This isn't a game too many people with any interest in it missed and we weren't there; so this will be pretty short. The kids and I gathered in the living room. I have to say it was strange watching a home game on television; but even though we were sure my daughter didn't have a virus, she was still really tired and trying to refuel; so I know it was the best decision. The kids were actually louder here in the house than at Carmichael. I think my son hoped they could hear him from here.
This was the first of two games against Duke; but like NC State (the other ACC team we play two times) we were getting the first game at our place. I knew this was going to be tough. Duke has multiple players that are at least 6'3 inches tall including three time All-American Elizabeth Williams who (thankfully) is in her final year of eligibility. The Tar Heels have 2 players 6'3 and above. Only Stephanie Mavunga sees significant action. Rebounding was going to be a challenge even though I hoped the Tar Heels would use their strength and quickness to crash the boards and get position after shots were put up. Scoring inside was going to be a challenge although I hoped it wouldn't keep the Tar Heels from attacking the paint with their speed. In the first half, things went great. Duke had just a slight edge on the boards and North Carolina lead by 10 points. In the 2nd half, things didn't go as well.
When dealing with Duke I generally take on the mentality of keeping everyone except Elizabeth Williams in check because it has worked before. She had 28 points in a game the Tar Heels won last season. She had 33 points in this game. The difference or x-factor if you will in this fan's opinion was Kalia Johnson. While Azura Stevens, Elizabeth Williams and Rebecca Greenwell are consistent double figure scorers, I couldn't remember the last game this season in which Johnson scored in double figures. She is more of a facilitator. Well, she he had 12 points on Sunday. Azura Stevens who generally is good for 16-20 points or even more battled foul trouble trying to keep Stephanie out of the paint. She finished with 8 points.
So what went wrong?
I'm slightly uneasy about how the team's shooting percentage is trending the last few games. With the exception of the Clemson game, it's been below 40% in the last four contests. Of our four losses; other than the Notre Dame loss where we shot 37%; the team finished around 30%. That might be okay in some situations; but I believe in the ACC most nights it's going to be important to shoot a better percentage. In a game against a team with Duke's size, even more so. In the Tar Heels losses other than Notre Dame where we scored 79 points, we scored 55 (Oregon State), 59 (Pittsburgh) and 67 (Duke) points.
In the end we couldn't make enough shots to win this one and it wasn't that we didn't get some good ones. While there were some that were a bit quick for my taste, for the most part, the team moved the ball well most of the night and got open shots. They just didn't go down. We had 9 fewer turnovers than Duke; but, we also had 14 fewer rebounds. Both of these were expected. It was speed verses size. This time, size won.
The Tar Heels had a chance to win the game with 8 seconds to go because after being down 4 points, they got consecutive defensive stops and Stephanie Mavunga calmly sank two free throws to tie the game. Then speed (UNC) successfully challenged size (Duke) on Duke's final possession of regulation. Coleman blanketed Johnson everywhere she went which left Elizabeth Williams standing with the ball on the perimeter. It was brilliant. North Carolina got another stop. Then, speed (Latifah Coleman) challenged size (Elizabeth Williams) one more time in the closing seconds of regulation. Coleman drove the length of the court to attempt the game winner. Size won. Similar to (at the time) UNC freshman Waltea Rolle's block on (then) Duke Freshman Chelsea Gray in 2011 that sealed a victory for North Carolina, Elizabeth Williams blocked Coleman's shot and the game went to overtime where Duke won. I was hoping for size on size on that play. I thought we were going to see a repeat of the Oklahoma State game where Latifah drove towards the defense and passed the ball to Stephanie for a lay-up. I think this time she went a little too far under the basket and once she got to a certain point, that option was no longer there.
Most everyone will remember Latifah's game against Duke for that moment. I will remember we wouldn't have had that chance were it not for the 13 points she poured in during the first half and the outstanding defense she played on Kalia Johnson on the play preceeding it. I hope she carries that over to the rest of the season.
Latifah Coleman: 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, 3 steals (photo from www.goheels.com)
Stephanie Mavunga: 15 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assist, 3 blocks 4 steals (photo from www.goheels.com)
Considering Duke had six post players they just rotated in and out, this is a tremendous effort. And she made no excuses when it came to this game when asked about how Xylina McDaniel might have made things easier for her although it kind of goes without saying really. I was really impressed with how she picked her battles in this one, careful to remain on the floor. She lead the team in minutes.
N'Dea Bryant: 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 block, 1 assists, 1 steals (photo from www.goheels.com)
I remember the shot shown in this photo. It was when North Carolina badly needed a basket. I was proud of N'Dea in this game. She had a tall task (literally) helping to play defense inside and for the most part she held her own. I think her help in there was a big reason Stephanie was able to play as many minutes as she did.
Danielle Butts: 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals (photo from www.goheels.com)
You have to love this young woman. She's mentally in fifth gear when she's out there. Six inches shorter than most everyone she went up against but there wasn't one of the 19 minutes she was out there that she wasn't contributing somehow. Only thing was in a game like this it takes a lot of energy so she was a bit limited.
Allisha Gray: 20 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block, 2 steals (photo from www.goheels.com)
I'm glad for the space between this game and the next one (against Boston College). A more than admirable effort; but I'm not sure Allisha (Gray) is 100% on that wrapped leg or the apparatus is just bothersome as the game goes on. It might have affected her shot a bit. She worked hard to get open and was successful at that; but some were short and some too strong. It was like she was just a little off and I could see it was frustrating, especially after working her way to a good spot, reading the defense, in some cases getting a good screen and getting the ball where she liked it.
Gray wasn't alone in her struggles. While Duke got more than usual out of Kalia Johnson, the Tar Heels were missing points from some normally dependable sources. Jessica Washington, Jamie Cherry and Brittany Rountree were a combined 1 of 16 from the floor. And again, these weren't ill-advised shots, or shots out of the flow of the offense. Sure there were times I wanted us to attack instead of taking a three-point shot; but these also weren't shots I hadn't seen these ladies make over and over again. And some of them were taken as the shot clock was nearing zero. Brittany (Rountree) did contribute 3 rebounds, 2 assists and some really good perimeter defense. Jessica (Washington) had 4 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal. Jamie Cherry had 2 points, 1 assist and 1 steal in 9 minutes. A big part of the game plan I believe was to challenge the Duke post players to come out and defend the perimeter; but, because for a significant amount of time in the 2nd half, those shots weren't falling from out there, the plan's execution stalled.
On a somewhat outside note, it was good to see Xylina finally off the crutches and able to sit on the bench with the rest of the team. Being on crutches looks exhausting to me. I'm also hoping that means she will be able to fly with the team when they travel to Syracuse, Miami and Louisville in the coming weeks. The last time they had to take a plane (Pittsburgh) she stayed behind. They need her in game counsel. She was also sporting the puff ball hairstyle my daughter loves; even though she's been too shy to tell her so when given the opportunity.
So forward we go. February may be busier than January. It has a mix of teams numerically at the top and bottom of the league; but as we've seen in the ACC, rankings matter very little when the ball goes in the air. Next up is a home game against Boston College on February 1st. After the big upset win over Duke, the Eagles lost a tight game at Pittsburgh.
Until then and as always,
Go Heels!
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