The Tar Heels are coming off of an exhilarating and tough win against Miami in Coral Gables. Harrison Barnes provided the heroics with a game winning jumper as the shot clock expired with six seconds left on the clock. Clutch!
Now the Heels must ride that momentum back home to Chapel Hill to face rival NC State (12-8, 2-4 ACC). The Wolfpack have had a disappointed season which was brought to fruition with a loss to Clemson after the Pack had a 19 point lead. Sidney Lowe's is definitely sitting on the proverbial "hot-seat" and is quite possibly a "lame-duck."
The keys to winning this game if you are the Heels is to limit the production of Tracy Smith, who recently returned from knee surgery, and not to allow L.J. Leslie to have a career game. Leslie has recently been removed from the starting lineup, but has the talent to have a big game.
Also of importance will be freshman point guard Kendall Marshall against freshman point guard Ryan Harrow. Both have recently played themselves into the starting lineup, and Marshall needs to control the game more than Harrow for UNC to be given the best opportunity to win.
Finally, UNC has typically allowed other teams to shoot the three very well this season, and they must limit Scott Wood who is a very efficient three-point shooter for State.
Neither UNC or NC State are the powerhouses that Tobacco Road is accustomed to, but UNC should certainly win this ball game.
This game has equal importance to the football team. Not only will the 2010 football team be honored at halftime, but several marquee football recruits will be in town. A good show at the basketball game would go a long ways in making these players Tar Heels.
At any rate, this Tobacco Road match-up should be a very interesting game to watch in Chapel Hill tomorrow. Tip-off is slated for 2:00 and can be viewed on ESPN.
Now the Heels must ride that momentum back home to Chapel Hill to face rival NC State (12-8, 2-4 ACC). The Wolfpack have had a disappointed season which was brought to fruition with a loss to Clemson after the Pack had a 19 point lead. Sidney Lowe's is definitely sitting on the proverbial "hot-seat" and is quite possibly a "lame-duck."
The keys to winning this game if you are the Heels is to limit the production of Tracy Smith, who recently returned from knee surgery, and not to allow L.J. Leslie to have a career game. Leslie has recently been removed from the starting lineup, but has the talent to have a big game.
Also of importance will be freshman point guard Kendall Marshall against freshman point guard Ryan Harrow. Both have recently played themselves into the starting lineup, and Marshall needs to control the game more than Harrow for UNC to be given the best opportunity to win.
Finally, UNC has typically allowed other teams to shoot the three very well this season, and they must limit Scott Wood who is a very efficient three-point shooter for State.
Neither UNC or NC State are the powerhouses that Tobacco Road is accustomed to, but UNC should certainly win this ball game.
This game has equal importance to the football team. Not only will the 2010 football team be honored at halftime, but several marquee football recruits will be in town. A good show at the basketball game would go a long ways in making these players Tar Heels.
At any rate, this Tobacco Road match-up should be a very interesting game to watch in Chapel Hill tomorrow. Tip-off is slated for 2:00 and can be viewed on ESPN.
