Phew. It was close. The Tar Heels of North Carolina were finally able to finish a match, in which they desperately needed to keep a kind of hope of the NCAA tournament alive on Saturday.
It has become difficult at the end, but North Carolina retained Pitt for a 67-66 victory in the Dean Dome. For the moment, the Tar Heels are still on the bubble and have ended a sequence of three consecutive defeats while they head towards Clemson Monday evening for a big ACP match and an opportunity for Quad 1.
But for this game, the Tar Heels were able to take a hot start and although Pitt retaliated to take the lead in the second half, UNC climbed the victory of a point. Let’s move on to our take -out dishes from the last victory of the UNC.
Always on the bubble … for now.
For North Carolina, they had nine regular season games this season, including it, so finding a way to stack victories was the key. And they started well.
The North Carolina finally closed a match and beat Pitt at home, winning a four -time victory. Up to this match, UNC was considered one of the “next four” by Joe Lunardi with Pitt, so C ‘ was a “essential” game for the two teams in terms of bubble. Although this victory does not go back to UNC on the field, it keeps them on the bubble rather than falling.
Now, they have a big match on the Quad 1 Monday route in Clemson where they can rely on this and get closer to get back on the field.
A hot start was the key
The UNC could not really afford to play from behind in this match as they did in this defeat disaster in Duke a week ago. It was essential for them to go out and make a statement on their land and they did it, leaving early two -digit.
Although the UNC had to remember Pitt while the panthers billed a few times, obtaining this departure was crucial for their confidence. Hopefully it can do the same on the road on Monday evening.
Ven-Allen Lubin had a big game
All year round in North Carolina was waiting for a great man to have a dominant game. They traveled a rotation, fighting to find success. But on Saturday, someone finally intensified.
From the match, Ven-Allen Lubin had an impact on this match, scoring 9 of the first 12 points for the UNC when they built an advance. He finished with 17 points, entering four rebounds along the way. Lubin provided a presence inside for UNC, which was necessary in this game.
Even with victory, they had trouble separating in the second half
I’m glad that North Carolina was able to obtain a victory, but it also came with tense moments. UNC missed the three -late front and they could very well have lost this equally easy match.
Even with a two-digit lead at the start of the first half, it did not last long. Pitt fought and kept it near this first half. Then, in the second half, the Tar Heels are again ahead but could not finish it early. They left Pitt hanging out and UNC spent three minutes without a bucket allowing Pitt a 6-1 bucket to equalize the match.
It is always a problem for the TAR heels and it must be raised even in victories. These stretches are crucial and if they cannot clean it, it will not matter if they make the tournament.
Free throws were also a fight
The Tar Heels did not really arrive at the line in this match, having only five attempts in the first half. Although they had 10 in the second period, they fought the line.
The UNC pulled 53.3% from the free throw line (8 out of 15) which included missing their last three, all the frontal ends of one and one. They are lucky that it did not come back to bite them and cost them the game.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: 5 points to remember from the UNC basketball victory over Pitt
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