.
Roy Williams has 28-14 of all time in the ACC Tournament. His 28 wins are the third most in the history of the ACC tournament.
Next
UNC advances to the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament and will play No. 3 seed Virginia Tech on Thursday at 9pm (ESPN / 2). The scheduled regular season game between these two teams on February 16 was canceled due to a positive test, subsequent quarantine and contact tracking within the Virginia Tech men’s basketball program. The Hokies (15-5, 9-4 ACC) have played two games in the last 32 days.