The Mercy of Providence

    I had high hopes for UNC and their chances against Providence on Friday night.  And I'm still a believer in the Tar Heels and their chances moving forward in the NCAA Tournament.  Part of that is a biased preference and passion for Carolina.  I've been a fan of the Heels ever since I was about 10 or 12 years old.  I went to their basketball camp two years in a row [I don't know for what purpose!].   I don't think that I've missed more than a handful of UNC's games over the last four decades. [Yes!]  But I have to admit, as one of my friends remarked, "They have to play better than this!"  Yes, I agree with him.

Providence was no E-Z Opponent

   For a long while on Friday, it appeared as if the Providence Friars had control of this basketball game.  They started off hitting four of their first five shots, but UNC hung in there, only down one, 9-8.  As the first half progressed, Carolina actually went ahead and built as much as a six to eight-point lead.  An impressive steal and spin dunk by J.P. Tokoto put the Heels up 37-30 with 3 1/2 minutes left.  Then PU's talented PG Bryce Cotton took over, as he did so many different times in this game, and brought Providence back to within three at the half, 39-36.

   A brief crowd pleaser occurred as the first half buzzer sounded.  Marcus Paige heaved a prayer from beyond the half court line that swished, but alas, it had been released just a half second too late to count.

   Coach Roy Williams said at halftime, "We need to play better."  This seems like a season-long mantra, more than a passing observation.   It served to hold true, as the Tar Heels were to just barely get out with their Basketball Lives in the second half.

    It appeared early in the 2nd half as if UNC would blow this game out, as they came out determined, and through several steals, layups, and dunks, ran out to leads of 45-38 and then 54-45.  But it was not to be, as BU's Cotton again led a comeback to bring this game right down to the wire.  

Providence star Bryce Cotton

   As Cotton performed his heroics, the Tar Heels went an amazing three minutes without scoring a point, and Providence went on an 11-0 run to take the lead for the first time in the half, 60-58.  At this point, UNC looked dazed and confused, and had no rhythm or rhyme in their offense, and absolutely no answer for Bryce Cotton and his amazing shooting and ballhandling display.

   Only our version of the Bryce/Brice combo, Brice Johnson, was able to keep us in the game with some key plays, while star guard Marcus Paige was battling a cold shooting night.  Then, suddenly, at the 3:00 and 1:05 marks, Paige came alive as he drilled two separate 3-pointers, each tying the score at 71-71 and 77-77.

   After a Providence missed layup, the Tar Heels rebounded and James Michael McAdoo was fouled on an offensive rebound and went to the line twice, with less than four seconds to go.  He made the first free throw, then missed and got his own rebound, and was promptly fouled again.   Once again, he hit the first, but missed the second.  However, this time, the rebound was lost as time expired.

   After the game, I heard some sportscaster praising McAdoo for "winning the game" for Carolina.  I must argue a point : McAdoo only made two of four free throws with only seconds to go in the game.   What happens when he, or another poor Carolina free throw shooter, goes to the line, down two or four points, in the closing seconds?   It's easy pontificating from the sidelines, but we need some guys (other than Paige and Britt) who can step up to the line and take care of business.. in the clutch.   If not, then missed foul shots may prove to be our downfall and send us home to contemplate next year.

  UNC wins, 79-77.  The Mercy of Providence.  

    NEXT GAME : SUN MARCH 23 vs. IOWA STATE