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

By Brandon Griffin

Jan 31, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams reacts in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams reacts in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Three Questions

Jan 31, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers forward Jamel Artis (1) with the ball as North Carolina Tar Heels forward Kennedy Meeks (3) defends in the second half. The Tar Heels defeated the Panthers 80-78 at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers forward Jamel Artis (1) with the ball as North Carolina Tar Heels forward Kennedy Meeks (3) defends in the second half. The Tar Heels defeated the Panthers 80-78 at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Can North Carolina match-up with Notre Dame’s Small Ball?

Pitt ran the small ball lineup to perfection against North Carolina. The Panthers hit 13 threes against the Tar Heels, a season-high allowed by UNC.

The three ball can be an equalizer in a world of height in basketball. With no starter taller than 6-foot-8 and a 6-foot-5 center, the Irish are well equipped to test that theory.

With Theo Pinson out again, the Tar Heels are not as well equipped to go small. However, if it becomes a problem, Roy Williams may be forced to give players like Nate Britt and Seventh Woods more minutes. No Tar Heel fan is overly excited to see that.

Can UNC wear down Notre Dame’s shorter rotation?

Notre Dame plays four guys at least 30 minutes per game, including three who average more than 33. They also have only seven guys who play 9 or more minutes per game.

The Tar Heels on the other hand, have 11 guys (one is injured) who play at least nine minutes a game and only one who plays more than 30.

When games are quick, like UNC wants to play, shorter rotations can be a problem. This is partly why the Tar Heels outscored the Irish 166 to 121 in their last two match-ups in 2016.

Can the Tar Heel’s perimeter defense step up?

In three of UNC’s last four games, a guard has gone off on them. The Tar Heels are 2-1 in said games, but this is still concerning. The three guards are averaging 29 points a game on a combined 30-for-43 from the field. They are also hitting 71 percent of their shots behind the arc.

These three guys are also all young players, two of them being freshmen. Part of this has to do with Pinson being out, but one of the scoring performances happened before he went down with an injury.

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