Where: Dean Smith Center, Chapel Hill, NC
When: Saturday, January 12th, Noon
TV: ESPN
Records: UNC 16-0, 1-0 ACC; NCSU 11-3, 0-0 ACC
No mercy.
And I don't say that because it is NC State on the other side(though that is not a bad idea.) Like Roy I am a little tired of wondering when this team is going to come out and play 40 minutes of basketball with lock down defense and a runaway freight train offensive effort. I can think of no better time to do that than tomorrow at noon.
NC State comes in one of the bigger disappointments of the ACC season despite the 11-3 record. Losses to New Orleans and ECU hurt the team and took expectations south. NCSU's play during the past few wins has been erratic and downright weak on both ends of the floor. The fact the past two games came against one win teams and NCSU has averaged only 52 points does not bode well for them playing the uptempo stylings of UNC. On top of that the Pack have two significant injuries to go along with loss of Farnold Degand at point. UNC will enjoy advantages at the two guard spots as well as on the board. There is a good chance Tyler Hansbrough essentially cancels out J.J. Hickson point wise. The key will be the points coming from UNC's plethora of weapons which should easily out pace NCSU's. The Wolpack's only hope lies in Brandon Costner lighting UNC up from three with Gavin Grant also scoring at will. They will also hope for surprise efforts from the rest of their cast and hope like mad UNC's has an off shooting day.
If the unfocused UNC defense shows up, NCSU might have chances but given the lack of scoring from them this season I imagine the sheer force of UNC's offensive effort will produce more than enough points to win. Conversely should UNC come out with the effort we all have been waiting for then it might be far bloodier than Roy and his five stitches in his head gash.
UNC 98 NCSU 65