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UNC Basketball vs. Loyola (MD) game preview, info, prediction and more

By Zack Pearson

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 05: Head coach Hubert Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels directs his team against the Elizabeth City State Vikings during the second half of their game at the Dean E. Smith Center on November 05, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels won 83-55. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 05: Head coach Hubert Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels directs his team against the Elizabeth City State Vikings during the second half of their game at the Dean E. Smith Center on November 05, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels won 83-55. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Finally. The UNC Basketball season is here.

Tuesday marks the start of not only a new season but a new era for the North Carolina Tar Heels as it will be head coach Hubert Davis’ first game in charge since taking over from Roy Williams.

UNC is coming off an early exit in the 2021 NCAA Tournament with a loss to Wisconsin but this team is hoping to take a step forward. Back for the Tar Heels is junior center Armando Bacot, a player that could be in the conversation for player of the year in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season. He’s joined by senior Leaky Black, sophomores Caleb Love, R.J. Davis and Kerwin Walton as the key returnees.

But Davis and his staff are welcoming in a talented two-man recruiting class as well as three transfers. And while UNC was able to hit the court for an exhibition last Friday, we finally get to see this team in action for a regular season game.

The Tar Heels will enter this game against Loyola (MD) hoping to come out hot right out of the gate. That’s something they haven’t really done in season-openers in the last two years. Getting out to a hot start not only bodes well for the game, but for their confidence the rest of the way this season.

With that, let’s get into our preview!

Key to Victory for UNC

Feed the post and play your game. UNC enters this game as 24.5 point favorites and should be able to take care of business against the Greyhounds. However, they can’t overlook them and have to come out strong.

For UNC, the key will be playing their game and not trying to do too much. The talent levels aren’t even and if the Tar Heels go to their strengths by feeding the paint and making smart decisions, they should be fine.

That includes going to Armando Bacot, Dawson Garcia and Brady Manek early and often. The trio should be able to dominate in the paint and it’s going to come down to the guards finding them.

Something to Watch

The starting lineup and rotations. That’s probably one of the biggest questions going into this season and will be something to watch moving forward. I believe the lineup will be Caleb Love, R.J. Davis, Kerwin Walton, Dawson Garcia and Armando Bacot. That makes the most sense to me, at least.

But what about the rotations? Will Brady Manek be the first off the bench? Where will Leaky Black come into play? How Davis uses those rotations will be something to watch not only tonight but the rest of the year.

What You Need To Know

WHAT? Loyola (MD) Greyhounds (0-0) AT North Carolina Tar Heels (0-0)
WHEN? Tuesday, November 9 at 7 p.m. ET
WHERE? Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
TV? ACC Network
RADIO? Tar Heels Sports Network
LINE? UNC -24.5
LAST MEETING? 2004. UNC 109, Loyola (MD) 60
ALL-TIME SERIES? UNC leads 2-0
PREDICTION? UNC 102, Loyola (MD) 70

Next. Bacot named to Nasmith watch list. dark

For more on the UNC Basketball program including coverage of this game, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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