Tar Heels Basketball Game Preview: UNC vs. Virginia
UNC and Virginia square off in arguably the biggest game of the season for both teams.
Tonight will be a game of epic proportions when the No. 7 North Carolina Tar Heels (23-5, 12-3) battle the No. 3 Virginia Cavaliers (21-6, 10-5). The winner of this game impacts the seeds of the upcoming 2016 ACC Tournament. If North Carolina wins, they remain in sole possession of first place in the conference. However, if Virginia wins, this will cause a two-way tie in first place. Although the No. 11 Louisville Cardinals and the No. 12 Miami Hurricanes are tied at 11-4 in second place in the ACC, they face each other today, also.
Virginia and North Carolina have endured epic battles throughout the years. During the 1980s, Ralph Sampson (Virginia) and company faced the likes of UNC’s Michael Jordan and James Worthy. In the 1990s, it was Carolina’s Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace versus Virginia’s Harold Deane, Cory Alexander and Junior Burroughs. Now, we have Virginia’s Malcolm Brogdon and Anthony Gill versus UNC’s Brice Johnson and Marcus Paige.
Virginia’s bread-and-butter is their defense. They are the best blue collar team in the country. They may not win games in an exciting fashion, but numbers don’t lie. Virginia has won a lot of games and they are a viable contender for the national championship. The Cavaliers will attempt to slow the game down, since Carolina likes to run the floor.
Virginia averages 66.8 points per game whereas Carolina leads the conference in points with an 80.9 average. Virginia makes 39.2% of their three-point field goals, which is second in the ACC behind Duke. UNC is last in three-point field goal percentage (28.3%). These statistics are the makings for a close game this evening.
Virginia matches up well Carolina. Their trio of Brogdon, Gill and London Perrantes are just as good or better than any team they face. Brogdon ranks fourth in the ACC in points per game (18.22). Perrantes ranks fifth in the ACC in assists per game (4.36). Gill ranks second in field goal percentage in the ACC (56%). Statistics like these lead to a great deal of success, that translates to conference and/or national championships.
On the other hand, Johnson leads the ACC in field goal percentage (62%) and rebounds per game (10.57). In addition, Johnson ranks fifth in points per game in the ACC (17.04). Johnson has to be an offensive focal point for Carolina to win this game. This does not necessarily mean he needs to score a great deal of points. Johnson will attract attention. Running the offense through him places Virginia at a disadvantage because he can either score or pass the ball to deadly shooter (Paige, Joel Berry II, Justin Jackson) or dish the ball to a thunderous dunker (Isaiah Hicks).
North Carolina needs to guard the perimeter very well, because Virginia is great from the outside. UNC needs to punch the ball inside and use their rebounding advantage as a way to control the game. Virginia will pressure Carolina’s guards, in an attempt to force turnovers.
Although playing at Virginia has been tough over the years, North Carolina will be victorious tonight. Johnson will stamp another heroic performance towards his Player of the Year campaign. Expect UNC to feed him constantly. He has been unguardable this season. His attention will free up Berry, Nate Britt, Jackson, Paige and Theo Pinson to hit jump shots. Tonight will be revenge for the 75-64 loss Virginia gave Carolina in the Dean Dome last season.
WHAT? North Carolina Tar Heels @ Virginia Cavaliers
WHEN? Saturday, February 27, 2016
TIME? 6:30 p.m. ET
WHERE? John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia
TV? ESPN
RADIO? Tar Heel Sports Network
PREDICTION? UNC beats Virginia, 78-75