Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs North Carolina Tar Heels Basketball Recap

Georgia Tech 78, North Carolina 58

Few people expected an ACC doormat to beat a struggling but generally superior league opponent this weekend in the Athens of the South. Far fewer people predicted the underdog to uncork a 20-point beatdown. Yet, that’s exactly what happened, leaving the ACC’s proudest basketball program in complete disarray.

Yes, Georgia Tech trounced North Carolina at Alexander Memorial Coliseum in Atlanta on Sunday night to win its first conference game in the program’s ACC home opener.

The Tar Heels never led in the game, and in a disappointing showing reminiscent of last season, displayed a determined lack of concentration in the loss. Paul Hewitt’s Yellow Jackets have now won four straight against Roy Williams’ squad, including three last season, one in the ACC Tournament.

The Yellow Jackets took an early 10-2 lead before Williams replaced his starters in a heartbeat. The Carolina coach angrily yanked his foremost five players after they committed four quick turnovers; Williams inserted a fresh lineup that quickly tied the game at 10. However, after placing his starters back in the game, the tie was soon lost, and the Jackets led by as many as 11 before the UNC second team pulled within one at the half, 33-32.

The second half was filled with Carolina errors, and Tech was able to – in its best showing this season – capitalize on them. The Tar Heels had more turnovers (18) than field goals (16), shooting 27.6 percent for the game chiefly because of a chronic propensity to miss many easy baskets, including stacks of layups. It was the Tar Heels’ worst shooting performance since 1956, if you can possibly believe it. Just for good measure, the Yellow Jackets also out-rebounded the Tar Heels, 37-35, despite a considerable size disadvantage.

Tech guards Iman Shumpert (30) and Glen Rice Jr. (24) combined for 54 of the Ramblin’ Wreck’s 78 points to lead all scorers. Carolina’s John Henson and Harrison Barnes had 11 points. Carolina big man Tyler Zeller, averaging nearly 15 points per game, didn’t find the basket until three minutes into the second half, and was held to nine points for the night.

Georgia Tech, with the victory, may have righted its ship despite several embarrassing early-season defeats. North Carolina, despite recovering from early-game deficits in its two ACC wins to date, was unable to muster the energy to rally in its third conference test, and unless they are able to bring intensity for all 40 minutes in their conference games, Roy Williams’s charges could be facing another disappointing season like last year’s debacle. One train wreck can and will happen, but the utter inability of the Tar Heels to make adjustments and mesh on the floor is really beginning to puzzle the college basketball cognoscenti. The enormity of the failures of point guard Larry Drew are sinking in, as the Carolina crew has simply not recovered from the loss of Ty Lawson following the program’s 2009 championship season.

As an interesting footnote to this shockingly decisive Tech win on home hardwood, it’s worth pointing out: ACC home teams were 5-and-oh for the weekend, a trend that appears likely to continue this season.

North Carolina needs to be better – a lot better – the next time it ventures on the road in this conference.

By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer