Harrison Barnes showed us why he will be the #1-pick in whichever NBA Draft he chooses to enter. Really, the analysis of this game is boils down to nothing more than the fact that Barnes was playing at a level far above any of the other nine players who were on the court with him, and that is why North Carolina won the game.
Four Factors
The defenses apparently decided to take the afternoon off. Not only did both teams scorch the nets with eFG%s well over 50.0, but each was also able to grab a huge percentage of their misses (Clemson OR%: 41.7; UNC OR%: 47.4). Neither team took great care of the ball, and while Clemson did do a much better job of capitalizing on Carolina's turnovers (27-15 advantage in points off turnovers), what really ended up separating the teams was the enormous advantage UNC had from the free throw line, as the Heels not only made it to the line far more frequently than the Tigers did (FTR: 54.8 - 24.2), but they also did a much better job of capitalizing (FT%: 70.6 - 56.3).
Statistical Highlights
- Carolina's offensive efficiency of 124.3 was its best since beating FSU on Superbowl Sunday. This was fortuitous, as its defensive efficiency (117.6) was its worst of the season.
- Despite the overall team success at the line, this was the first time Kendall Marshall shot under 50% from the line since he moved into the starting lineup. He is also just 4-20 from the field in the ACC Tournament. Hopefully this is not a sign that his legs are starting to get tired (beyond the fatigue caused by back-to-back games).
- Harrison Barnes scoring average is now up to a team best 15.0 PPG, and his eFG% is up to 49.0. Would anyone be really surprised if he ends the season at 16.0 PPG with an eFG% over 50.0?
Beyond the Box Player of the Game
Before getting to the POG, let’s first take a look at the top five ORtgs for the Tar Heels (minimum possession percentage: 10% or minimum minutes percentage: 80.0):
[table id=100 /]
As for the player of the game...
End of Story.
Beyond the Box Player of the Year
The BTB POY is based on a points system in which a player gets 10 points for being named the POG and 3 points for having a top five ORtg, with a 2 point bonus for having the top ORtg.
[table id=101 /]
Tyler Zeller entered the the post-season with very sizable lead on the rest of the team, but two straight sublime-to-superhuman performances by Harrison Barnes have him now nipping at Tyler Zeller's Heels for the BTB POY honors.
Note: For reference, a full stats glossary can be found at StatSheet.com.