Lucas: Energy Crisis

LAS VEGAS—The key stretch in Carolina's 94-78 win over UCLA arrived at a somewhat inopportune time.

After trailing throughout the first half, Cameron Johnson's second half surge had given the Tar Heels a 52-51 lead with 16:39 left in the game. But then freshman guard Coby White picked up his third foul and went straight to the bench.

For most of the rest of the two games in Las Vegas, Carolina without White had been like David Copperfield without his hair gel. Until that juncture, the Tar Heels had been outscored every single time White had been on the bench.

With Seventh Woods out with a concussion, it was fellow freshman Leaky Black who had to run the point with the game in the balance. And…