After falling to Auburn in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational, the Tar Heels will close out their tournament tonight, against Michigan State, in the third place game. The Tar Heels advanced into the winners bracket, after completing the second biggest comeback in program history against Dayton on Monday night, but the Tar Heels, didn’t have the ability to erase another double-digit deficit last night, after falling behind 21-6, in the first sequence of the game. Hubert Davis told his team on Monday night, that type of basketball wasn’t sustainable, and unfortunately his team learned that lesson the hard way, losing its second game against ranked competition, in the first month of the season.
As for Michigan State, the Spartans beat Colorado in their Maui opener, behind an impressive defensive performance, before being up-ended by Memphis, the surprise team of this year’s event. Tom izzo’s squad has really struggled to shoot the ball in the early going this season, as they are shooting 21% as a team from behind the three-point line, the second worst percentage in all of college basketball. Jaden Akins, is one of three Michigan State players to average double figures, and he leads them in scoring, as 12. 7 points per contest, while shooting 44% from the field.
While the rosters are certainly different, there is still enough leftover from last season’s meeting in the NCAA Tournament, which saw Carolina eliminate Tom Izzo’s squad in Charlotte, continuing UNC’s dominance against Michigan State program. Neither team would like to leave Hawaii at 1-2, but that’s the reality for one of these teams tonight. For Carolina, the schedule doesn’t get any easier, as next week they’ll host a top-10 Alabama squad, with games against nationally ranked Florida, and an improving UCLA game that remain. Tonight won’t make or break UNC’s season, but a loss would leave them at 4-3, and with more questions than answers.
Last year, Carolina erased a double-digit deficit, and in the process ended the Spartans’s season, but as last night showed, that’s not a recipe for success, after the Tar Heels overcame 20-point deficits against Kansas and Dayton, in their two biggest games to date. Tonight, the Tar Heels need to finally take that step to playing as complete a 40 minute game as they have all season long. Here’s how they do just that:
Compete Defensively: Hubert Davis wasn’t happy with the way his team competed defensively last night against Auburn, and you imagine that message got conveyed during the film session and today’s shoot around. Michigan State has struggled to shoot the ball to start the season, but they have capable scorers, that are just lacking confidence. The Tar Heels need to set the tone, by competing on that end of the floor, to the best of their ability. Expect Hubert Davis to extend his defense, and make Michigan State really work for everything on the offensive end of the floor. If Carolina is the team that lets Michigan State find itself on offense, it might be spell doom for UNC.
Establish Inside Scoring Presence: Whether it’s Jalen Washington, or Ven-Allen Lubin, Carolina needs to be able to generate points on the interior, from its big men. Auburn was able to compress the floor last night, because Carolina posed no-threat on the inside, making it easier to clamp down on the guards. The floor needs to open up for more clear driving lanes for Cadeau and Trimble, and the best way for that to happen it taken them defense every inch of the floor. If Washington and or Lubin can’t establish a scoring presence, it’ll only add to the pressure that backcourt is already feeling.
Share the Basketball: UNC assisted on just 25% of its made baskets last night, a reason why they weren’t as effective on that end of the floor. RJ Davis and Ian Jackson may be great iso scorers, but the ball needs to move, to make the defense move, as opposed to loading up on one side, or on one specific player. It all starts and ends with Elliot Cadeau, who was averaging nearly 8 assists when Carolina arrived in Hawaii last week. If he can get back to the floor general we saw to start the season, scoring will come easier for all involved.
KenPom:
North Carolina - 14th overall. Adjusted Offensive Efficiency: 119.9 (7th) Adjusted Defensive Efficiency: 97.5 (49rh)
Michigan State - 41st overall. Adjusted Offensive Efficiency: 110.2 (83rd) Adjusted Defensive Efficiency: 93.8 (12th)
TV Info:
Tonight’s game will tip at 9:30 on ESPN2.
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