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UNC Basketball vs Michigan: Game preview, info, prediction & more

By Marcos Chisholm

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 15: Eric Jamison Jr. #2 of the Gardner-Webb Runnin Bulldogs fouls Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on November 15, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 15: Eric Jamison Jr. #2 of the Gardner-Webb Runnin Bulldogs fouls Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on November 15, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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UNC basketball prepares to square off against Michigan in second round Thanksgiving matchup of the 2019 Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis

After defeating Alabama 76-67 in the first round of the 2019 Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis, the North Carolina Tar Heels (5-0) are set to play the Michigan Wolverines (5-0) on Thursday afternoon for a spot in the tournament’s title game.

Establishing themselves as one of college basketball’s most offensively efficient teams, the Wolverines currently are averaging 84.4 points per game this season. Michigan also ranks 28th among all teams in 3-point shooting, scoring 9.8 shots beyond the arc per game.

Both teams have had weak schedules leading into this matchup. Respectively, North Carolina and Michigan have had the 122nd and 161st most difficult schedules through their first five games, and both programs will face their hardest tests so far this season.

Key to the game for UNC

Considering the fact Michigan lacks roster depth and defensive solutions for forcing a high number of turnovers, North Carolina will need to embrace the DNA of its best teams from recent years.

Previous Tar Heel teams that featured Coby White and Joel Berry seized countless scoring opportunities from turnovers and in transition scenarios, and utilizing similar tactics will likely apply pressure to the small Michigan rotation that has played a lot of minutes and has yet to play its best defense this season.

Freshman stand-out Cole Anthony has played his best basketball in set offenses that have surprisingly reduced North Carolina’s number of team possessions — the Tar Heels ranked seventh in team possessions across the NCAA in 2018-2019, and they currently rank 48th. Pushing the tempo will serve as a major advantage for North Carolina this afternoon.

Player to watch

Garrison Brooks posted his best performance of the season on Wednesday against the Crimson Tide with a team-leading 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Although Michigan’s frontcourt will pose a greater challenge to Brooks’ dominance in the paint, the Wolverines are 129th in rebounding margin across the NCAA.

Brooks’ affinity for high-efficiency, second-chance points from offensive rebounds can add a high-level of physicality that the Tar Heels lacked in their 84-67 loss to Michigan in Ann Arbor last year.

Through five games, Garrison Brooks is currently on pace to double his freshman season’s number of blocks and steals per game. Should his value on defense continue to rise, North Carolina’s starting center could force Michigan to play on the perimeter for the majority of today’s game.

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What you need to know

What? No. 5 North Carolina 5-0 (1-0 in ACC) vs Michigan 5-0 (0-0 in Big Ten)
When? Thursday, November 28, 1:30 p.m. EST
Where? Imperial Arena – Nassau, Bahamas
TV? ESPN
Radio? Tar Heels Sports Network
All-time series? UNC leads 4-3
Last meeting? Michigan won 84-67 (November 28, 2018)
Prediction? UNC 71, Michigan 63

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