UNC Basketball Preview: Entering the Frenzy among PNC Arena

 


(Photo Courtesy Jim Hawkins/Inside Carolina) 

Chapel Hill - #8 Tar Heels travel to Raleigh tomorrow night to battle against NC State, the only other defeated team within the conference, at 8:00 p.m.
 
The previous two road games for UNC have been nothing short of outstanding, considering that they took out both Pittsburgh and now #21-ranked Clemson by a combined total of 23 points through the two contests. Against the Tigers, Armando Bacot dominated on the inside, playing bully ball on PJ Hall, Clemson's top scorer, leading up to the highly anticipated matchup. By the end of the 40 minutes, Bacot had caused Hall to foul out and not return to action. Bacot finished the game with 14 points and 16 rebounds, doing so on six of 11 baskets and two of four from the charity stripe. Furthermore, RJ Davis added his own set of 14 points against Clemson, making five of his 13 attempts and two of his five tries from downtown. The two remaining starters from North Carolina's championship run two years ago continue to sustain their ground for Coach Davis in year 3 as head man.
 
NC State has beaten Boston College, Notre Dame, and Virginia up until now during ACC battles. In their last matchup with the Cavaliers, the junior transfer from Butler, Jayden Taylor, secured 15 points on four of nine from the field and two of five from behind the arc. The freshman out of Richmond, Virginia, Dennis Parker Jr., dropped 15 points on five of eight shots and three of five three-pointers. Ben Middlebrooks, the junior out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, added a solid eight points off the bench. The Wolfpack average 78 points, 36 rebounds, and 14 assists per game.
 
The defense has been turned up a notch for UNC, which has been the key to winning games as of late. Their offensive firepower is up there with the best, but this squad has proved that they get it done on the other end of the floor.
 
UNC is listed at 63% for the matchup predictor, according to ESPN Analytics.
 
 



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