3 takeaways from UNC Basketball’s comeback win over Florida State
3) Carolina is still susceptible to a one-man wrecking crew
It seems every year, no matter how good the Tar Heels are, that opposing players love having career offensive days against them. Already in this young season, it’s becoming an every-game occurrence.
Eric Dixon of Villanova lit Carolina up for 34 points to help hand the Heels their only loss of the season. One game later, Arkansas’ Tramon Mark matched that number, scoring 34 of his own before injuring his back after a hard fall. Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht was somehow even more lethal, scoring a Dean Dome visitor record 37 before suffering an injury of his own.
Amazingly, Carolina has overcome two of these three scoring outbursts to find the victory circle in the end, and against Florida State, it seemed that they would again have to find a way past an opposing player that just couldn’t miss.
Florida State guard Jamir Watkins scored 10 points in the first 7:07 of the game, and to quote Yogi Berra, it seemed like deja vu all over again. He wasn’t even the only Seminole that was feeling it, as the team hit nine three in the first half, more than they average per game for the season.
Fortunately for Carolina, Watkins cooled off, but the team needs to be concerned heading into next week’s clash with UConn. Tristen Newton of the Huskies is fresh off a 31-point explosion against Kansas, and if he’s watched a minute of tape from UNC’s previous three games, he has to be salivating at the prospect of doing what Dixon, Mark, and Knecht have already done.
Carolina is a quality team, and they’ve been good enough to win even when an opponent hangs 30+ on them, but that won’t always be the case. UConn won it all last year, and their only loss this season occurred at possibly the most difficult away environment in college hoops, Phog Allen Fieldhouse. Even then, the Huskies had a three in the air with under five seconds remaining that could have won the game.
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UConn will be a premium test for Carolina, and the game will take place at Madison Square Garden, adding an extra bit of luster to an already sparkling matchup. We’ll break down that battle in the coming days, but for now, the Tar Heels should feel good about finding a way to win on a day when they weren’t their best.