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Off the cuff: Lots of problems in this game against the College of Charleston. Yes, the Tar Heels sorely missed Ginyard and Graves. And yes, John Henson played pretty well in the first half and sat out the second half with a headache. And yes, Charleston had a strong home advantage. But come on - losing to a 7-6 College of Charleston team that lost by 39 points to Clemson. Carolina travels to Clemson in just over a week.

Carolina wasn't gelling even before the injuries and nicks but this could be a bad season if the Heels don't get healthy quick.

How could the big guys miss so many shots around the basket? How can you miss so many free throws? How can you let a mediocre team get six points on inbounds plays? When a team is running the clock down, how can you unnecessarily foul a player to restart the shot clock? How can you foul the best free throw shooter on the other team down the stretch? How can you let a team get off so many three pointers when it's the only way they can beat you? How can you take so many long two-pointers when a couple of inches back will get you three points? And, finally, how can you try to score a two-point basket in the waning seconds when you need a three just to tie? If you have been playing basketball more than a couple of years, these things shouldn't happen. It's not brain surgery.

Coach Williams said, "You've got to understand the situation and what's going on." He also said the team may have gotten tentative down the stretch and that the taller Heels didn't get the ball inside enough. True enough but why didn't they understand the situation?

Larry Drew II said something in the down-in-the-dumps lockerroom that will undoubtedly be controversial. He said that the Heels struggled down the stretch because they don't practice many late-game situations. I'd hate to be Drew at Coach Williams' next practice.

This is starting to get the feel of a team that might have a transfer or two if they don't pull it together this year and/or if next year's freshman class is as good as advertised.

College of Charleston 82, Tar Heels 79 (OT)
Yuck! UNC can't survive onslaught of 3s

Ninth-ranked North Carolina was outscored from the three-point line by a 39-3 margin and fell to the College of Charleston 82-79 in Charleston. (1/4)

The Tar Heels, playing without injured starters Will Graves and Marcus Ginyard, led by 11 at 72-61 with just four minutes to play but were outscored 12-1 the rest of the way. The Cougars’ Andrew Goudelock scored Charleston’s last eight points including a long, off-balanced, falling-down three over a much taller Deon Thompson with five seconds left to tie it and send the game into overtime.

After Thompson missed a pair of free throws in overtime, Charleston’s Donavan Monroe drilled a three with just under four minutes left to put the Cougars up for good, 76-73.

The Tar Heels cut the lead to one at 80-79 when Larry Drew II sank a three with 59 seconds to go. But Charleston worked the clock down, Carolina fouled which reset the clock and then Ed Davis fouled Monroe, the Cougars’ best free throw shooter, who prompted swished two free throws to make it 82-79 with 18 seconds left.

For some unknown reason, needing a three, UNC’s Dexter Strickland drove the lane trying to score a two with five seconds left but missed.

As time ran out, College of Charleston students stormed the court in celebration. Coach Roy Williams noted the great college basketball atmosphere but didn’t think it made the difference. “It doesn’t feel good right now,” Williams said. “We’ve got to bounce back and be smarter.”

While not an excuse, he said the team has got to get healthy or either some other guys are going to have to step up and make some plays.

It was College of Charleston that made the plays down the stretch. In addition to Monroe’s three, the Cougars scored on an inbounds dunk and a backdoor play in overtime.

Carolina shot just 38 percent for the game compared to 43 percent for Charleston and only hit one of six three pointers while Charleston hit 13 of 32 free throws. Ed Davis led the Heels with 19 points and 16 rebounds but he missed a free throw in the last minute of regulation and then traveled in overtime and fouled the Cougars' best free throw shooter. Thompson scored 17 and Leslie McDonald had 11.

Carolina, now 1-4 on the road and 10-0 at home, start ACC play at home Sunday against Virginia Tech. College of Charleston, led by Goudelock's 24 points, advances to 8-6.

Boxscore


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