Where: Humphrey Arena, Starksville, MS
When: Saturday, March 20th, 12:00 PM
TV: ESPN
Records: UNC 17-16, MSU 24-11
This really could be it and to be honest that might be just as well. On paper this game does not bode well for UNC. Mississippi St not only has a great interior player in Jarvis Varnardo but shoots the three extremely well. As a team the Bulldogs shoot 35% from beyond the arc on an average of 25 attempts per game. The bulk of the perimeter shooting comes from four players led by Ravern Johnson at 40%. Johnson, Varnardo and guard Dee Bost all average 13 ppg making the MSU offense very balanced.
UNC facing a team that has solid interior play and shoots the three extremely well is probably the worst match-up possible. Not to mention UNC is not a good road team. Not to mention the hotels in Starksville apparently suck if the players’ Twitter feeds are any indication. The latter really does not matter but the prior points do. This will be a tough win to get given MSU’s strengths. However, the Heels could still find a way if Deon Thompson and Marcus Ginyard continued to raise their level of play. Dexter Strickland had more confidence Tuesday night and Larry Drew appeared to be in greater command of the offense. UNC will also need Will Graves to shake the road game shooting issues to give the Heels a boost in this one. It is also important to remember that if MSU were consistent they might be the NCAAs instead. This is a team capable of losing a game they should not despite the good showings vs Kentucky.
It should be noted that this it the first time UNC has traveled to the state of Mississippi for a game. Hopefully it will be the last.
MSU 74 UNC 65
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“This really could be it and to be honest that might be just as well.”
“It should be noted that this it the first time UNC has traveled to the state of Mississippi for a game. Hopefully it will be the last.”
How much do you dislike Carolina basketball? This site is turning into a big crying towel.
Miss. St. is a pretty good looking team on paper, and otherwise, and was one bucket away from being in the NCAAT. They really only had one bad loss, their first game of the season, and the avg. margin of their 11 losses was 6 pts.+ . So they played pretty close most all year.
Like THF mentioned, they shoot alot of threes, 9/26 for 34.6% over the last 6 games with 3 wins and 3 losses, while averaging 76 PPG. (I mention the last six games mainly to indicate that they have been beatable recently, even when they shoot well from 3) In those same 6 games, though, they have averaged only 40.6% in FG and minus 8 RB’s.
Most of Miss. State’s losses this year have come with scores in the 60′s. This range would be better for UNC, because we likely won’t have the offensive punch to win if they score in the upper 70′s – low 80′s.
The keys are pretty much like always: limit TO’s, rebound well (this will be one of our few possible advantages), and play better perimeter D. Since our inside game is so important, Vanardo really worries me, and we’re going to have to work hard screening him out. Someone is absolutely going to have to hit some outside shots.
If UNC can come out of Starkville with a win today, they will have earned it.
Wouldn’t it be wild if UNC and NC State met in the next round?
Well, this is LD2′s chance to make amends for his “spoiled” comment and then saying he was “bored” while he is getting an all-expense, free ride in college without having to work. He could play with heart and guts and lead the team to a win, and maybe redeem himself in the eyes of fans.
Like Coach Ford says, if you live by the three, you die by the three. Miss St could come out cold.
State is a good model to emulate. Lowe doesn’t have the most talented team, particularly guards, but he has them playing as a team now. They are beating teams that have better players by playing good defense (they have a streak of holding good opponents under sixty points, which makes up for a lot of their mistakes) and executing people to death on offense.
I’m a little scared about what is going to happen when State gets some guards who are ACC-level talent. Even now, in the NIT, I’d be worried just because they’ve fixed a lot of the problems from the 2 UNC blowouts earlier this season, which happened when they were playing their worst ball of the season.
Of course, State and UNC would probably meet … in MSG … it would be great if it was a local game.
^theyd meet in MSG?
theyd meet in Carmichael.
^^LD2′s comments were certainly ill-advised, though I don’t hold them against him the way some do.
But to say he is getting a free ride without having to work (he works plenty for his scholarship) is just flat out incorrect, and I wish this kind of statement would die a quick and proper death.
Wilf,
Chill dude.
” this is LD2’s chance to make amends for his “spoiled” comment ”
or, ADULT fans could grow some skin, man-up and recognize that the statement is true and be thankful that it is … I hope that I am spoiled again in a couple of years!!!!!
Sorry THF, I need positive reinforcement here lately.
^Yeah, but you have to love the results of the “reverse mojo.”
Dang, THF. You nailed Miss. State’s total. Looks like Will Graves and some of our bench players got in your way of nailing UNC’s.
heh