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ACC Roundup - Heels Peel Orange

Syracuse’s zone is not what it has been.

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NCAA Basketball: Syracuse at North Carolina
Jan 16, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Theo Pinson (1) scores in the second half. The Tar Heels defeated Syracuse Orange 85-68 at Dean E. Smith Center. 
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

UNC didn’t have much trouble with Syracuse Monday night, winning #800 for Roy Williams 85-68.

The Tar Heel front court just crushed Syracuse. The rebounding went to UNC, 44-20 and the bigs broke down this way:

  • Kennedy Meeks: 15 points (7-10) and 12 rebounds
  • Isaiah Hicks 20 points (8-13) and eight rebounds
  • Justin Jackson: 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Tyler Lydon had a solid game for the ‘Cuse with 26 points (11-14) and seven rebounds but no one else shot well. And Tyler Roberson, who is as talented as anyone UNC has, seems content to finish his career as a bench player.

And really, that’s fine. No one says he has to have a burning passion for the game just because he is 6-8 and talented. For all most of us know he might harbor a dream of being the world’s greatest Scrabble player.

Hey, Rajon Rondo is deadly serious about Connect Four. Seriously. He won’t even let little kids win. It’s an absolute passion for the guy.

For fans, it’s a drag to see that kind of talent stagnate but it’s his talent and his life. He owes his team commitment but owes the rest of us nothing.

On Tuesday, only one game as State and Pitt, both struggling, square off in Raleigh.

Mark Gottfried has gone on record as being very unhappy with State’s defense. And Pitt just lost a beat-down to Louisville and has lost four of its last five games.

So has State, including that epic 51 point whipping in Chapel Hill.

Something has to give.

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