Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Basketball vs Michigan: Tar Heels face Wolverines in ACC/B1G Challenge

By Davis Wallace

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 22: Nassir Little #5 and Luke Maye #32 of the North Carolina Tar Heels stand on the court during their game against th eTexas Longhorns during the 2018 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 22, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Texas defeated North Carolina 92-89. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 22: Nassir Little #5 and Luke Maye #32 of the North Carolina Tar Heels stand on the court during their game against th eTexas Longhorns during the 2018 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 22, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Texas defeated North Carolina 92-89. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The No. 11 ranked Tar Heels travel to Ann Arbor to battle the No. 7 Wolverines in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Wednesday

The North Carolina Tar Heels take their 6-1 record to Ann Arbor on Wednesday night against the 6-0 Michigan Wolverines, both teams looking to help their conference win this year’s challenge.

It’s a matchup that rarely occurs as this will be just the seventh all-time meeting. In 2017, the teams matched up for the ACC/B1G Challenge which resulted in an 86-71 Carolina victory. The Tar Heels are 4-2 all-time against the Wolverines, including winning the 1993 National Championship against the Fab Five.

The Tar Heels’ game against Michigan will be their second real test of the season, and this continues the stretch of tough games against Gonzaga and Kentucky.

The Wolverines are coming off an impressive road win against the National Champions, Villanova Wildcats. They held the Wildcats to just 31 percent from the field, 20 percent from three-point range, and 46 overall points.

North Carolina expects junior point guard, Seventh Woods to clear the concussion protocol, and to play important minutes on Wednesday night.

Key to the game for North Carolina

North Carolina needs to continue to shoot the ball well from three-point range. In the victory against UCLA, the Tar Heels shot 47.8 percent from long-range, while four players made at least two from beyond the arc.

The Tar Heels need to protect the ball against this aggressive Wolverine defense. In North Carolina’s lone loss of the season, they committed 17 turnovers.

Let the freshmen create easy opportunities for the seniors. Coby White had a coming out party against Texas with 33 points and just two turnovers. He followed that up with 19 points and eight assists against UCLA. Nassir Little had 11 points and six rebounds against Texas, then posted 14 points and four rebounds against UCLA.

If these freshmen can keep this up, Luke Maye and Kenny Williams will get easier looks at the basket.

Win the offensive rebounding battle. It did not happen against UCLA, but Tar Heels will need to capitalize on more offensive rebounds to create more second-chance points opportunities against this dangerous Wolverines.

Key to the game for Michigan

Michigan is really good at taking away a team’s best attribute. Expect the Wolverines to slow down North Carolina’s tempo and spread them out beyond the three-point arc.

The Wolverines also hoist up plenty of shots and attack the rim as they average over 20 free-throw attempts per game. Look for them to get Garrison Brooks, and Sterling Manley in foul trouble early and often.

Mo Wagner, Duncan Robinson, and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman are all gone now. Michigan needs big performances from Charles Matthews Jordan Poole and Ignas Brazdeikis if they want to continue their winning ways.

What you need to know

What? UNC (6-1) at Michigan (6-0)
When? Wednesday, November 28 – 9 pm EST
Where? Crisler Center – Ann Arbor, Michigan
TV? ESPN
Radio? Tar Heels Sports Network
All-Time series? North Carolina leads 4-2
Prediction? UNC 79-75

Home/UNC Basketball