Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Wildcats vs. Tar Heels game preview

By Brandon Griffin

Dec 13, 2014; Lexington, KY, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels coach Roy Williams and Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari at Rupp Arena. The Kentucky Wildcats defeated North Carolina Tar Heels 84-70. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2014; Lexington, KY, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels coach Roy Williams and Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari at Rupp Arena. The Kentucky Wildcats defeated North Carolina Tar Heels 84-70. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /
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Key Players

Dec 7, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Isaiah Hicks (4) pulls down a rebound in front of Davidson Wildcats guard Jon Axel Gudmundsson (3) during the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. The Tar Heels won 83-74. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Isaiah Hicks (4) pulls down a rebound in front of Davidson Wildcats guard Jon Axel Gudmundsson (3) during the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. The Tar Heels won 83-74. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Kentucky: G D’Aaron Fox

Fox is just a freshman but leads the team in assists and minutes. Fox’s 6.9 assists per game is a half an assist more per game than the next two players combined. Fox also leads all Wildcats with 1.7 steals and is third on the team in scoring. He is Coach Cal’s steady hand. With Joel Berry questionable at best, Fox is key to the Wildcats success against the Tar Heels.

North Carolina: F Isaiah Hicks

Hicks is having a pretty good season so far. He is third on the team in scoring, second on the team in blocks, and first in field goal percentage. He provides energy, defense, and the ability to awaken a crowd with a monster dunk.

Hicks biggest issue is foul trouble. This is nothing new as the Senior averaged 6.6 fouls per 40 minutes last season backing up Brice Johnson. This year he is averaging “only” 4.93 per 40 minutes. However, he has picked up 15 fouls over 80 minutes in his last four games fouling out twice. Per 40 minutes Hicks would be averaging 7.5 fouls.

The Heels need Hicks on the floor to keep Kentucky off the glass and to get easy buckets at the rim. Hicks has also been good from the line hitting 81 percent this season. UNC needs that kind of talent late in games. Hicks can provide it, if he can stay out of foul trouble.

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