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Heels vs Eagles
| North Carolina | Boston College | |
| Record | 17-6 | 9-12 |
| ACC Record | 7-3 | 1-8 |
| KenPom Rank | 12th | 119th |
| Points per game | 78.8 | 64.1 |
| Adj. Off. Efficiency(Rank) | 114.9(12th) | 102.8(152nd) |
| Ad. Def. Efficiency(Rank) | 93.4(36th) | 98.5(110th) |
| Tempo(Rank) | 70.3(15th) | 64.1(236th) |
| Offensive eFG% | 50.4% | 49.3% |
| Defensive eFG% | 43.3% | 48.2% |
| Field Goal % | 46.6% | 43.2% |
| 3P FG% | 33.3% | 31.7% |
| FT% | 69.3% | 68.8% |
| Offensive Reb Rate | 42.4% | 29.0% |
| Defensive Reb Rate | 68.3% | 70.2% |
| TO Rate | 18.6% | 19.8% |
| FT Rate | 38.1% | 33.6% |
Needless to say the numbers between these two teams are pretty far apart but no more so than the records. Boston College has struggled with just one win in nine ACC games and a 9-12 mark overall. In short, the season has not gone well for the Eagles under first year coach Jim Christian.
The overall efficiency numbers for Boston College are fairly pedestrian and as is the case for all teams, they take a hit in conference only games. The Eagles are below 100 in offensive efficiency in ACC play with a defensive efficiency of 111.7. Most of Boston College's numbers are situated in the south end of the rankings with the exception of three point shooting. The Eagles are hitting 35.9% of their threes in ACC play.
Olivier Hanlan is the primary reason for the Eagles' elevated three point shooting. The junior guard is hitting 49% of his threes in ACC play and on Wednesday against Notre Dame, Hanlan his 6-9 on his way to 28 points. Hanlan has just on single digit scoring game this season and leads the Eagles in assists with 4.7 per game. 6-5 guard Aaron Brown is the Eagles other reliable scoring option averaging 14.7 ppg. Brown lit Louisville up for 28 points and five made threes on January 28th. UNC's perimeter defense will be tested by this duo.
While UNC has not played well in the second half of the past two games, this contest is an opportunity to get some solid footing again. The defense has suffered with four straight games of opposing teams going over 100 in offensive efficiency and the past two games with the Heels under 100 on the offensive end. The catch on the defensive end is teams haven't been necessarily shooting lights out. In the past four games, only Virginia managed to shoot over 50%. The other three teams were 44% or worse from the floor.
The issue for UNC has been turnovers. In the past three games UNC has posted a TO% of 20 or worse. Against Syracuse and Louisville the rate was around 25%. Turnovers have been part and parcel to opposing teams getting much easier looks than they might otherwise get. Controlling the turnovers are critical, especially in these types of games UNC cannot afford to lose.