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Dick Vitale defends Jae’Lyn Withers after critical lane violation vs. Duke
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Dick Vitale defended Jae’Lyn Withers after the North Carolina forward’s lane violation negated what would have been a game-tying free throw with 4.1 left in an ACC semifinal against archrival Duke on Friday.
The Blue Devils eventually won 74-71 to advance to the conference championship against Louisville.
“With the support of his UNC family he’ll realize that one play doesn’t cost the L,” Vitale wrote on X on Saturday afternoon. “Also there was no guarantee even if (the) FT counted they win.”
Despite winning 8 of their last 9 heading into Friday’s game against the Blue Devis, the Tar Heels’ loss could have ramifications for their NCAA Tournament hopes: they were listed as a Last Four Out team on Joe Lunardi’s updated bracket projections on Saturday morning. That’s also thanks in part to New Mexico’s loss to Boise State in the Mountain West semifinals, positiong the MW to potentially place 2 teams in the tournament.
In any event, Vitale was sympathetic to the plight of Withers, even as the Heels will be forced to wait until Selection Sunday to learn their tournament fate.
“My heart hurts when you see a player ala … Withers put the heartbreaking loss of UNC vs Duke on his shoulders,” he said.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
