This UNC squad is quirky as all get out. They suffer embarrassing losses to Belmont and UAB. But they turn around and beat then-No. 3 Louisville and last night they march right into Izzo Country and hand deliver the fade to the No. 1 team in America, Michigan State.
In even more impressive fashion, Carolina led from wire-to-wire and employed a critical 12-1 run in the second half helping put the game out of reach for good. The star of the night for UNC was freshman Kennedy Meeks who provided 15 points and seven rebounds off the bench to go along with J.P. Tokoto’s 12 points and 10 boards.
For Michigan State, it all centered around not being able to knock down shots. Keith Appling and Gary Harris both shot 5-15 from the field with the team as a whole shooting a paltry 35.9%. The loss ends nearly an 11-year run for Michigan State in dominance over unranked non-conference teams. The last defeat came at the hands of Toledo on December 30, 2002.
And here’s an impressive stat to toss out at the bar this weekend. With last night’s dub, Roy Williams improved to 7-0 against Tom Izzo at North Carolina; a record which includes the 2009 national championship. Expect Arizona to claim the country’s top ranking with Kentucky at No. 2 and C.J. Fair, Tyler Ennis and Syracuse rounding at the top three.
Photo: Getty