CHAPEL HILL, NC – North Carolina returned to its Roy Williams roots against NC State on Saturday, executing its crossbar attack and knocking Wolfpack’s defense from the inside out. First it was Armando Bacot, operating with a mixture of skill and subtlety in the low block, and then came Day’Ron Sharpe, whose moves of power and energy overcame Kevin Keatts’ efforts to play a small squad.
It was a stark contrast to the first fight at Raleigh last month. Even with veteran striker DJ Funderburk off the field in that NC State victory, the UNC big shot quartet – Bacot, Sharpe, Garrison Brooks and Walker Kessler – combined 35 points in 30 field goal attempts. On Saturday, they scored 30 points from 22 pitches in the first half alone and finished with 39 points from 19 of 32 shots.
Bacot has continued his stellar offensive game lately, leading UNC with 17 points from 8 of 12 shots and eight rebounds. The second-year striker averages 14.8 points from 63.4 percent of shots in his last four games.
“He did a great job simplifying and getting better shots,” said Williams after the 86-76 victory. “Today, eight out of 12. In the last game, I think he did eight out of 10. This is the type of production, the efficiency, that we need to have. And I think he’s getting better. “
Sharpe imposed his physicality throughout the afternoon and caused most of his damage in the attack, scoring five rebounds and scoring his third double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
“I’m beginning to understand (my body),” said Sharpe. “I’m a big guy, you know. I kind of look at myself sometimes and I’m like, ‘I’m not that big’. And then my teammates say to me, ‘You are great, bruh. You just need to realize that. ‘ I am beginning to realize this, that I have an advantage over opponents. “
UNC joined three halves in a 50 percent shot line or better, and it is difficult to ignore the fact that the 3-point attempts practically disappeared in that sample size. Since the break of the victory over Wake Forest on Wednesday, Tar Heels has attempted 87.9 percent of his shots from inside the arc, while converting to a 54.5 percent clip overall.
However, there is more to it than just limiting attempts to 3 points. It’s about selecting photos.
“I like balance,” said Williams. “I’m not against guys shooting. I need to attack Kerwin Walton more than anyone, because he is never ready to shoot. I would like him to take more doses. I am biased. There’s no doubt. Guys who make more threesomes, I want them to shoot more threesomes. “
In its first six ACC games, UNC was shooting at a mere 34.1 percent from outside the arc, but a pitiful 42.9 percent from within the arc. The five teams in the Tar Heels Final Four in the Williams era all reached at least 51% in the 2-point range. As the Hall of Fame coach said on Saturday, his powders should shoot better than 50% of the ground, given the emphasis on his attack.
Tar Heels is throwing 53.6 percent of the 2-point streak in his last two wins, despite Garrison Brooks, ACC’s Pre-Season Player of the Year, falling mid-season (36.8 percent pitch in league games).
There will be games where Caleb Love can apparently score at will – see his 20-point effort against Wake Forest – or when Leaky Black can surprise with a solid offensive exit – see his 16-point, 4-of-4 3FG display against Miami – but for UNC obtaining victories in an increasingly open ACC race, its efficient use of its great men will be necessary as a key part of this offense over the last six weeks of the regular season.