Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Basketball: Panthers vs. Tar Heels game preview

By Brandon Griffin

Jan 28, 2017; Coral Gables, FL, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin Jackson (44) dribbles the ball up court against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2017; Coral Gables, FL, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin Jackson (44) dribbles the ball up court against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Jan 28, 2017; Coral Gables, FL, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) applies pressure to Miami Hurricanes guard Ja'Quan Newton (0) during the second half at Watsco Center. Miami won 77-62. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2017; Coral Gables, FL, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) applies pressure to Miami Hurricanes guard Ja’Quan Newton (0) during the second half at Watsco Center. Miami won 77-62. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Three Questions

Can the Tar Heels win without Theo Pinson?

If the Miami game was any indication then the answer to this question is an emphatic “No”. With no word yet regarding his status, the Tar Heels may be in for another tight match-up.

Luckily, two things are working for them. One, they are at home where Carolina has been exponentially better than they have been on the road. Two, they are playing more than 39 hours after their last game ended.

Can Pittsburgh bring their A-game?

In most of Carolina’s losses, there are a few key components. One is good three-point shooting for their opponent. The other is strong rebounding. Pittsburgh does neither well.

Pittsburgh ranks in the middle of the ACC in both rebounding and three-point percentage, despite shooting the third most threes in the league. If Artis or Young get hot, the Panthers have a chance. Otherwise, it could be a long day for Pittsburgh.

Can Carolina’s starting back court improve on their Miami performance?

A lot of things went wrong against Miami and one of those was the production of the UNC back court. Joel Berry II and Kenny Williams combined to go 1-16 from the field with the one made basket coming from Williams with 22 seconds left in a game that had long been decided.

Additionally, the two went 0-for-9 from three-point range with no shot looking even close to going into the basket. Williams having a bad game is usually not kryptonite for the Tar Heels, but Berry having one is.

Carolina needs a strong performance from its back court to stretch defenses and open up boards and post scoring. If UNC keeps getting production like it did in the Miami game, it will be a long conference season.

Home/UNC Basketball