UNC Basketball: Where will the Tar Heels rank in ACC?
By Alec Lasley
January (7 games)
Home: Louisville, Notre Dame, no. 10 Virginia Tech
Spending most of their time in January on the road, starting conference play off with two road games, the Heels have back-to-back home games in the third week in January when Louisville and Notre Dame visit Chapel Hill.
The Cardinals, who have exceeded expectations thus far, have a good mix of experience and youth that make up their roster. Chris Mack came to Louisville to play in these types of games and it would be a great jumpstart to ACC play if they could steal one on the road.
They are led by Jordan Nwora, their only double-digit scorer, who averages 17.8 points per game. Though the Cardinals take on a feisty personality from coach Mack, their lack of a scoring punch will come back to haunt them in the Dean Dome.
For Notre Dame, it’s a rebuilding year under Mike Brey even more after losing a senior captain in Rex Pflueger (ACL) for the season.
With a good backcourt of T.J. Gibbs and D.J. Harvey, a combined 27 points per game, their ability to put pressure on Carolina’s backcourt will keep them in the game.
Though the Irish score the ball, they only shoot 43.3 percent from the field as a team and with one of their best defenders now out for the year, their inability to put together multiple scoring runs in the game will eventually give way for the Tar Heels.
The biggest matchup in January comes when the Virginia Tech Hokies travel to Chapel Hill to take on the Tar Heels.
Luckily for Carolina, this is the only matchup with the Hokies on the season.
For Buzz Williams, this is his highest ranking, and best team, since he took over the Virginia Tech program in 2014.
The Hokies, who rank eighth in total defense, give up only 58.1 points per game and will look to shut down the Tar Heels fourth-ranked offense.
With one of the best backcourts in the country, Nickeil Alexander-Walker (18.3 ppg) and Justin Robinson (13.4 ppg), the Hokies are one of the early favorites to battle Duke for the top of the ACC.
Alexander-Walker ranks fifth in the conference in scoring while Robinson leads the ACC in assists per game (6.1), and are supported by Ahmed Hill (13.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg), a versatile guard who can guard multiple positions.
Because this game is at home, I would give the nod to the Tar Heels, but by no means would I be surprised at all if Virginia Tech took this one from the Heels.
Away: Pittsburgh, no. 20 NC State, Miami, Georgia Tech
Starting their ACC slate off with two road games, Pitt and NC State, the Heels will definitely get battle tested early on.
Jason Capel’s first year at Pitt brings with them a 10-3 record, only a couple bounces away from potentially being undefeated.
Welcoming in the Tar Heels as his first ACC game as a head coach, Capel will surely have his guys ready to play.
The Panthers are led by freshman guard Xavier Johnson, who ranks eighth in scoring (16.3 ppg) and third in assists (5.0 apg) in the ACC.
With not a lot of firepower behind him, look for the Tar Heels to take advantage of the youth and start ACC play at 1-0.
Their first big test since Kentucky, the Heels visit ‘rival’ no. 20 N.C. State, who will be looking to avenge last year’s home loss to Carolina.
After beating no. 9 Auburn to put an exclamation point on their non-conference, coach Kevin Keatts has his team playing at an extremely high level.
Their top four scorers all coming from their backcourt, making up 54 percent of their total points, the Carolina guards better be ready to guard as the Wolfpack love to use their athleticism to take guards off the dribble.
One stat to keep an eye on is the three-point shooting. N.C. State is shooting 41.2 percent as a team from deep, good enough for 14th in the country.
A tough road game early in conference season for the Tar Heels, I look for the Wolfpack to take this one and get revenge from last years loss at home.
Miami is in a down year and comes in with a lack of ‘star power’ other than sophomore guard Chris Lykes.
Lykes, who averages 16.6 points per game, will have to have a great game in order for the Hurricanes to win this one.
No real proven scoring threat in the post, the Tar Heels may have to go small ball and just out tough the hard-nosed wings for Jim Larranaga.
Their worst three-point shooting team since the 2013-14 season (34.6 percent), Miami may not be able to shoot their way to victory like they have in the past.
Tar Heels take this one, getting another road win to start ACC play.
Lastly, the Heels visit Georgia Tech to close out January and will come out with a win.
The Yellow Jackets have improved under Josh Pastner, beating Arkansas a couple weeks ago, but lacking a true ‘star’ and their 1-4 record in their last five matchups against Carolina, the Heels will close out January with another win.