Tar Heel Basketball: UNC vs NC State Inside The Numbers
By Matt Hamm
Welcome to another edition of Keeping It Heel’s Inside The Numbers. Today we’re taking a look at the Tar Heels match up with the NC State Wolfpack. A look at the numbers tells us UNC may just have their hands full against this NC State team.
Tar Heels vs NC State offenses: The offense of the Tar Heels isn’t dominating the Wolfpack as you might think. While UNC is outscoring State by 8.1 points per game (85.1 vs 77.0). It is State that has been either more efficient or at least evenly matched up with the Heels in many other areas. They have a slight lead in FG% (47.7 vs 47.6%), they shoot nearly 11% better from the foul line (75 vs 64.7%) and also carry the edge in three point shooting (36.5 vs 35.1%). NC State brings a balanced offense with all five starters averaging double digits in scoring this season. Led by Scott Wood and CJ Leslie, the Heels will have to worry about Wood’s three point shooting (45.1% on the year). And Leslie’s athleticism which is among the elite in the country.
We’re just getting started! We take a look at the rest of the UNC vs State match up after the break Follow @Keeping_It_Heel Like us on Facebook
Tar Heels vs NC State rebounding and defense: This is where what looks like an evenly matched game goes south for NC State. While UNC might not out shoot State, they make up for it with outstanding rebounding. The Tar Heels are a terror for the opposition on the offensive glass leading the nation at 16 offensive rebounds per game. UNC is equally dominate on the defensive glass totaling 30.3 per game on average. So the rebounding edge goes to Carolina as it always seems. Defensively, it’s harder to predict with the Tar Heels recent loss of it’s best perimeter defender Dexter Strickland to a torn ACL. UNC has been wildly inconsistent from the defensive end of the floor this year. On average they have done a tremendous job holding opponents to just 38.5% shooting from the field and just 31.7% from beyond the arc. But don’t tell that to anybody that watched the Heels get massacred by Florida State. UNC holds the advantage in almost every single defensive category as well. A slight advantage in steals (7.4 vs 7.0), not surprisingly they lead by a nice margin in blocks per game (5.9 vs 4.8) and Tar Heel foes are scoring less and shooting worse than State opponents this year as well. I am very comfortable saying the Heels will have no trouble winning the rebounding battle in this one. Don’t be so sure about those defensive numbers, with Strickland out, this could be a whole new ballgame.
The Four Factors of Winning
Coach’s Compare
In his first year with NC State Mark Gottfried has started off strong against what many expected. Still, he’s got a long, long way before he can even speak the great Roy Williams name. As it is in many games, their is no comparison when it comes down to the head coaches in this one. Still, Gottfried is a good coach and he has this State team playing well this year.
ACC Conference Standings
| ACC | |||
| Team | Conf | Overall | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke | 4-1 | 16-3 |
| 1 | NC State | 4-1 | 15-5 |
| 1 | Florida State | 4-1 | 13-6 |
| 4 | North Carolina | 3-1 | 16-3 |
| 5 | Virginia | 2-2 | 15-3 |
| 5 | Maryland | 2-2 | 12-6 |
| 7 | Miami (FL) | 2-3 | 11-7 |
| 7 | Wake Forest | 2-3 | 11-8 |
| 7 | Clemson | 2-3 | 10-9 |
| 7 | Boston College | 2-3 | 7-12 |
| 11 | Virginia Tech | 1-4 | 12-7 |
| 12 | Georgia Tech | 1-5 | 8-12 |
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