No, that's not a halftime score. Carolina played a full forty minutes, scored the fewest points of the Roy Williams era, and won. It's reminiscent of the N.C. State game back in Herb Sendek's first season, when Carolina escaped Reynolds Coliseum with a 45-44 win. That team went on to the Final Four; this one doesn't have the offense to get nearly that far.
Against the second worst defense in the ACC, UNC shot 36.8%. They were only 2-11 from beyond the arc, and almost completely stopped trying in the second half, only taking four and passing up open looks. They mostly concentrated on getting the ball inside to a double-teamed Tyler Zeller – he'd finish with a game high 16 points. Unfortunately, he and Kendall Marshall were the only two players to break 50% shooting; more often than not possessions ended with the ball careening into BC's hands, by either a rebound or one of eleven steals. Carolina was completely ineffective on offense, especially over the last seven minutes as the Eagles fought back from a thirteen-point deficit.
On the bright side, this was the best defensive effort of the season. Only five BC players scored today, and as a team the Eagles shot 26.9%. The perimeter defense was particularly tenacious, and although it didn't generate many turnovers – and thus few transition baskets – it kept the Eagles missing shots, and fear of a fast break response kept them off the offensive boards. UNC held their opponent to no points from the field for multiple seven minute stretches. This was a solid effort against a very good offensive team, even if it did slip towards the end to the point that Reggie Jackson had a shot at a game-winner with under ten seconds to play.
That shot, like so many before it, didn't fall, and UNC got a win, no matter what the score. But the offense is in trouble, and can't beat a zone to save their lives. Marshall is throwing the ball away more as more teams are gambling on him creating his own shot. Someone, anyone, needs to step up and be a legitimate outside shooting threat, and Tyler Zeller can't be left alone to fight off double and triple teams. The defenses get harder from here on out, and 48 points isn't going to cut it.