Four observations from North Carolina's win over Kentucky

Strip off the storied names on both jerseys, and Saturday's showdown between North Carolina and Kentucky was a matchup between two talented but flawed teams still a few months away from playing their best basketball.

The Tar Heels defeated the Wildcats 75-73 in a hotly contested game with plenty of lead changes and entertainment value but also plenty of quick shots, needless fouls and bad turnovers. 

For North Carolina, this was a much-needed marquee win after early losses to the likes of Minnesota, Vanderbilt and Illinois raised concerns that this season would end in the NIT just like last year's did. For Kentucky, the loss isn't a season killer but it validates fears that the absence of Enes Kanter leaves the Wildcats too shorthanded down low to seriously contend for a Final Four berth.

Here are four other observations from the game:  

1. The more Zeller, the better: There are other guys who might be better NBA prospects based on longterm potential, but there's no doubt North Carolina center Tyler Zeller was by far the best college player on the court. Zeller had 27 points and 9 rebounds, exploiting Kentucky's undermanned frontcourt and almost singlehandedly fouling out Josh Harrellson, Eloy Vargas and Terrence Jones.

It sounds ridiculous considering Zeller had the most field goal attempts of any North Carolina player, but if anything the Tar Heels need to make a more concerted effort to get him the ball on the low block. Several times Larry Drew III, Reggie Bullock and Harrison Barnes missed an open Zeller down low, instead settling for contested jump shots. 

2. Tough day for Terrence Jones: If I were an NBA team with a lottery pick next June, Terrence Jones' rough game would be definite cause for concern. The talented Kentucky freshman had trouble getting his shot off against a defender as long and quick as 6-foot-10 John Henson, scoring nine points on just 3-for-17 shooting.   

The only brief flurry of offense from Jones came late in the first half when he was at center for Kentucky and he attacked the slower Zeller off the dribble. Henson is a unique talent in college basketball, but there's no shortage of forwards with his combination of length and quickness to guard Jones in the NBA ranks.

3. Harrison Barnes surges then fades: When Harrison Barnes scored seven straight points late in the first half including a huge put-back slam, it seemed as though this might be the breakout game we've been waiting for from the North Carolina freshman. Instead Barnes floundered in the second half, scoring only one more bucket, settling for jumpers and not showcasing the explosiveness he needed to get to the rim.

A month is far too soon to write off a kid touted as a preseason all-American and the potential No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, but it's fair to say he has not made the instant impact many expected. He had 11 points on 4-for-10 shooting on Saturday and is still shooting below 35 percent on the season.

4. America, say hello to Doron Lamb: In a game that featured Jones, Barnes, Brandon Knight and Reggie Bullock, the best freshman on the floor consistently was ... Doron Lamb. The 6-foot-4 Kentucky guard had 24 points on 7-for-12 shooting on Saturday in a game he called the biggest of his life earlier this week.

Perimeter scoring is the Wildcats' strength so they won't need Lamb to carry the team every night, yet it was a great sign for Kentucky that he was able to shoulder a bigger load in a game when Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones struggled.

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Four-observations-from-North-Carolina-s-win-over?urn=ncaab-291874

Alexander Edler Travis Ehrhardt Christian Ehrhoff Oliver Ekman-Larsson