James Michael McAdoo Ends Scoring Slump in Win over Georgia Tech

By Jared Mintz
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

That “there he is!” moment that North Carolina Tar Heels basketball fans have been waiting the better part of the season for finally occurred Tuesday night.

James Michael McAdoo recorded his second double-double of the month in UNC’s 70-58 win over Georgia Tech, going for 22 points and 11 rebounds in the win. Not only dealing with back pain, but transitioning ito being the big man in a smaller lineup after head coach Roy Williams made adjustments prior to last weeks loss at Duke, the not so sensational sophomore tried to save his reputation Tuesday night, and was pretty successful.

After scoring in single digits in each of North Carolina’s last three games (in which they went 1-2), McAdoo put the team on his back with 15 points in the first half, weathering the storm as his teammates could’ve built a house with the amount of bricks they put up. Despite shooting a horrid 37.9-percent from the field on the night, somehow the Tar Heels managed to go up as many as 22-points in the second half, as they cruised to victory against their lesser ACC opponent.

Strangely enough, McAdoo chose the best time of the season to break out of his slump. The win over Georgia Tech upgraded UNC to 8-5 in the conference, which just so happens to be the same record as bitter rival North Carolina State, with whom they meet on Saturday as they try and avenge an 8-point loss they suffered towards the end of January. McAdoo went for a solid 13 points and 11 rebounds in the loss, but played much of the second half in foul trouble before disqualifying himself in the final minute of the game.

Coming off of one his better games of the season, as well as finally having some reliable help in wings Leslie McDonald and P.J. Hairston (not to mention senior point guard Dexter Strickland, who has been relatively efficient over the past few games), McAdoo is successfully making people remember why they thought he could be a special player. And with a win Saturday, he might make us all forget just how bad North Carolina has been this season.

For hoops, hip-hop and other random sports and pop culture commentary, follow Jared Mintz on Twitter @JaredMintzTruth

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