Is North Carolina finally figuring something out? Or did they just stumble upon the right opponent and location (much as that formula didn’t work a couple of weeks ago)?
Any way you slice it, the Tar Heels have suddenly won two in a row to get to .500 overall, this time knocking off NC State 75-65 in Raleigh, dealing the Wolfpack another damaging loss to their NCAA Tournament hopes. It’s the seventh straight win in Raleigh for the Tar Heels as well, so they’ve had the Wolfpack’s number of late. Roy Williams has especially had their number, as he is now 31-4 lifetime against them.
Garrison Brooks looks to have come alive of late, as he led the way with 25 points and 11 rebounds for his seventh double-double in eight games. He had one in the first nine games and two in the first 12, and the junior forward is now averaging over 15 points and nine rebounds per game to lead the Tar Heels in both categories (although the former will change once Cole Anthony comes back).
For NC State, meanwhile, the losses are mounting, including the bad ones as regards their NCAA Tournament resume. They are 14-7 overall and just 5-5 in the ACC, and this isn’t the ACC of the past couple of years. They have lost twice to Georgia Tech and now have this loss to the Tar Heels, which might not look so bad if North Carolina goes on a run, and they also lost at Clemson. While they have wins over Wisconsin and Virginia to their credit, as well as to good mid-majors like Little Rock and UNC Greensboro (the latter on the road), they need more to overcome the losses.
Fortunately for the Wolfpack, they have an opportunity for that on Saturday when they host Louisville. They also still have a trip to surging Syracuse, a home date with Florida State and two games with Duke to potentially help the resume. But their room for error is evaporating, especially since they have to make up for some losses.
All the while, North Carolina is now showing signs of life after having a tough time winning games in a down ACC. The NCAA Tournament is a major league long shot, but if the Tar Heels can start winning and then get Cole Anthony back, there’s no reason they can’t at least make things a little interesting the rest of the way.
Side Dishes
Iowa rallied to hand Wisconsin a tough 68-62 loss in Iowa City, as the Hawkeyes fell behind by 12 points in the second half after the teams were tied at the break. Wisconsin led 57-45, then the Hawkeyes scored the next 12 as part of a 19-2 run to take over the game and go to 6-3 in Big Ten play. Wisconsin was without leading scorer Kobe King, who did not make the trip for personal reasons.
Other results of note: Kansas rolled over Oklahoma State in Stillwater 65-50, keeping the Cowboys winless in Big 12 play at 0-7; Norfolk State moved to 6-0 in MEAC play by blowing out Florida A&M 95-67 in Norfolk; North Carolina A&T remains right behind them after handling Delaware State 82-67; Prairie View A&M moved to 6-1 in SWAC play by taking care of Mississippi Valley State 102-83, and Texas Southern did the same with a 68-57 win over visiting Arkansas-Pine Bluff; and Eastern Washington moved ahead of Northern Colorado for second place in the Big Sky by knocking off the Bears 89-84.
Michigan suspended point guard Zavier Simpson on Monday for a violation of team policy, meaning they will be without their leader for at least Tuesday night’s game at Nebraska. The senior leads the nation in assists and is the team’s third-leading scorer and unquestioned leader, and he will miss a game for the first time after playing in 135 straight games. The Wolverines might also be without Isaiah Livers again, as he got hurt against Illinois on Saturday after missing six games with a groin injury.
The ACC fined Notre Dame $20,000 and reprimanded head coach Mike Brey after he made comments about officiating on Saturday night. The Fighting Irish lost 85-84 to Florida State, and that sent him in the wrong direction after the game, as he brought up a few issues both during and right after his press conference. In particular, he alluded to the school’s independence in football as he said, “We’re treated by the officials like we haven’t brought football as a full member, but yet we get a full share of the ACC Network TV, are you kidding me?”
Tonight’s Menu
It’s a little busier evening of basketball, and the games go a bit later with one very late one out west.
- Big East action gets the night going as Villanova goes to St. John’s (6:30 p.m.), and later on Georgetown hosts Butler (9 p.m.)
- An SEC game is also slated for an early tip as Tennessee hosts Texas A&M (6:30 p.m.), then Mississippi State visits Florida (7 p.m.), Georgia visits Missouri (8:30 p.m.) and Ole Miss tries to build on their first SEC win as they host Auburn (9 p.m.)
- ACC matchups on tap are Virginia hosting Florida State, Syracuse visiting Clemson (7 p.m.), Miami hosting Virginia Tech (8 p.m.) and Duke hosting Pittsburgh (9 p.m.)
- Two surging teams in the American Athletic Conference meet as SMU visits Cincinnati (7 p.m.)
- In the Atlantic 10, arch rivals meet as VCU hosts Richmond, while Rhode Island visits George Mason (7 p.m.)
- Michigan visits Nebraska in Big Ten action (7 p.m.), but the better game is a bit later as Rutgers hosts Purdue (8 p.m.)
- A few games are on tap in the MAC, with the best one looking like Buffalo at Akron (7 p.m.)
- Mountain West action closes the night out as Wyoming hosts Utah State (11 p.m.)
