GREENSBORO -- North Carolina got a long, annoying look at a zone defense Friday against Vermont.
Another one is waiting in the wings against Creighton in Sunday’s NCAA game at Greensboro Coliseum.
The Tar Heels, now 30-5 and seeded No. 1 in the Midwest Regional, eventually pulled away from Vermont (24-12) for a 77-58 win.
“But it wasn’t easy at all,” as Tar Heel all-American center Tyler Zeller said. “They did a great job of doubling down in the post and picking up fast on the perimeter. That had a real good defensive plan, so give them credit.”
So effective was the zone that Carolina shot only 41.5 percent and much of that was the result of point-black follow shots. Had it not been for a 13-point Carolina advantage on free throws (18-5), the 16th-seeded Catamounts would have been in position to pull off a Norfolk State-like shocker and squarely in the middle of Tobacco Road.
CLICK HERE for complete article.
