Reality eventually set in. A win against Maryland would vault them up the standings at least a couple spots so there’s much on the line for Paige’s return tonight when we watch the Maryland North Carolina game live streaming or on TV. “He probably thrived on it”. He would finish with 20 points and five assists, shooting 7-for-12 from the floor and 4-for-5 from three while committing just a single turnover.
Advertisement
North Carolina has a talented team this year.
Brice Johnson added 16 points for the Tar Heels (6-1), who shot 53% and repeatedly capitalized on Terrapins miscues in a rare nonconference meeting between the Atlantic Coast Conference powers.
“This is, like, the longest day ever”, Paige, the North Carolina senior guard, said after he led No. 9 UNC to an 89-81 victory against No. 2 Maryland on Tuesday night. North Carolina simply shot the ball better at 46.8%-40% which equaled four more baskets which turned out to be decisive.
When the public address announcer at the Dean Smith Center read off, “No. 0, Rasheed Sulaimon” during starting lineup introductions on Tuesday night, it was clear North Carolina fans hadn’t forgotten. Sulaimon finished with 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Thirteen first-half turnovers were harmful for the Terrapins, who didn’t commit that many in three entire games last month. Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson hit jumpers. UNC was buoyed by the return of All-American guard Marcus Paige who dropped 20 on Maryland in his first game back from a broken bone in his right (non-shooting) hand. Paige made one 3-pointer with 14 ½ minutes away to break a 55-55 tie.
That explosion is back, so much so that Paige rose up and tried to dunk on Jared Nickens in the second half-something he wouldn’t have tried a season ago.
The Tar Heels surrendered 533 yards to Duke in a performance that Chizik said wasn’t good enough.
“He’s like number one for me, in terms of hip-hop artists”, Paige said. They actually made you miss them, and only two years after leaving the ACC. It always seemed like it would take more time to heal these wounds.
“Kennedy pointed it out to me in the middle of a defensive possession!” noted hip-hop head Marcus Paige said with a laugh after the game. But I’m not expecting myself to be flawless tomorrow…. “So after the first minute or so, I forgot about it and just played my game”. He averaged 14.5 points per game, but both his production and efficiency dipped as he played through lingering pain from plantar fasciitis and an ankle injury that required offseason surgery. The Texas native only made 2-of-12 three-point field goals in his four games with Duke. “I think they got a great deal of energy from our crowd”.
Advertisement
The second-ranked Terrapins, despite being the higher ranked side, are a 6-point underdogs against North Carolina, according to Oddshark. (The front court, bolstered by power forward Carter, finished with a combined 30 points.) The more pressing issue was Maryland’s lack of production on the defensive end, which was glaring down the stretch. Paige sank his 1st shot of the game, a Three-pointer from the right wing within the opening minute.
