UNC men's basketball relies on post play to fuel Final Four win over Syracuse

HOUSTON — Roy Williams has always stood by an inside-out offense.

A proponent of attacking the basket and getting teams in foul trouble, the North Carolina men’s basketball coach has defended this philosophy in recent weeks as he’s answered questions about the growing amount of 3-point shooting in college basketball.

But in Saturday’s 83-66 win over 10th-seeded Syracuse, the top-seeded Tar Heels were forced to rely on a seemingly inside-only offense as they struggled from behind the arc.

This was what the North Carolina men’s basketball team was built for.

“We’re balanced, and that plays into our favor,” said Sean May, UNC’s director of player personnel. “We try not to get too far on one side or the other, whether it be threes or twos. You need that balance, because you never know what’s going to happen.”

And in Saturday night’s national semifinals, the unexpected occurred.

Despite shooting 32.1 percent on 3-pointers entering Saturday, North Carolina was shooting 38.2 percent from behind the arc through four NCAA Tournament games.

Less than two minutes in, Marcus Paige elevated for a 3-pointer, looking to continue his team’s hot shooting and dispel the notion of the “NRG Effect” that’s plagued shooters at NRG Stadium.

Clank. The ball bounced off the rim. A minute later, Justin Jackson came away with the same unfruitful result.

Shot after shot, UNC failed to convert from 3-point distance. And with the team struggling from beyond the arc, UNC’s big men kept the offense afloat.

“We just wanted to be able to impose our will the way we know how to with me and another big man in there,” senior Brice Johnson said.

Junior forward Kennedy Meeks and Johnson combined to score 17 of the Tar Heels’ first 21 points, and Meeks’ 3-point play with 7:47 left until halftime sparked a 21-10 run.

UNC finished the first half 0-for-10 on 3-pointers. But Meeks, Johnson and forwards Isaiah Hicks and Joel James went a combined 12-for-15 for 27 points, giving their team a 39-28 halftime lead.

Once the team arrived in the locker room, Williams didn’t discourage his players from shooting 3-pointers.

“Coach just told the guards to shoot with confidence,” Johnson said. “‘Just go out there and keep shooting. You’re not going to be 0-for-10 again.’ In the second half, we didn’t do that.”

After North Carolina took a 57-40 lead with less than 13 minutes left, the Orange used a 10-point run to cut the deficit to only seven points.

But UNC’s balance suddenly returned.

Paige received a pass behind the arc and elevated once again, hopeful he could halt Syracuse’s run and hit the Tar Heels’ first 3-pointer.

Swish. The ball fell through the net. A minute later, Theo Pinson rattled in a 3-pointer to give UNC a 12-point lead and control of the game.

“(Sportscaster) Jimmy (Gray) asked me when we came out at halftime if we’re going to keep shooting (3-pointers),” Williams said. “I said, ‘Yes, because North Carolina tries to have good balance inside and outside.’

“The two biggest baskets in the game were when they cut it to seven and Marcus makes a three, and Theo makes a three right behind it.”

But it was UNC’s big men who carried it to victory and Monday’s national championship game against Villanova.

The Tar Heels’ play in the post has allowed them to reach this point, but when asked on Sunday if his team could win without making a 3-pointer, Williams issued a short reply.

“I hope the heck we don’t ever try.”

@patjames24

sports@dailytarheel.com