UNC vs. UVA: Preview, game info, prediction and more
By Zack Pearson
UNC looks to bounce back as they take on UVA on the road Saturday afternoon
The North Carolina Tar Heels play their second game on this tough two-game road trip Saturday when they invade Charlottesville, Virginia.
UNC is coming off a tough loss to Florida State on the road Wednesday night, dropping their Atlantic Coast Conference record to 1-1 early on. But it doesn’t get much easier for the Tar Heels.
Virginia enters the game at 13-1 overall and 2-0 in the ACC, fresh off a win against in-state rival Virginia Tech.
If you’ve followed ACC basketball for at least a year, you know how Virginia likes to play.
The Cavaliers like to slow down the game and make it a low scoring affair by playing great defense and getting efficient offensive possessions. Sometimes that means taking the shot clock down into single digits.
It may feel boring but it works for the Cavaliers.
Last season, UNC was held to 43 points the entire game. Virginia earned the 53-43 win late in the season at home.
The Tar Heels also haven’t fared well on the road against Virginia. They’ve lost four-straight games at John Paul Jones Arena and look to buck that trend Saturday afternoon.
Virginia enters this game averaging 71.6 points per game which is tied for 251st in the nation compared to the 84.9 UNC is averaging.
The Cavaliers also lead the nation with just 52.7 points allowed per game this season, an astonishing number.
The way for UNC to win this game is to dominate the defensive glass and get out in transition down the court. We’re used to that from the Tar Heels over the years but this year they have struggled at times doing so.
If UNC can’t win on the glass and isn’t shooting well, it could be another long afternoon for them.
One Virginia player to watch..
Sophomore Kyle Guy has really elevated his game this season.
The guard is leading the Cavaliers in points per game (15.5) and three-point shooting percentage (46%) on the season. He’s taken that next step that Cavaliers fans hoped he would.
Guy has the ability to put points up in a hurry and will be someone the Tar Heels can’t let get open for a shot.
If UNC can limit Guy on the perimeter, it will help their chances.
One UNC player to watch….
Theo Pinson hasn’t played as well as we’d all hope he would and that needs to change for the Tar Heels to be successful.
Pinson had another rough game against Florida State, shooting just 2-of-6 for five points in the 81-80 loss. The senior dished out four assists and grabbed three rebounds but it just wasn’t enough to help the Tar Heels.
With Saturday’s game at Virginia being a big one, the hope is that Pinson finally has that big game we are all hoping for. If he can find a way to score in double-digits, grab six rebounds and dish out five assists, the Tar Heels could be a good shape.
Difference maker…
This one is simple: Pace of the game.
The Tar Heels love to get out and run in transition, often leading to easy baskets on the other end of the court. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers love to put the clamps down defensively and force you to hit tough shots.
Rebounding will be key for the Tar Heels. If they can grab some boards on the defensive end and get out and run, they could give the Cavaliers fits and make them adjust.
Saying it is easy but doing it is a little harder.
What you need to know
WHAT? North Carolina (12-3, 1-1 in ACC) vs. Virginia (13-1, 2-0 in ACC)
WHEN? Saturday, January 6th at 1:00 p.m. EST
WHERE? John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia
TV? ESPN (Bob Wischusen and Dick Vitale)
RADIO? Tar Heel Sports Network
LINE? UVA – 5.5
SERIES HISTORY: UNC leads the series 131-54.
PREDICTION? UNC 70, Virginia 64