The North Carolina Tar Heels almost staged a massive comeback in their ACC Tournament opener against Clemson, a rematch from March 3 in Chapel Hill.
UNC played poor basketball for most of the second half, at one point trailing by 18. North Carolina came all the way back, getting one last-second miracle heave, but lost 80-79 and now awaits its NCAA Tournament fate.
The Tar Heels (24-8, 12-6 ACC) started their comeback on a Jonathan Powell 3-pointer with 11:13 left. Nine minutes later, Derek Dixon nailed a three of his own and sliced UNC’s deficit to eight points. Seth Trimble made it a 3-point game with his layup at the 23-second mark, Henri Veesaar sank a three and Dixon added another.
Tigers (24-9, 12-6 ACC) big man Nick Davison missed both free throws, North Carolina attempted a Hail Mary 3-point that fell short – and left the Spectum Center court with more questions than answers. If not for Veesaar’s 28-point, 17-rebound double-double, the Tar Heels lose by plenty more. Dixon (16 points), Trimble (13) and Jarin Stevenson (12 joined Veesaar in double-digits.
Bench play was a non-factor for UNC, providing just five points, three rebounds and an assist. Clemson thrived in bench production, highlighted by Davidson’s 17-point, 11-rebound double-double, both which led his team. Free throws hurt North Carolina, which only made 10-of-17 (59 percent) attempts. 10 turnovers didn’t do the Tar Heels any favors either.
As UNC prepares to learn its NCAA Tournament fate on Sunday, take a look at social media reactions after Thursday night’s loss.
Social media is abuzz with reactions to the latest UNC basketball games. After a stunning win over San Diego State, Tar Heel fans were ecstatic, with many taking to Twitter to praise the team’s performance. “To everyone who said North Carolina didn’t belong in the First Four: Hey, you were right!” tweeted Tim Reynolds. Others poked fun at San Diego State’s defense, saying they hadn’t allowed 90 points in 19 years, but UNC managed to score 95. ¹
However, not all reactions were positive. After a loss to Ole Miss, some fans expressed frustration and disappointment, with one user saying UNC was “horrendous on layups”. Others questioned the team’s consistency and coaching decisions.
The Tar Heels’ win over Wake Forest also sparked lively discussions on social media, with fans praising the team’s frontcourt duo of Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar for their impressive performance.
