CHAPEL HILL, N.C.-In the second half of last night's 88-81 loss to No. 5 North Carolina, the No. 13 Cavaliers came out of the blocks a different team and played nearly phenomenal basketball. But it still wasn't good enough.
After shooting only 32.4 percent from the floor and 50 percent from the free throw line in the first half, Virginia made 54.8 percent of their shots after the break and went 10-of-11 from the free throw line (90.9 percent). Six Cavaliers ended the game in double digits, two with double-doubles.
But the hole the Cavaliers dug themselves in the first half was too big. Their comeback, which began from the start of the second half with an 18-6 run, could not erase a 15-point first-half deficit.
"We played aggressive, aggressive defense, and with tremendous character, courage and heart in the second half," Virginia coach Pete Gillen said. "But basketball is a 40-minute game, and we have to play well for 40 minutes. We got beat because we didn't play well in the first 20 and went down to a tremendous team. You can't dig a 15-point hole and expect to come out with a win."
If you saw Virginia in the first half, you would have thought a completely different team played in the second. The Cavaliers lacked the intensity and tenacity that got them going after the break and were plagued by foolish and unforced errors. North Carolina out-rebounded Virginia 25-18 and shot a whopping 58.8 percent in the first half. What kept it from being an ugly blowout was Virginia's 6-of-14 three-point shooting (42.9 percent), which was better than North Carolina's 1-of-6.
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"Some of our players didn't play with confidence and aggressive early," Gillen said. "They're a great team, and if you don't come out of the box against them, you can't get on a roll. You got to get off to a decent start. When you're climbing, you have to play almost perfect basketball to have a chance."
And Virginia almost did. After cutting the 15-point lead to just three, the Cavaliers hung in until the winding seconds.
"We were fortunate to win against a heck of a team that wouldn't quit," North Carolina coach Matt Doherty said. "They weren't going to die. "
After all, the statistics all point Virginia's way. How does a team lose having six players score in double figures and 21 assists with just nine turnovers?
What shut the door on Virginia's chances was a single player - Joe Forte. The sophomore hit a three-pointer from the left wing on a critical possession with 5:15 remaining to extend the Tar Heels' lead to seven, a lead they would keep until the end. Forte ended the game with a colossal 33 points.
"You put the ball in [Forte's] hands and he makes the big plays," Doherty said.
If North Carolina did not have Forte, would Virginia have won? It's hard to tell, but one thing is clear. The Cavaliers can blame only themselves and their first-half disaster.
"Forte is a marvelous and unbelievable player," Gillen said. "He just had a great night. But we have to shoot better and do a better job stopping people. You just can't go down 15 and expect to come back, especially on the road"
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