Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: NC State vs. North Carolina preview

By Horran Cameron

Jan 8, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Theo Pinson (1) reacts in the second half. The Tar Heels defeated the Wolfpack 107-56 at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Theo Pinson (1) reacts in the second half. The Tar Heels defeated the Wolfpack 107-56 at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 8, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) shakes hands with North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams before the game at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) shakes hands with North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams before the game at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Key Players

NC State: Dennis Smith, Jr.

Dennis Smith Jr.  was a preseason pick for first-team All-ACC and ACC Rookie of the Year. He has a good chance of winning the ACC Player of the Year Award. Smith leads the Wolfpack in points (18.7 points per game) and assists (6.8 assists per game). In regards to the rest of the ACC, Smith leads the conference in steals, ranks fifth in points and has the second-most steals in the league (2.04 steals per game).

In the first matchup, Smith was held to 11 points (he made four of his 11 field goals), five assists, five rebounds and three steals.

Individually, Smith had a subpar game for his standards. Two other Wolfpack players, Torin Dorn and Maverick Rowan, scored in double figures against the Tar Heels. All three players scored the same amount of points and had low field goal percentages.

For NC State to have a chance in this game, Smith has to score between 25 to 35 points and get his teammates involved. The one-year wonder has great deal of talent. His skill set is off the charts. However, his leadership ability remains to be seen. Wednesday’s night matchup with North Carolina will be a great opportunity for Smith to lead his team past one of this season’s best teams.

North Carolina: Justin Jackson

Justin Jackson leads the Tar Heels with 18.7 points per game this season. In addition, he averages 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Jackson’s game has come full circle in three seasons. As a freshman, Jackson was a one-dimensional player who focused solely on scoring. Now, Jackson attains the ability to create his own shot and get other teammates involved in addition to his scoring prowess.

Jackson is a quiet leader. He lets his play do the talking. As long as he scores around 20 points, the Tar Heels have a shot to beat anyone in the nation. In regards to N.C. State, Jackson should have no problem getting to the bucket. At 6’8″, it is difficult to defend a pure shooter and multi-faceted scorer like Jackson. Good luck with that, Wolfpack.

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