Social media reacts to UNC’s disappointing loss at Georgia Tech

A struggling Georgia Tech program ended UNC’s undefeated run in ACC men’s basketball play on Tuesday night. What did the fans think?

After a month of looking like college basketball’s best team, UNC suffered through a cold shooting night in a 74-73 loss at Georgia Tech.

First-place North Carolina (17-4, 9-1 ACC) was just 28-of-77 on field goals against a struggling Yellow Jackets (10-11, 3-7) team, which had lost 8-of-9 coming in. Georgia Tech, on the other hand, shot 25-of-61 from the field.

RJ Davis was the only Tar Heel to reach double-figures, leading all scorers with 26 points on 11-of-23 shooting. He nearly scored the game-winning points on a late layup, only for the Yellow Jackets’ Nathian George to convert his own game-winner.

Davis had one more chance to win the game on a contested layup, but missed off the side of the rim.

Georgia Tech didn’t shoot lights out, but they did just enough to take down UNC. Senior guard Kyle Sturdivant came off the bench to score 18 points, one of three Yellow Jackets in double-figures, while Georgia Tech blocked eight shots to North Carolina’s zero.

Could the Tar Heels have been looking ahead to Duke on Saturday?

Possibly.

If so, that’s a terrible mindset to play with. Tuesday’s loss isn’t the end of the world, but it puts a lot more pressure on the boys in baby blue.

Let’s see what social media thought of the disappointing loss:

Tar Heels’ win streak snapped by Yellow Jackets on the road

UNC can’t avoid Georgia Tech’s trap door, losing to the Yellow Jackets 74-73, snapping their 10-game win streak.

The UNC men’s basketball program traveled to Atlanta for an Atlantic Coast Conference showdown against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and it fast was pace from the start.

The Yellow Jackets’ approach was unique, to say the least, playing to UNC’s pace, despite not having the personnel to keep up, and that would show midway through the first half. The Tar Heels started 2-8 from the field, but the struggles didn’t last long, going on a 15-2 run thanks to both team’s agenda to push the pace.

In UNC fashion, they created sizable leads throughout the first half but allowed the Yellow Jackets to buzz back. The Tar Heels allowed multiple runs, had a four-minute scoring drought, and couldn’t stop Miles Kelly, who had 15 points in the first period.

Despite leading for 15:37 of the 20:00 half, UNC entered the half tied up 37 a piece after allowing a 12-1 Georgia Tech run.

The second half continued to go Georgia Tech’s way, putting UNC’s 10-game win streak in jeopardy. The Yellow Jackets took advantage of the Tar Heels’s miscommunication, slowly extending their lead, and shortening UNC’s chances on the offensive end.

The Tar Heel’s fight never wavered despite everything going wrong, from missed calls to Yellow Jackets difficult shot makes. Still, UNC found themselves down one with under two minutes left to play.

The dramatic final two minutes highlighted why RJ Davis is getting Player of the Year recognition, coming away with a big 50/50 ball that ended in a fast break to give UNC the 73-72 lead with 34 seconds left on the clock.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, with Georgia Tech’s Freshman Naithan George hitting a clutch bucket after switching onto Armando Bacot. UNC had one last shot in a well-executed play call by Hubert Davis, however, a no-call miss will end the game and UNC’s 10-game win streak.

Player of the Game

The player of the game is who else but RJ Davis? Davis has been electric all season and played a significant role in UNC swatting away the Yellow Jackets to keep their win streak alive. Davis finished with _ points and _ assists.

What’s Next 

What’s next for the UNC is arguably the best rivalry in sports today, as they host their arch-rival Duke Blue Devils. Both programs sit at the top of the ACC standings and are threats to win the National Championship. The game buzz is as high as ever and should be a treat for college hoop fans. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 Eastern time.

How to watch early-week UNC-Georgia Tech hoops showdown

There’s one opponent – Georgia Tech – who stands between the UNC men’s basketball team and a 10-0 start in ACC play. They face off Tuesday.

Fresh off a thrilling, come-from-behind victory over Florida State, the UNC men’s basketball team has all the momentum with itself right now.

North Carolina (17-3, 9-0) is off to a historic start – infact, its best since the 2000-2001 campaign. With the exception of FSU twice, the Tar Heels have won every ACC game by double-digits.

With this hot streak, which has UNC as a top regional seed in many NCAA Tournament projects, comes a giant target. Everyone wants to take down the big, bad wolf – in this case, it’s North Carolina.

The next team aiming to end the Tar Heels’ 10-game winning streak – and deal them their first ACC loss – is Georgia Tech. The two rivals will clash on Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. ET in McCamish Pavillion, situated right on GT’s campus.

