UNC Basketball survives second half scare at Florida State to stay alive

Leaky Black

I’ve only been writing for Busting Brackets for a short time, but if I have one regret so far, it’s that I haven’t yet been able to devote much time to discussing one of my favorite players, Leaky Black. Leaky is one of those players that isn’t usually seen on highlights (although we’ll get to that), but he may be Carolina’s most valuable player. Often tasked with locking up the opposing team’s best offensive player, Leaky is one of the best one-on-one defenders not only in the ACC, but in the country.

He’s also so much more. I can’t count how many times Leaky has come out of nowhere this year to make a weak-side block or get a hand on a pass that would have led to an easy basket for someone else’s man. He holds everything together for Carolina on the defensive end. For a program that has enjoyed the likes of defensive wizards Jackie Manuel and Marcus Ginyard on championship-winning teams, Leaky is the latest in a proud lineage of argyle-clad stoppers.

Offensively, he’s asserted himself more than in years past. Unafraid to take a corner three or drive to the basket, Leaky has become a player that other teams can’t ignore. On Monday night, he became a player that other teams might have to fear.

Leaky ended the night with 18 points on 6-8 shooting, but even more critical than his trio of three-pointers was the thunderous two-handed dunk he threw down with 1:35 left in the game after Florida State had cut the lead to four. Catching a pass from RJ Davis in the corner, Leaky got his man to bite on a pump fake (making those threes gets you that respect), then drove the lane and nearly destroyed the rim. Florida State never got so close again.

Did I wake my kids up after Leaky’s slam? Honestly, we’re not here to judge. But at a time when the Heels needed someone to close the door, Leaky stepped up and did it emphatically.