What: NIT Tip-Off 1st Round
Where: Bobcats Arena, Charlotte, NC
When: November 14th, 7:00 PM
TV: ESPNU
Records: UNC 0-0, Sacred Heart 0-1
In a lifetime of watching UNC play basketball I cannot recall a team I was more anxious to see play than this one. Unfortunately the evil programming directors at the World Wide Leader will keep me away for one night longer. Nevertheless, this is potentially the most exciting version of the Tar Heels we have ever seen. They are deep, they are talented, and they are promising that every game will be a track meet.
Sacred Heart is the first victim opponent UNC faces in regular season play and it will be interesting to see how Roy Williams manages the lineups now that the games count. I imagine there still will be some degree of experimentation that will continue through the first few games. The Pioneers come into this game having already lost on the road at Fordham 70-68. They boast small team with the exeception of seven footer Liam Potter, no one is taller than 6-7. Against Fordham they only shot 38% from the floor and committed 17 turnovers. So UNC will not only enjoy massive depth and speed advantages but should be able to control the boards while shutting down most any kind of offense in the paint.
The question for the Heels going into this one is how the debacle during the last four minutes against Pfeiffer was addressed Roy Williams expressed displeasure over the lack of focus and intensity at the conclusion of that game. I would expect we will see a full blown effort tonight. UNC will be a like an 18 wheeler and unfortunately for Sacred Heart they are a bug.
Prediction: UNC 122 Sacred Heart 77