North Carolina’s Defense Is Winning Games

The defense has looked great as of late.

North Carolina has locked in on defense ever since losing to Kentucky. They are taking pride in getting stops and holding some very good scoring teams under their season average. That was on display against Clemson, not allowing the Tigers to come close to their normal output. That has been a trend over the last few games.

Locking In

In the first 10 games of the season, UNC allowed 70 or more points seven times. In the four games after that, not a single team has reached 70. Only one of those four has even reached 60, which was Charleston Southern, who had a boost in possessions due to North Carolina scoring 105 points. The defense is coming together with ACC play in full swing. Here are the last four teams played and how the Tar Heels defense did against them.

Oklahoma

Record: 13-1

PPG: 82.5 | Points Scored Against UNC: 69

Average Field Goal Percentage: 50.1% | FG% Against UNC: 40.4%

Charleston Southern

Record: 4-11

PPG: 70.1 | Points Scored Against UNC: 60

Average Field Goal Percentage: 44.5% | FG% Against UNC: 40%

Pittsburgh

Record: 10-5

PPG: 78.8 | Points Scored Against UNC: 57

Average Field Goal Percentage: 43.6% | FG% Against UNC: 30.9%

Clemson

Record: 11-3

PPG: 82.2 | Points Scored Against UNC: 55

Average Field Goal Percentage: 49.2% | FG% Against UNC: 36.2%

North Carolina has the 16th-best defense in the nation, according to KenPom. It has been inspiring and helpful in some of the biggest wins thus far.

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