What have you thought about the crowd?
North Carolina’s games against Tennessee and Florida State were big ones early this season. The Vols came in at #10, and FSU was the ACC opener. Those are both games that you need to win as a blue-blood. Protecting home court is important, and UNC has been talked about in a negative light over the years for having a “wine and cheese” crowd.
Top-20 Matchup
Tennessee is a tough team to beat. They play physical defense and are not afraid of anyone. Add on that Rick Barnes is their coach, and it gives you a rowdy crowd. For all of the flak UNC fans get, this was one of the best environments the Smith Center has had over the last few seasons. From tip-off until the final buzzer, it was loud. It helped that the Tar Heels were dominating the number one defense in the country and put up 61 points in the first half. Even when the Vols began to make a comeback, every play was met with loud cheering. North Carolina fans were ready for this one, and it showed.
After the game, guard RJ Davis tweeted, “S/O the best fans in the world. Y’all had the Smith Center rocking!!”
ACC Opener
The excitement wasn’t as big for a Florida State team that has been average this year. However, the second half was loud. FSU built a big lead, and North Carolina put on a full-court press. That defensive switch stifled the ‘Noles, leading to a comeback win. Every stop was met with loud cheering. As UNC closed the gap, it only got louder, and when the Heels took the lead, they never looked back. It was an impressive performance from the team that the crowd was able to impact.
Crowd noise can change the outcome of a game.
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