Keeping It Heel
Fansided

March Madness: 5 keys to a UNC victory over Indiana

By Blake Cockrum

Mar 17, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Isaiah Hicks (4) attempts to dunk the ball in front of Florida Gulf Coast Eagles forward Marc Eddy Norelia (25) during the first half at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Isaiah Hicks (4) attempts to dunk the ball in front of Florida Gulf Coast Eagles forward Marc Eddy Norelia (25) during the first half at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Rebounding

Mar 19, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Brice Johnson (11) grabs a rebound in front of Providence Friars guard Jalen Lindsey (21) in the first half during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Brice Johnson (11) grabs a rebound in front of Providence Friars guard Jalen Lindsey (21) in the first half during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

The Tar Heels are one of the best rebounding teams in the nation. They pull down 41 boards a game, good for 14th best in the country. Indiana is 107th in the nation in the same category, grabbing 37.4 rebounds per game.

Both teams are very good offensive rebounding units. The Tar Heels rank fourth best in the NCAA with an offensive rebound rate of 39.2 percent. Indiana is 16th in the nation with a rate of 36 percent.

With North Carolina’s powerful front court advantage, a good offensive rebounding game could be the difference in winning or losing. For Indiana, keeping UNC off the offensive glass and shooting well from outside could neutralize the Heels inside game and propel the Hoosiers into the Elite 8.

Advantage: North Carolina

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