UNC Basketball vs. NC State: Game preview, info prediction and more

The UNC basketball program returns to the court on Saturday with just three games left this season and they need not to only stack wins but avoid any bad losses. And Saturday would be considered a bad loss.

UNC heads down the road to Raleigh to take on N.C. State in the second meeting between the two teams as the season begins to wind down. The Tar Heels won the first meeting handily 100-80 back on January 29th, leading from the start and never looking back.

And while NC State is tied for last in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Tar Heels can’t take them lightly.

The Wolfpack will be playing to spoil UNC’s tournament bid as a loss on Saturday would pretty much force the Tar Heels to win the upcoming conference tournament to get it. The loss would be what we call a “bad” one for the resume, and their second of those in two weeks.

Going into this game, it’s clear that UNC is the better team. However, it is a road conference game and UNC has had their troubles with those games this season.

NC State enters this matchup losing seven of their last eight with the lone win coming at Georgia Tech last week. The Wolfpack are led by sophomore guard Dereon Seaborn who is averaging 18 points and 3.2 assists per game, both team highs. He’s also leading the team in field goal percentage at 51.5. UNC was able to hold him in check last time they met, as he scored just two points on 1 of 6 shooting.

The guard play will be a big story in this one as UNC will need Caleb Love and R.J. Davis to show up and play their best. When they do, UNC is a tough team to beat but when they struggle, the team overall seems to struggle.

Key to Victory

Play your game. Not much more else to this. The Tar Heels enter the game as the better team and have already beaten the Wolfpack once this season. While upsets do happen and UNC needs to be careful, playing how the Tar Heels want to play with transition and getting the ball to Armando Bacot should get them the win.

They can’t fall behind early in this one and let the crowd get into it. Come out, execute the game plan and get out of Raleigh with a big win.

Something to Watch

Caleb Love. He’s been up and down this season so far and UNC is going to need him to play his best if they want to come away with a win and continue their season. The guard had a big day in the win over Virginia Tech but struggled early against Louisville. He did make some plays down the stretch in that one, but UNC needs it all game long.

Projected Starting Lineup

No. 4 R.J. Davis (So., 6-0, 175) – 13.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.4 apg
No. 2 Caleb Love (So., 6-4, 195) – 15.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.6 apg
No. 1 Leaky Black (Sr., 6-8 200) – 4.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.5 apg
No. 45 Brady Manek (Sr. 6-9, 230) – 13.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.7 apg
No. 5 Armando Bacot (Jr., 6-10, 240) – 16.2 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 1.6 bpg

What To Watch For

WHAT?  North Carolina Tar Heels  (20-8, 12-5 ACC) AT NC State Wolfpack (11-17, 4-13 ACC)
WHEN? Saturday, February 26 – 2:00 p.m. CST
WHERE? PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina
TV? ESPN
RADIO? Tar Heels Sports Network
LINE? N/A
LAST MEETING? UNC defeated NC State 100-80 on January 29th
ALL-TIME SERIES? UNC leads all-time 116-58
PREDICTION? UNC 80, NC State 70

For more on the UNC basketball program, including this game please check back with Keeping it Heel.