Heart medication has been a must for UNC Basketball fans this season.
The Tar Heels have lived on close games, nearly falling to Notre Dame on Saturday before Elliot Cadeau's miraculous last-minute four-point play. In Tuesday's game against SMU, the teams' first-ever ACC matchup, UNC will look to finally find its rhythm.
With the team currently on the bubble, every game the rest of the way is important. And facing a middle-of-the-road conference opponent at home can be just the opportunity UNC needs to display consistency.
2024-2025 Season
North Carolina Tar Heels
Overall Record: 9-6
Conference Record: 2-1
Home Record: 5-1
Away Record: 2-2
Neutral Site Record: 2-3
SMU Mustangs
Overall Record: 11-3
Conference Record: 2-1
Home Record: 7-2
Away Record: 1-1
Neutral Site Record: 3-0
Key Players
North Carolina
RJ Davis (Gr. Guard) - 17.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists
Ian Jackson (Fr. Guard) - 14.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 0.7 assists
Seth Trimble (Jr. Guard) - 14.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists
SMU
Boopie Miller (Jr. Guard) - 15.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists
Chuck Harris (Sr. Guard) - 11.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Matt Cross (Sr. Forward) - 10.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Keys to Victory for North Carolina
Defense. Defense. Defense.
The Tar Heels have been pitiful on the defensive end to start the year, ranking second-to-last in the ACC in scoring defense. UNC allows over 79 points per game, a major component in its stuggles this season.
SMU boasts the top scoring offense in the conference, putting up over 85 points per game on its opponents. The Mustang offense is built on the three-pointer as it converts on 38% of its triples, tops in the conference.
In what will likely be a high-scoring affair, UNC will need to mimic the defensive intensity it showed in the first half of Saturday's game to earn the ACC win.
Something to Watch For
Can UNC finally play a full 40 minutes?
The Tar Heels have struggled, to say the least, in the first halves of games. North Carolina consistently finds itself in a hole it can't dig out of. On Saturday, UNC played a quality first half before floudering down the stretch.
If the Tar Heels want to compete in the ACC and nationally, they will need to find a way to play two halves of elite basketball. Tuesday's game will give them another chance to prove that they can.
Projected Starters
No. 3 Elliot Cadeau (So. 6'1)
No. 4 RJ Davis (Gr. 6'0)
No. 9 Drake Powell (Fr. 6'6)
No. 11 Ian Jackson (Fr. 6'4)
No. 13 Jalen Washington (Jr. 6'10)