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| North Carolina | Wake Forest | |
| Record | 10-3 | 10-3 |
| ACC Record | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| KenPom Rank | 21st | 84th |
| Points per game | 80.1 | 75.6 |
| Points per possession | 1.09 | 1.06 |
| Offensive Efficiency(Rank) | 111.8(42nd) | 103.3(180th) |
| Defensive Efficiency(Rank) | 93.3(18th) | 95.9(37th) |
| Tempo(Rank) | 72.2(27th) | 70.0(79th) |
| Offensive eFG% | 50.3% | 49.8% |
| Defensive eFG% | 43.6% | 43.8% |
| Field Goal % | 47.4% | 45.1% |
| 3P FG% | 34.6% | 33.8% |
| Offensive Reb Rate | 37.4% | 34.6% |
| Defensive Reb Rate | 68.5% | 73.6% |
| TO Rate | 17.3% | 17.2% |
| FT Rate | 52.9% | 47.2% |
| KenPom win probability | UNC 64% | |
Stats sources: KenPom and Statsheet
Somewhat surprisingly these two teams have some really similar numbers, besides the record of course. Both teams are solid on the defensive end and do a great job limiting opposing teams eFG%. Both teams also struggle at the free throw line. UNC is 332nd from the free throw line shooting 62.4%. Wake Forest is just three spots behind at 61.9%. And like UNC, the Demon Deacons get to the line as a decent clip. Taking all of that into consideration for a conference opener on Sunday night, there is at least a decent chance this is game is going to be weird, ugly and an absolute toss-up.
A couple of numbers that really jump out concerning Wake Forest's defense is offensive rebounding rate allowed and opponent's three point shooting. Wake is 19th nationally limiting opponent to just 26.4% on offensive rebounds while opponents are shooting just 28.1% from three against the Demon Deacons. The rebounding number is probably a bigger concern for UNC than the three point shooting defense simply because that is not a focal point of the Tar Heel offense.
The caveat with Wake's numbers is their schedule has been really weak. KenPom has Wake's non-conference strength of schedule at 314th versus 116th for UNC. The Demon Deacons have played five teams ranked in the 300s by KenPom with a fifth opponent ranked 260th. KenPom does adjust the efficiency numbers to account for the strength of the opponent but the point remains. Wake's 10-3 is not the same as UNC's 10-3. For the record, UNC and Wake also share two common opponents. Wake has wins over Richmond and UNC Greensboro by ten and eight points respectively.