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A statistical look at how the second meeting between UNC and Wake Forest will go.
| North Carolina | Wake Forest | |
| Record | 19-7 | 14-12 |
| ACC Record | 9-4 | 4-9 |
| KenPom Rank | 22nd | 117th |
| Points per game | 75.9 | 70.0 |
| Points per possession | 1.07 | 1.02 |
| Offensive Efficiency(Rank) | 110.7(60th) | 104.2(183rd) |
| Defensive Efficiency(Rank) | 92.8(12th) | 100.1(86th) |
| Tempo(Rank) | 71.5(19th) | 68.1(103rd) |
| Offensive eFG% | 48.9% | 49.0% |
| Defensive eFG% | 45.0% | 46.2% |
| Field Goal % | 45.8% | 44.5% |
| 3P FG% | 31.6% | 31.4% |
| Offensive Reb Rate | 38.7% | 31.0% |
| Defensive Reb Rate | 68.9% | 67.9% |
| TO Rate | 17.4% | 18.2% |
| FT Rate | 44.8% | 49.6% |
| KenPom win probability | UNC 90% | |
Stats sources: KenPom and Statsheet
In the new bigger, better(?) ACC it takes UNC until February 22nd to see a team for the second time in the ACC regular season schedule. Four of the next five games will be repeat customers for UNC which probably helps to some extent. Looking back at the Tale of the Tape from the first game there hasn't been a lot of shift in the numbers. UNC's offense is a little worse, Wake's is about the same. UNC's defense is slightly better and Wake's has gotten worse. All the other numbers are still fairly close except for the most important once. Since Wake Forest beat UNC way back January 5th, UNC has one 9-3 while the Demon Deacons have been 3-8. The three wins were over NC State, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame.
One of the problems with the first game was UNC getting offensive rebounds but not turning those into points. The other major issues was Marcus Paige and Leslie McDonald shot poorly despite solid efforts from James Michael McAdoo, J.P. Tokoto and Brice Johnson. Assuming everyone can get on the same page this time, even the prospect of a letdown shouldn't keep UNC from winning for the 20th time this season.