March Madness: 5 keys to a UNC victory over Indiana
Front court matchup
North Carolina is big in the front court, and Indiana will be outmatched.
With first-team All-American Brice Johnson leading the way, ACC Sixth Man of the Year Isaiah Hicks and a plethora of big bodies off the bench, UNC is easily the favorite in the paint.
Johnson and Hicks are an athletic duo who play fast and above the rim. Kennedy Meeks can bang around in the paint when he is playing aggressively. Joel James provides much-needed minutes for players in foul trouble or needing some rest. Even the smaller guys like Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson can help the Tar Heels front court when Roy Williams decides to play small.
Indiana’s Thomas Bryant and Max Bielfeldt will have to play their best basketball and avoid foul trouble. If the Tar Heels are able to get the Hoosiers into foul trouble, it could be a long game for Tom Crean’s squad. OG Anunoby will need to provide support down low and 6-7 forward Troy Williams may have to play bigger than he is used to.
This is the part of the game that will put Indiana at a major disadvantage and the Tar Heels hope to shoot well from the perimeter to keep the Hoosiers honest on their defensive assignments. If they have to play one-on-one against Brice Johnson in the paint, he will feast on short shots and rebounds.