March Madness Elite Eight 2017, North Carolina vs. Kentucky: Highlights, score and recap

Highlights, score, and recap of Sunday’s Elite Eight showdown between North Carolina and Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament

This game was everything you could have wanted in an Elite Eight battle between two legendary college basketball programs. In an up-and-down contest where both sides had their chances, North Carolina would emerge victorious to reach the Final Four in consecutive years after one of the craziest final sequences you’ll ever see.

North Carolina ran out to an early lead on the strength of its transition game and a few early threes. Kentucky could not find an early offensive rhythm, with UNC going under every De’Aaron Fox pick-and-roll. They also struggled entering the ball into the post, with a couple turnovers on early entries to Bam Adebayo. When De’Aaron Fox picked up an early second foul and had to sit for a good portion of the first half, things looked dire for the Wildcats.

But North Carolina couldn’t sustain its early lead. Another ankle injury to lead guard Joel Berry took its most potent offensive creator off his game. Though UNC did well in the initial minutes after his injury, they couldn’t keep up the pace, and struggled a bit in the half-court with a limited Berry. He finished just 4-12 from the field, and didn’t hit a 3-pointer in the game – but hit a key running layup in the last two minutes to extend North Carolina’s lead and secure the win.

In a back-and-forth second half, Kentucky had the upper hand for much of it. With UNC’s stars struggling from three – Justin Jackson and Joel Berry hit just one of their ten attempted threes – Kentucky was able to make its athleticism advantage tell in the halfcourt. They penetrated North Carolina’s defense and hit the offensive boards hard, generating free throws and easy baskets for the team.

In the key stretch of the game, though, North Carolina buckled down. Switching to a zone to discourage De’Aaron Fox’s forays to the rim, the Tar Heels were able to get some key stops and turn the game around. Luke Maye continued his tournament run, scoring fifteen points and hitting two of his three attempts beyond the arc. Joel Berry came up with some key buckets and free throws, and North Carolina had a relatively comfortable late lead.

But Kentucky would make a huge last push, with a buried 3-pointer from Fox, followed by another from Monk after a 5-second violation on UNC’s inbound. After a missed free throw on the next possession by Justin Jackson, Malik Monk buried another three to tie the game at 73. Declining to take their final timeout, North Carolina pushed up the floor with Theo Pinson. He found Luke Maye just inside the 3-point line, and he buried the winning shot with just 0.3 seconds left on the clock.

Three Stars

Luke Maye continued his tournament run, putting the icing on the cake with the game-winning shot. The backup big man hit 6 of his 9 shots in the game, including 2 of 3 from distance, and finished with 17 points. Those last two, though, were the most important.

Justin Jackson struggled from deep, but made up for it by mixing in his driving and mid-range game. The junior wing hit just 7 of his 17 shots, but got to the line 7 times. He finished with a team-high 19 points, and also threw in 5 rebounds and 4 assist for good measure.

Joel Berry struggled for much of the game after injuring his other ankle in the first half, but he came up huge for North Carolina at the end of the game. He scored a big layup to put North Carolina up by five in the last two minutes, and came up with a steal on the ensuing possession. He finished with double digit points despite struggling with his shot, and provided the leadership North Carolina needed to put this one away.

Highlights

https://twitter.com/marchmadness/status/846116612147232772

Next Game

North Carolina advances to a Final Four matchup with Oregon. The Ducks, fresh off an incredible performance against Kansas, will look to keep the good times rolling in the program’s first true Final Four appearance. But UNC will bring more program heft and a roster full of veterans to the matchup, looking to add to their own legacy. It’ll be a great showdown – stick with us at FanSided for your ongoing NCAA Tournament coverage.