The Yellow Jackets (9-11, 2-7), tied for second-to-last in the ACC with Notre Dame, are losers of their past four. Georgia Tech was 8-4 through its 2023 slate, but has only won one game in 2024 – a road upset of Clemson.

Tuesday should be an easy win for UNC, but it’s also the classic “trap game.” I feel confident head coach Hubert Davis will have the Tar Heels prepared.

Here’s how you can watch the nationally-televised, UNC-GT matchup:

UNC-Georgia Tech TV, RADIO AND STREAMING INFORMATION

WHAT: North Carolina (17-3, 9-0 ACC) at Georgia Tech (9-11, 2-7)

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. ET

LOCATION: McCamish Pavillion in Atlanta, Ga.

TV: ESPN (Watch and stream the game live on WatchESPN)

SATELLITE RADIO: SiriusXM (193 or 371)

WEBSITE: ESPN

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Tar Heels slip one spot in Sunday’s NET rankings

The UNC men’s basketball team squeaked by Florida State on Saturday afternoon, but fell a spot in an important ranking.

Saturday was exactly the type of basketball scare UNC needed.

The Tar Heels trailed by five at halftime against Florida State, in large part due to 13 turnovers and the Seminoles shooting well from deep.

Thanks to Cormac Ryan, an extremely aggressive Elliot Cadeau and clutch shooting from RJ Davis late, North Carolina came back to win its 10th straight game and remained undefeated in ACC play.

When teams win, they usually move up in the rankings. The AP Poll comes out sometime tomorrow – there’s a good chance UNC will go up a spot or two.

In the latest NET rankings, however, North Carolina fell from sixth to seventh.

The college basketball ranking experts could’ve look at the fact UNC struggled against an unranked team for most of Saturday, slipping it a few spots down.

This movement won’t impact the Tar Heels much at all, as NET rankings are moreso used to help teams on the bubble. UNC has four Quad 1, 2 and 3 wins apiece, plus five Quad 4 wins, which helped it gain its current spot.

A convincing win at Georgia Tech – on Tuesday – could help North Carolina improve its Wednesday NET numbers. For UNC, its final NET spot could be the difference between a top or second seed in the NCAA Tournament.

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UNC Basketball at Georgia Tech: Game preview, prediction, info and more

The North Carolina Tar Heels have historically dominated Georgia Tech in men’s basketball. They both match up on Tuesday in Atlanta.

Even with a scare against Florida State on Saturday afternoon, the UNC men’s basketball team kept its long winning streak intact and stayed undefeated atop the ACC.

North Carolina (17-3, 9-0) trailed by five at halftime, but nine quick points from Cormac Ryan and improved defense helped it regain the lead. National Player of the Year candidate RJ Davis gave the Tar Heels some much-needed breathing room late, knocking down a mid-range jumper and icing the game with a pair of free throws.

After returning to Chapel Hill for a short period of time, UNC will hit the road for a Tuesday night battle with Georgia Tech. This SHOULD be an easy victory for the Tar Heels, but it’s also a trap game.

If this were football, we already know what the result would be.

The Yellow Jackets (9-11, 2-7) fared well in the 2023 portion of their season, highlighted by a 72-68 upset of Duke on Saturday, Dec. 2.

Since the calendar turned over to 2024, Georgia Tech has only won one game – a road overtime upset of Clemson. The Yellow Jackets are coming off one of their worst games in the entire season, a 24-point loss against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.

Returning to McCamish Pavillion could prove valuable for Georgia Tech, but they have to face a red hot North Carolina team.

What should we be looking at for the Tar Heels?

Former Georgia WR Dominick Blaylock declares for NFL draft

Former Georgia football wide receiver Dominick Blaylock, who transferred to Georgia Tech, declares for NFL draft

Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Dominick Blaylock is declaring for the 2024 NFL draft. Blaylock transferred to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets for the 2023 college football season.

Now, the former four-star recruit will look to find success at the next level. Blaylock hauled in 21 receptions for 337 yards and two touchdowns in 2023 with Georgia Tech.

The Marietta, Georgia, product caught 15 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown in his final season with Georgia back in 2022. He came up with a key catch against Ohio State in the College Football Playoff and finished his Georgia career as a back-to-back national champion.

Dominick Blaylock was looking like a star as a true freshman in 2019, but he tore his ACL in the SEC championship against LSU, which disrupted his career. Blaylock this torn ACL and later re-injuring his knee in 2020.

Blaylock joins several other players that transferred away from Georgia including Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, Alabama linebacker Trezmen Marshall, and Alabama wide receiver Jermaine Burton in entering the 2024 NFL draft.

