PHOTOS: UNC basketball struggles down stretch in ACC loss at Louisville

Jan 1, 2025; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals forward James Scott (0) dunks against North Carolina Tar Heels forward Jae’Lyn Withers (24) and forward Jalen Washington (13) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

The North Carolina Tar Heels were on the right track in their basketball season, entering Wednesday night’s matchup with Louisville off an upset win over UCLA and a blowout against Campbell.

When the final seconds ticked off the JumboTron at the KFC Yum! Center, UNC reverted back to its concerning struggles in an 83-70 loss.

North Carolina’s (8-6, 1-1 ACC) greatest red flag came down the stretch, as the Tar Heels only scored one point over the game’s final five minutes. I’ve watched this trend in recent losses: UNC ties or takes the lead late in second halves, then either can’t score or get stops down the stretch.

Wednesday night continued showing why North Carolina’s lack of a dominant post presence hurts them. Louisville (9-5, 2-1 ACC) bullied the Tar Heels in the post, particularly in transition, as Cardinals guards lofted easy passes over shorter UNC players for easy buckets.

Ian Jackson is North Carolina’s greatest offensive threat – and that’s even with reigning ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis on the roster. Jackson scored 23 points in Wednesday’s loss, his third-consecutive 20-point outing.

Give Louisville its credit where credit is due. The Cardinals look like a brand-new team under first-year head coach Pat Kelsey, who previously led Winthrop and College of Charleston to multiple NCAA Tournament berths.

The Tar Heels, on the other hand, are a shell of the head-turning squad we witness last season. UNC continues to trend towards missing the Big Dance in March, which would be its second time in three seasons under Hubert Davis.

If you couldn’t watch tonight’s game, check out some photos from the New Year’s Day action.