UNC Bigs set the tone for Wolfpack victory

CHAPEL HILL, NC – North Carolina returned to its Roy Williams roots against NC State on Saturday, passing its attack through post and slashing the Wolfpack’s defense from within. First it was Armando Bacot, operating with a mixture of skill and finesse on the low block, then came Day’Ron Sharpe, whose power plays and energy surpassed Kevin Keatts’ efforts to play a small formation.

It was a stark contrast to the opener in Raleigh last month. Even with veteran forward DJ Funderburk sidelined in that NC State victory, UNC’s quartet of great men – Bacot, Sharpe, Garrison Brooks and Walker Kessler – totaled 35 points in 30 field goal attempts. On Saturday they scored 30 points on 22 field goal attempts in the first half alone and finished with 39 points on 19 out of 32 shots.

Bacot has continued his stellar offensive game lately, leading UNC with 17 points on 8 shots of 12 and 8 rebounds. The second-year forward is averaging 14.8 points on 63.4% shots in his last four games.

“He did a great job of simplifying and taking better shots,” Williams said after the 86-76 win. “Today, eight for 12. Last game, I think he had eight for 10. That’s the kind of production, the efficiency that we need to have. And I think he’s getting better.

Sharpe imposed his physicality throughout the afternoon and did most of his damage on the offense, scoring five rebound baskets as he netted his third double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

“I’m starting to understand (my body),” Sharpe said. “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’re tall, bruh. You just have to realize it. “So I’m starting to realize that I have an advantage over the opponents.”

UNC has strung three halves in a row of 50 percent or better shot, and it’s hard to ignore the fact that 3-point attempts have all but disappeared in this sample size. Since the halftime win over Wake Forest on Wednesday, the Tar Heels have attempted 87.9% of their shots from inside the arc while converting at an overall rate of 54.5%.

However, it is not just a question of limiting the attempts to 3 points. This is the selection of plans.

“I like the balance,” Williams said. “I’m not against guys who shoot. I have to face Kerwin Walton more than anyone because he’s never ready to shoot. I wish he had more hits. I am biased. There is no question. Guys who make more than three, I want them to draw more than three.

In its first six ACC games, UNC was shooting a meager 34.1% from beyond the arc, but a sad 42.9% from inside the arc. The five Williams-era Tar Heels Final Four teams all shot at least 51.0% from a distance of 2 points. As the Hall of Fame head coach said on Saturday, his post players should all shoot better than 50% from the floor given the emphasis on his offense.

The Tar Heels are shooting 53.6% from a 2-point distance in their last two wins despite Garrison Brooks, ACC preseason Player of the Year, in a mid-season slump (36.8% shooting in championship).

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 3FG display of 16 points, 4 of 4 against Miami – but for the UNC to achieve victories in an increasingly open ACC race, its effective use of its big men will be needed as a fundamental piece of that offense in the final six weeks of the regular season.