NCAA Tournament: UNC bold predictions for the Sweet 16

Theo Pinson holds Malik Monk to single-digits.

We all want to forget what happened the first time Carolina and Kentucky met.

Malik Monk had an out-of-this-world game, and dropped a cool 47 on the Heels, including the go-ahead three pointer. He had a great first half, and he did not cool down during the break. Monk was sensational.

But the Tar Heels did not have their best perimeter defender. Theo Pinson was still recovering from a foot injury that kept him sidelined for the first half of the year.

Maybe Pinson would not have made that much of a difference, but it is hard to believe Monk would score that many on both Pinson and Kenny Williams. Pinson would have been another fresh body to rotate on Monk, plus Pinson has a little more length than Williams does.

Pinson has become known for his glue guy tendencies, but his defense is still one of the underrated parts of his game. He has the length to throw off smaller guards, but the quickness to stay will small forwards.

UCLA will have something to say about the rematch, but seeing Pinson matched up with Lonzo Ball could be the thing that shuts ol’ Lavar Ball up.

Pinson will match up with Malik Monk in the Elite 8, hold him to single-digits, and the Heels will move on to their second straight Final Four.