UNC vs. Wofford: Preview, game info, prediction and more
By Zack Pearson
The North Carolina Tar Heels will hit the court just a few days after beating Tennessee on the road
The 2017 non-conference basketball schedule is coming to a close for the North Carolina Tar Heels. On Wednesday, they will host Wofford in their second-to-last non-conference game of the season.
UNC enters the game at 10-1, with their only loss coming to Michigan State in the PK80 Invitational in November.
Since then, they have won five-straight games and are looking to head into Atlantic Coast Conference play on a roll.
Wofford enters on a four-game win streak and is 7-4 overall but just 1-3 in road games this season.
The Terriers are coming into the Dean Dome looking to pull off a big upset and earn their biggest win this year. That’s way easier said than done.
It’s hard picturing Wofford coming into the Dean Dome and giving UNC any trouble at all.
But that’s why they play the games rather than just hand out the winners.
The Tar Heels should dominate on the boards in this one. Wofford comes in averaging just 30.2 rebounds per game this year, good for 343rd in the nation.
Meanwhile, UNC is 4th in the nation averaging 44.1 rebounds per game.
That could very well be the deciding factor in this game.
For the Tar Heels, this is their first game being ranked in the Top 5 this season. They can’t look past the Terriers and ahead to their upcoming game against Ohio State on Saturday.
It would be nice to see them come out sharp and put this one away by halftime, making things easy in the second half. That way they could get their starters and key role players some rest time while Blue Steel goes to work.
One Wofford player to watch..
Fletcher Magee enters the game fresh off a 27-point performance in Wofford’s win over High Point.
Magee is averaging 24.1 points per game this season while playing in 11 contests. The next closest player to his average is Cameron Jackson at 11.8 points per game.
The junior guard out of Orlando is clearly the Terriers best player and will be looking to make plays and keep them in it on Wednesday.
Magee hasn’t missed a free throw all season long and is shooting 58% from the three-point line.
Keeping Magee off the free throw line and not giving him open looks at three-pointers should be the game plan for the Tar Heels on Wednesday.
One UNC player to watch…
Theo Pinson continues to flirt with triple doubles this season.
In UNC’s win over Tennessee, Pinson finished with 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 7 points coming just short of the triple double. It’s something that has happened a few times this season.
Pinson’s ability to be good on both offense and defense is key for North Carolina.
The senior will have another shot at a triple double against Wofford before the competition starts to get tougher in ACC play.
In his last two games, Pinson is shooting just 3-of-9 from the field. So we’d like to see him put up more while on offense against Wofford.
Difference maker…
As noted before, the difference maker in this game will come on the glass.
UNC should dominate Wofford in rebounding, which will lead to a lot of run outs and second chances for the Tar Heels offense. Like UNC teams from the past, this one is continuing the strong play on the boards and it’s paying off.
Wofford’s leading rebounder, Jackson, is averaging just 6.3 rebounds per game this season. He will go up against a Tar Heels front court that has found success in non-conference play.
Luke Maye currently leads the Tar Heels with 10.3 rebounds per game but it’s the team’s depth that will get you.
Sterling Manley (5.6 rebounds), Pinson (5.5) and Garrison Brooks (4.7) are all very good on the glass.
Can Wofford limit UNC’s second chances?
Next: UNC climbs in latest AP Top 25 poll
What you need to know
WHAT? Wofford (7-4, 0-0 in Southern Conference) vs. North Carolina (10-1, 0-0 in ACC)
WHEN? Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 9:00 p.m. ET
WHERE? Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
TV? ESPN2
RADIO? Tar Heel Sports Network
LINE: UNC -24.5
SERIES HISTORY: UNC leads the series 3-0.
PREDICTION? UNC 102, Wofford 65