UNC Basketball: Staff Picks @ Pittsburgh

The UNC Basketball team will remain in ACC play for the remainder of the regular season, beginning with Friday’s game at Pittsburgh.

After an up-and-down non-conference slate, the UNC basketball team heads into the heat of conference play for the rest of the season beginning with Friday’s game at Pitt.  The Heels are 1-1 in ACC play thus far, losing at Virginia Tech and beating Georgia Tech at home earlier this month.

Carolina will look to get their tenth win of the season and improve their conference record against the Panthers, who stunned UNC in Chapel Hill last year.  Pitt is off to a solid start to the year, sitting at 2-0 in ACC play (with both wins on the road) while winning eight of their last nine games.

Will the Heels close out the calendar year on a high note and get some revenge on Pitt for last year’s loss?  Find out what our staff thinks below!

Nick Delahanty

The UNC basketball program has looked a lot better of late, as they’ve gone back to their roots by running the offense through the post.

Armando Bacot has been flat-out dominant over the team’s four-game winning streak, and with some extra rest thanks to the holiday break, we should see the senior big man closer to full health as well.

The game plan should be very simple: stick with the formula that’s been working.

If the Tar Heels get Bacot going early and often, I expect them to finish 2022 on a good note.

Prediction: North Carolina 78, Pittsburgh 67

Mark DeMott

Road games in conference play are never easy, and this year’s Pittsburgh team appears to be improved from the team that upset the Heels in the Smith Center last year.  The Panthers have been known for their physical style ever since Head Coach Jeff Capel took over, and they will likely try to “rough it up” with UNC tomorrow afternoon.

However, this group of Tar Heels has learned a lot about high-level physical basketball since last February.  I expect Carolina to come out with a chip on their shoulder and look to prove a point after what happened last season.  This group of Heels tends to embrace playing on the road in a “villain” role, and they should show it tomorrow.

One thing to look out for tomorrow is the defense of Leaky Black, who will likely be matched up with Pitt’s leading scorer, Blake Hinson.  Black has had some times where he hasn’t been at his best defensively thus far, but I expect him to embrace his role and disrupt the Panthers’ offense on Friday.  Armando Bacot could be in for another big day as well, as Pitt center John Hugley’s status for tomorrow’s game is uncertain at this point.

I think Carolina will play well and pick up their first road win in ACC play.

Prediction: North Carolina 82, Pittsburgh 70

Aaron Conrad

Pitt has played one of the lightest schedules in college hoops. Yes, they beat NC State and Syracuse but neither of them are ranked or top competition. Even in the tougher games they have won, the margin of victory is very slim.

Add to that the Heels have had a week off and this one stung last year. I look for UNC to come out strong and win this one going away.

Prediction: North Carolina 95, Pittsburgh 74

Spencer Schultz

North Carolina will need to contain Pittsburgh’s outside shooting, as they make 9.1 threes per contest. As we know, that’s always been UNC’s biggest problem. On the contrary, let’s see if the Heels can start to shoot the ball better. They’ve shot just 30.7% from behind the arc, led by Caleb Love’s struggles.

On the road, don’t expect this to be an easy win for the Tar Heels.

Prediction: North Carolina 74, Pittsburgh 70

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