How does UNC match up with Ohio State?
The Tar Heels will take on one of the marquee teams from college basketball’s best conference over the last few seasons the Big Ten when they meet Thad Matta’s Ohio State Buckeyes in the first ever CBS Sports Classic on December 20th at 1 P.M in Chicago, IL. It will be the team’s first meeting since November of 2009, a 77-73 win for the Tar Heels in New York. This game will be a battle between Coach Williams’s up-tempo offense and Coach Matta’s suffocating defense that has allowed only 59 points a game over the last 4 seasons.
While Ohio State is ranked #20 in the preseason poll they will likely be a team still in rebuilding mode in this early season matchup as they must find a way to replace their top 3 scorers from last year on a team that struggled to score the ball at times last year only averaging 69.5 points per game last season. Their top returning scorer small forward Sam Thompson only averaged 7.9 points a game last season but must do more this season. This season Coach Matta will likely build his offense around freshman shooting guard D’Angelo Russell who was the top-rated 2-guard in the nation by many recruiting services last season. In the past, Matta’s best teams have been built around a dominant offensive presence whether it was Jared Sullinger, Deshaun Thomas or Evan Turner and this season it appears Russell will fill that role. The lefty has great shooting range and can score off the dribble, look for J.P. Tokoto and Theo Pinson to get the assignment of trying to slow down the talented freshman.
Another intriguing matchup to watch will be the battle at point guard between Player of the Year and All-American candidate Marcus Paige and one of the best defensive guards in the country Shannon Scott, the son of all-time Tar Heel great Charlie Scott. By now everyone in the country knows that Paige is the best point guard in America but he will face a serious challenge going up against Scott, a 2-time selection to the All Big 10 Defensive Team who averaged 2 steals a game last season. He will be backup by redshirt freshman Kam Williams who had to sit out last season due to mono.
While the battle on the perimeter will definitely be exciting, it might be down in the low post where the Tar Heels could have the advantage. The Buckeyes struggled rebounding the ball last season as they did not have a single player average more than 5 boards a game. Their top returning rebounder Amir Williams only grabbed 5.8 rebounds a game last season. The 6-11 senior Williams will likely start alongside 6-9 Temple transfer Anthony Lee who averaged 13.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game last year and provides the Buckeyes with a proven low post scorer and rim protector. His transfer was important for Ohio State after their other transfer from Virginia Tech, Trevor Thompson, was denied immediate eligible and will have to sit out this season. That leaves the Buckeyes with only one reserve in the frontcourt, senior Trey McDonald, to go against the likely 6-man frontcourt rotation the Tar Heels will use this season.
This game will likely come down to which team is able to set the tempo that they want. If the Heels are able to run at the neck breaking pace that they want, they could run the Buckeyes out of the gym with their superior depth. However, if Ohio State is able to make it a half court slugfest and play their bruising style of defense, they could keep the game in the 60s. Either way, it could be one of the best games of the early season.