Deja Kelly goes off, leads Tar Heels to tough road win at Georgia Tech

If UNC women’s basketball star Deja Kelly has the ball, opponents are going to have a tough time. She scored 27 points in a Thursday win.

Have a day, Deja Kelly.

The UNC women’s basketball team’s star point guard has been showing out in her final collegiate season, consistently leading her team in scoring and dropping 20 points on the regular. Along with fellow senior captain Alyssa Ustby, plus a trio of off-season transfers in Lexi Donarski, Maria Gakdeng and Indya Nivar, Kelly is helping make the Tar Heels a legitimate ACC threat.

Kelly’s most recent 20-point outing came earlier on Thursday, Jan. 28, as she dropped 27 to lead Carolina in a 73-68 road victory over Georgia Tech. Her most impactful points came from the charity stripe, making six free throws in the final 23 seconds.

With the win, Kelly’s second-consecutive game with 27 points, the 23rd-ranked Tar Heels (13-5, 5-1) jumped Florida State for third place in the ACC.

Though UNC only won by five, it maintained a lead at the end of each quarter. Carolina held a 17-11 advantage after the opening quarter, 2-point lead at halftime and 8-point advantage heading into the final frame.

Alyssa Ustby continued her strong stretch of play, adding 15 points for the Tar Heels. Sophomore guard Teonni Key enjoyed her best game of the year, adding on a season-high 10 points.

UNC will be playing for first place in the ACC on Sunday, as Louisville comes to Carmichael Arena for a 2 p.m. tip-off. The Cardinals (16-2, 5-0) are winners of their past six matchups.

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Burton, Konieczny bemoan Notre Dame’s lack of focus in loss

The players knew what to say after this loss.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – It takes focus by everybody in order to win a basketball games. It’s one of the first things every player should learn when starting to play competitively. If that focus isn’t there, you’re most likely going to lose.

After Notre Dame lost to Florida State, 67-58, Markus Burton (20 points) and J.R. Konieczny (11 points) took the postgame podium to address what went wrong from their perspective. To them, a lack of focus was the primary issue, and that couldn’t have been more clear based on everything they said to the assembled media.

Whether not being focused was the issue only to them or if they were speaking on behalf of their teammates in general is unknown beyond the Irish’s locker room. All that can be known for sure is that we at least their personal reasons for the loss.

Here are the questions posed to them by Fighting Irish Wire and what their responses to those questions were:

Notre Dame’s OT win at Georgia Tech first true road win in 23 months

The Irish haven’t had this type of victory in a while.

Notre Dame knows it could have beaten Duke and should have beaten NC State. There’s nothing to do but soldier on though, and that includes facing the next opponent. In this case, it was a road meeting at Georgia Tech, and it turned out successfully.

The Irish beat the Yellow Jackets in overtime, 75-68, for their first true road victory since defeating Clemson in February 2022, during which the only active Irish player who played in that game and only for 46 seconds was [autotag]Matt Zona[/autotag].

A game that featured nine ties and 11 lead changes meant this could have gone either way. Overtime was needed after [autotag]Markus Burton[/autotag] missed a shot at the end of regulation that could have broken a 66-all tie.

The free basketball turned out to be just what the Irish (7-9, 2-3) needed. [autotag]Julian Roper II[/autotag]’s 3-pointer was the Irish’s only field goal in the frame, but it was enough as the value of that basket was only one more point than the Yellow Jackets (8-7, 1-3) scored during that time.

[autotag]Braeden Shrewsberry[/autotag] was the Irish’s best player as he scored 25 points off the bench, shooting 5-of-9 from 3-point range and making all six of his free throws. Burton scored 12 and dished out seven assists. The Irish got double-doubles from [autotag]J.R. Konieczny[/autotag] (10 points, 11 rebounds) and [autotag]Tae Davis[/autotag] (10 points, 10 rebounds).

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Georgia Tech DT transfer D’Quan Douse commits to Michigan State football

BREAKING: MSU gets the commitment of Georgia Tech DT D’Quan Douse

Michigan State has made a splash at a position of need on Tuesday evening, earning the commitment of Georgia Tech defensive tackle D’Quan Douse. A 6-foot-2, 290 pound defensive tackle, Douse is a native of Savannah (GA) and has spent the past four seasons with Georgia Tech.

In those four seasons, Douse has recorded 69 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. He was a major rotational piece for the Yellow Jackets over the past two seasons.

He will have two years of eligibility remaining in East Lansing.

READ: MICHIGAN STATE FOOTBALL TRANSFER TRACKER
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.