UNC has another quick turnaround, as they are back in action tonight, as they will host Boston College in the Dean Dome. Carolina earned a much needed 78-68 win over Virginia Tech on Monday night, to snap a two-game losing streak. The win improved Carolina’s record to 13-6 overall and 5-3 in the ACC. Entering Monday, the Heels were projected as an 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament, according to Joe Lunardi from ESPN. While that win, may have not have improved their seeding, it keeps them in the field as of right now.
Boston College hasn’t had the type of season they wanted to, as they are just 8-10 on the season, but 3 of their 8 wins have come in ACC play, including having beaten Notre Dame, and Virginia Tech. They only have two players averaging double figures scoring, in Makai Ashton-Langford (13.0) and DeMarr Langford (10.2). Their most recent outing was an 87-57 loss at Wake Forest on Monday, as like Carolina, they are playing their third game in five days.
Like Monday, Carolina doesn’t have a lot to gain, but everything to lose if they were to lose this game. A home loss to BC would all but take them out of the NCAA Tournament as of now, and make it harder to make it into the field, without winning the ACC Tournament. For a team looking for more consistency, tonight is a great opportunity to take another step to attain just that:
Defense: Carolina’s competed as hard as they have all season long on Monday night, and they needed to, as the half-court offense wasn’t at its best. The challenge is now to replicate that same effort, against a team you’ve already blown out. When UNC beat BC 91-65 earlier this month, they held the Eagles to just 20 first-half points, effectively putting the game away early. They didn’t let their guard down in the second matchup against Georgia Tech and earned a blowout win at home. If they compete as they did on Monday, it’s going to be hard for BC to get consistently good looks at the rim.
Finish at the Rim: Carolina got quality looks against the Hokies, but they didn’t convert, as they were just 6-20 on layup attempts. Had they ultimately had lost that game, that would’ve been a big reason why. They still need to pound the ball inside to Bacot and Manek, but they need to convert at a much more efficient rate. The same goes for the guards, as they were in attack mode the other, now they just need to finish at the rim.
Rotation: Hubert Davis only played 8 players the other night, and that was the right decision, as tight as the game was. If this game gets out of hand, we need to see more minutes for both the freshmen, Kerwin Walton and Justin McKoy. McKoy showed the other night, how valuable he will be next season with a much larger role. As for Kerwin Walton, the best version of this team, probably includes him being a bigger piece off the bench.
Series History: UNC is 19-6 all-time against Boston College, and is 17-5 since they joined the ACC. The Tar Heels have won 13 of the last 14 games against the Eagles.
KenPom:
UNC - 38th overall. Adjusted Offensive Efficiency: 114.0 (22nd) Adjusted Defensive Efficiency: 98.6 (82nd)
Boston College - 142nd overall. Adjusted Offensive Efficiency: 104.9 (132nd) Adjusted Defensive Efficiency: 103.1 (167th)
NET:
UNC - 46th.
Boston College - 173rd.
TV Info: Tonight’s game will start at 7 PM, and will air on RSN.
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