The Ohio Bobcats simply looked overmatched through the first ten plus minutes of the first half of their Sweet 16 matchup against North Carolina. But a couple three-pointers from Nick Kellogg closed a comfortable double-digit lead to six at one point and the Tar Heels then took a 29-22 lead into the locker room in St. Louis.
The Bobcats are shooting just 23 percent from the floor so far and are lucky to be down just seven. Kellogg went a perfect three for three from behind the arc for a team-high nine points. But Ohio is simply overmatched on the inside, as the size of Carolina is just too much for Reggie Keely and company. ACC Player of the Year Tyler Zeller already has a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 boards. As a team, UNC already has 11 more rebounds than OU. With Kendall Marshall out, the Heels have been sloppy with the ball and committed 13 turnovers already which has kept the Bobcats in the game so far.
John Groce will look to get D.J. Cooper going in the second half to close the deficit. Cooper is just one of nine so far and has only two points. The Bobcats couldn't shoot much worse, but are still in it and will have a chance in the second half.
For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.