Winless West Coast Road Trip Signifies Crossroads In UNC’s Season: 'This has to change'

For the second time in as many games, North Carolina players walked off the basketball court with heads down as the home crowd, still riding the momentum of an upset, chanted in celebration. If the message Wednesday night in Palo Alto was that something had to change quickly, Saturday in Berkeley only amplified it: Something has to change — fast. (Inside Carolina)

UNC’s furious rally falls short as recurring issues push Heels toward NCAA bubble

For the third straight game, shots for Caleb Wilson (team-high 17 points, four assists, team-high plus-6) largely disappeared in the second half, as he didn’t take a shot in the final 15 minutes in North Carolina's loss to Cal on Saturday. Still, his activity in the full-court press helped ignite the comeback, something Hubert Davis said "did help us today." (Tar Heel Tribune)

Lucas: A Long Game

It would be wonderful to report that North Carolina lost, 84-78, because the Tar Heels simply ran out of gas after a furious comeback. And they did mount a significant fight, closing to within four points with the ball with 1:06 left. But the fact is that UNC didn't expend enough energy in the first half to say that they were exhausted in the second half. (GoHeels.com)

UNC Can’t Recover From First-Half Three-Point Barrage at Cal

In its previous games against SMU, Wake Forest, and Stanford, UNC allowed opponents to shoot 44-for-90 from three-point range. Stanford went 10-for-16 from deep in the second half of Wednesday's loss. When California knocked down an open three less than two minutes into Saturday's game, it felt all too familiar. Then came another. And another. (TarHeel247)

Video: Derek Dixon Post-Cal Locker Room Interview

North Carolina point guard Derek Dixon speaks with reporters following the Tar Heels' 84-78 loss to the Cal Golden Bears on Saturday afternoon in Berkeley, California. (View Video)

Seth Trimble says it’s just a ‘bump in road’ for UNC, and it’s about manning up

Seth Trimble didn’t dance around UNC's problems after Saturday’s loss at Cal. He described a group learning how to respond when the plan goes awry, voices get quiet, and opponents keep making shots. He rejected any notion of internal drama and said the recent slide comes down to accountability. "It’s nothing culture-related. It’s nothing team-wise." (Tar Heel Tribune)

Box Score: Cal 84, North Carolina 78

View the complete box score from the No. 14 North Carolina Tar Heels' 84-78 ACC road loss to the Cal Golden Bears on Saturday afternoon in Berkeley, California. (View Box Score)

Video: Hubert Davis Post-Cal Press Conference

North Carolina head men's basketball coach Hubert Davis speaks with the media following the No. 14 Tar Heels' 84-78 loss to the Cal Golden Bears on Saturday afternoon in Berkeley, California. (View Video)

Video: Cal Basketball Post-UNC Press Conference

California head men's basketball coach Mark Madsen joins players John Camden and Dai Dai Ames in speaking with the media following the Golden Bears' 84-78 win over the No. 14 North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday afternoon in Berkeley, California. (View Video)

Lucas: UNC vs. Cal Rapid Reactions

There were two parts of the game: the first 30 minutes, when UNC didn't play nearly hard or well enough to win the game. And then the final ten minutes, when the Heels went on a furious rally. To complete a comeback like that, you have to get some breaks, which the Tar Heels did. But you also have to complete little things, like making free throws. (GoHeels.com)

Video: IC Postgame Podcast - UNC Basketball Falls At Cal - 84, 78

UNC Basketball's road trip to California turned into a collapse on Saturday as the Tar Heels fell to Cal, 84-78. Former Tar Heel guard Dewey Burke and Inside Carolina's Tommy Ashley discuss the loss, the problems, and possible solutions as Hubert Davis’ team struggles defensively in ACC play. (View Video)

California hands No. 14 North Carolina its second straight loss in Bay Area, 84-78

John Camden scored 20 points and Dai Dai Ames and Justin Pippen each added 19 as California built a 20-point lead and held off No. 14 North Carolina 84-78 on Saturday. The Tar Heels (14-4, 2-3 ACC standings) absorbed their second straight loss in the Bay Area; they fell 95-90 at Stanford on Wednesday. Freshman Caleb Wilson led UNC with 17 points. (Associated Press)

UNC Basketball Suffers Second West Coast Loss, Falls 84-78 at Cal

North Carolina couldn’t overcome a 17-point deficit Saturday at Cal, falling 84-78 for their second straight loss. After being down as many as 20 in the second half, UNC fought back, using a 20-5 run to cut deficit to four. The Tar Heels held Cal to just 30 points on 42% shooting in the second half, but went 3:56 without a field goal down the stretch. (Inside Carolina)

No. 14 UNC Men's Basketball Looks To Rebound At Cal Saturday - Pregame Notes

No. 14 UNC Men's Basketball plays Cal in Berkeley for the first time in the ACC on Saturday at 4 p.m. Eastern. The game will be televised on ACC Network (Wes Durham and Dennis Scott). Carolina is 1-2 on the road, winning at Kentucky and losing at SMU and Stanford. The Tar Heels are 5-1 all-time against Cal. The Tar Heels are 16-10 in California. (GoHeels.com)

Why Henri Veesaar is UNC Basketball's most indispensable player

Outside of Caleb Wilson, center Henri Veesaar is UNC Basketball's most important player. On a roster built around Wilson’s star power, Veesaar has become the piece the Tar Heels can least afford to lose. His blend of size, efficiency, and versatility has reshaped how UNC plays on both ends and given this team a dimension that it did not have a year ago. (USA Today)

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