UNC Basketball: Keeping It Heel Staff Picks vs Clemson

The UNC basketball team will host the Clemson Tigers in what feels like a must-win game on Saturday afternoon.

The UNC basketball season is heading rapidly in the wrong direction.  After a blowout loss at Wake Forest on Tuesday, the Tar Heels have now lost three straight and are in serious danger of missing the NCAA Tournament.  Things don’t get any easier for Carolina down the stretch, and up next is a matchup with a Clemson team that is tied for first place in the ACC.  Will UNC right the ship and bounce back in a game with major “bubble” implications?  Find out what our staff thinks below!

Nick Delahanty

I’m at that point where I can’t honestly pick the Tar Heels to win knowing what they’ve produced as of late.

Until this team lives up to its potential, I don’t feel comfortable predicting them to win any of these upcoming games, which will be a challenge for them as they take on very good opponents.

Prediction: Clemson 81, North Carolina 73

Mark DeMott

I’m done expecting the results on the scoreboard to change without some changes being made on the court.

From what we’ve seen so far this season it has been pretty clear that playing Pete Nance and Armando Bacot on the court together has not produced good enough results.  This is no slight to Nance as a player, it just has not been a good fit, and the team’s record thus far shows that.  It seems clear that the shooting and energy that Puff Johnson brings off the bench would be worth giving a try in the starting lineup.

I also have not seen any consistency in rotations to allow any of the Tar Heel’s bench players to develop a rhythm.  Seth Trimble, Tyler Nickel, and Jalen Washington have all shown that they are capable but don’t know how much (or if at all) they will play on any given night.

With a Clemson team that is physical, deep, and experienced coming into the Smith Center it isn’t hard to picture the Tigers handing UNC a fourth straight loss.  I was encouraged by Armando Bacot’s comments after the Wake Forest game, but I feel that the problems on this team go beyond effort.

Carolina’s roster and staff are more than capable of turning this thing around.  I hope I’m wrong, but until some changes are made, I’ll believe it when I see it.

Prediction: Clemson 76, North Carolina 68

Aaron Conrad

Sorry to be the one to deliver the bad news but I don’t see this team coming out of the tailspin at this point.

I know they had a team meeting. I know they are saying all the right things. It’s mid-February. The time for a team meeting was after they lost 2 straight and were ranked pre-season number one. The time for a team meeting was after they lost 4 in a row and were out of the polls. The time for a team meeting was after Pitt. The time for a team meeting was after Duke. Now it’s just desperate.

Clemson is having a great year. The slide continues.

Prediction: Clemson 89, North Carolina 78

Spencer Schultz

At this point, let’s be realistic. I have a hard time picking UNC to win a game right now, let alone against a team that is tied for the conference lead heading into Saturday.

To really stop the downfall, the Heels absolutely need a win. If not, the preseason No. 1 will miss the NCAA tournament. RJ Davis has struggled shooting the ball lately, so they will need him to bounce back. On the defensive side of things, UNC will have their hands full trying to stop Clemson’s frontcourt.

Prediction: Clemson 73, North Carolina 68

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