UNC Basketball: Where will the Tar Heels rank in ACC?
By Alec Lasley
February (8 games)
Home: no. 20 NC State, Miami, no. 4 Virginia, no. 9 Florida St, Syracuse
After a January that was spent more on the road than at home, it is the opposite for the month of February as five games are at the Dean Dome.
Less than a month after traveling to Raleigh, the Tar Heels get the Wolfpack in Chapel Hill.
After dropping that game on the road, I look for the Tar Heels to even up the season series and get revenge on the earlier loss, defending their home court.
Another rematch of an earlier game, Miami travels north this time to visit the Tar Heels.
Though the arena is different, the result stays the same and the Heels get on a groove winning a couple in a row.
The second no. 4 ranked team the Heels play this season will be Virginia. Much like the first game against the no. 4 Gonzaga, Carolina plays host.
The Cavaliers are on a revenge tour after becoming the first no.1 seed to ever lose to a no. 16 seed last year, and returned almost their entire roster.
Led by an almost lock of a lottery pick in De’Andre Hunter, the Cavs have a three-pronged attack with Hunter, Ty Jerome, and Kyle Guy all averaging over 14 points per game.
Hunter’s versatile skillset allows the Cavs to go small or big and still cause matchup problems for opponents.
With the addition of hybrid forward Braxton Key (6.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Virginia has all of the tools to take the ACC crown.
Carolina’s inability to respond to a gut punch and their impatience on the offensive end at times isn’t a good mix when the Hoo’s come to town. Virginia will continue its great record over the Tar Heels in the past five years as the Heels drop one at home.
Florida State marks the fourth game of a tough five-game stretch for the Tar Heels, but like Virginia Tech, this battle will be taking place just once and in Chapel Hill.
The no. 9 ranked Seminoles have great depth and versatility all over the roster, shown by seven players averaging over seven points per game. They also have 11 players playing over 10 minutes a game.
With the addition of senior forward Phil Cofer (12.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg in ’17-’18) has only played two games this season due to injury but should be back in full form by the time these two meet.
With this game most likely going down to the wire, the Seminoles lack a go-to player when they need a bucket, and it will come back to bite them in Chapel Hill.
Rounding out their games in February is Syracuse. The Orange, who was a final four sleeper by many analysts, have struggled to jumpstart their season.
A disappointment in the non-conference, Jim Boeheim’s roster once again lacks a big man and will struggle on the boards against the Tar Heels.
Oshae Brissett keeps showing NBA scouts what he can’t do instead of what he can, continuing to shy away from the paint and float around the perimeter. Shooting on 38 percent on the year, Brissett needs to focus on his strengths in order for the Orange to have success in the conference.
Thus Battle (18.0 ppg) and Elijah Hughes (14.8 ppg) both lead the attack on the wing for Boeheim.
The Heels find a groove and outshoot the 2-3 zone, keeping the Orange still in the bubble conversation.
Away: Louisville, Wake Forest, no. 1 Duke
The Tar Heels head to the state of Kentucky to finish off their season series with Louisville.
The KFC Yum Center will be packed for this one as the Cardinals are in the NCAA Tournament push, and with the support of the crowd, the Cards sneak this one out.
The Tar Heels always lose one they ‘should’ win and a loss at Louisville wouldn’t be a bad loss either, just a show that even an unranked opponent in the ACC is a tough out.
Danny Manning welcomes the Tar Heels to Winston-Salem for their only meeting on the season.
On the hot seat, Manning will need this game to help decide his fate. Unfortunately, he won’t get it. The Tar Heels, after a loss at home to Virginia, will bounce back and beat the Demon Deacons easily to get back on track.
The matchup everyone has been waiting for as the Heels take the 8-mile trek to Durham to visit Duke. No need to introduce the freshman for the Blue Devils, as Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett and Tre Jones will be a tough matchup for the Heels.
The x-factor will be whether or not Cameron Reddish will be out of his slump. Averaging 13.5 points on just 37 percent shooting, Reddish is either on fire or a non-factor in the Blue Devils’ games.
This matchup has been a regular season split each of the last three seasons and will end that way this year as well. The Tar Heels lose this one.