Date & Time: Friday, November 28, 2014 @ 8:00pm EST
Location: Imperial Arena at Atlantis Resort in Paradise Island, Bahamas
TV/Radio: AXS TV http://www.axs.tv/subscribe / Tar Heel Sports Network
A fifth place finish in the Battle 4 Atlantis will be on the line Friday night as the fifth-ranked Tar Heels tangle with the #18 Florida Gators. Carolina comes off an impressive 22-point thrashing of #22 UCLA while the Gators came alive late versus UAB to secure a spot in the Consolation Bracket final. The Heels, fresh off an outstanding all-around performance, will look to seize advantage early and speed up the tempo in order to defeat its second ranked opponent in as many days. Florida, on the other hand, has struggled out of the gates this season. Ranked #7 in the AP Preseason 25, Florida fell to Miami 69-67 and barely defeated Univ. of Louisiana-Monroe last week dropping them significantly in the polls. It was another nail-biter for the Gators last night against UAB, but a late 7-0 surge sealed the victory.
Junior sensation Marcus Paige got in rhythm early for the Heels on Thanksgiving night and ended up netting 21 points to lead all scorers. He benefited, as most of the offense did, from Carolina's aggressive defensive approach to the game versus the Bruins. The Heels (4-1, 0-0 ACC) forced 23 Bruins turnovers which led to 31 transition baskets. Look for UNC to clamp down on defense once again and try to speed the contest with the Gators to a fever pitch. Florida (3-2, 0-0 SEC) has not been too flashy on offense this season, only scoring 63.4 pts/gm coming into the matchup with the Heels. Carolina holds a major advantage on paper in the scoring department as the Heels have put up 82.6 pts/gm so far this year. Continuing to work on defense by rebounding strong, getting into the passing lanes, and converting on fast-breaks should be the formula for beating Florida.
Kennedy Meeks and Brice Johnson arrived in the Bahamas feeling really good about their play and, through the first three games, were hands down commanding the Tar Heels charge. However, things have been different for the Carolina big men on the Island. Point production and rebounding numbers have dipped for both and may even be affecting them mentally, especially Johnson. Brice was visibly upset with himself on multiple occasions versus the Bruins (only scoring 4 points with 3 rebounds). Meeks only scored 8 points and, most notably, just grabbed 2 boards. Both players were taken out of the starting lineup Thursday, as Coach Roy Williams decided to shake it up a bit. The Tar Heels bench stepped up to the challenge and displayed the talent and depth on the roster that everyone expected going into the season. Isaiah Hicks and Theo Pinson continue to improve daily and are exuding confidence as they battle for loose balls, rebound, and get out in transition.
What will be a significant storyline for Carolina, as they move deeper into non-conference play, is how Meeks and Johnson will respond on the court. It's not a question that the bench can come in and play noteworthy minutes, it's that the Heels will need solid efforts from all the roster to make this season a much more enjoyable ride. I expect Meeks and Johnson to step up in a tremendous way against the Gators and prove to themselves that they have the skill and heart to battle every night against the best competition and succeed more and more each game. The Heels hold a seven rebound advantage on paper over the Gators (44.8 Heels to 37.6 Gators), so if the Heels can muster a hustling effort like the one versus UCLA, that will go a long way in deciding the outcome Friday night.
Florida is led by Junior guard Michael Frazier II who averages 14.8 pts/gm and 6 reb/gm while Graduate center Jon Horford serves as the man in the middle picking up 11 pts/gm while snatching down 7 reb/gm. Junior Eli Carter has been sidelined in the Bahamas with a sprained left foot, but freshman guard Chris Chiozza has jumped right in as a replacement and played great basketball. Chiozza sparked the Gators against UAB with 13 points, three assists, six steals and was one of the offensive bright spots in a game where Florida trailed with three minutes to go. The Gators offense has been grinding at many moments this season and Florida head coach Billy Donovan recognizes it has been a thin line between wins and losses for his club.
"Some times, offensively, we're getting bogged down, but other times we're getting good looks," said Donovan after the UAB game. "We're 3-2 right now, but we could have won every single game...and we could have lost every single game. That's the reality of it."
Reality also lies in the fact that the Gators face the Heels in less than 9 hours. The Heels lead the all-time series over the Gators 3-2. Tonight's game will be only the second time the two teams have faced off since 1965. If you Tar Heels fans have tried to forget, as I have, the other meeting was 1999-2000 NCAA Final Four where Florida defeated UNC 71-59 (I was devastated in my UNC-CH dorm room). Both head coaches will have a chance at earning coaching milestones this year as Donovan is only 11 wins away from 500 and Coach Williams is only 22 wins away from 750.
Tonight, the winner takes home a slice of solace by salvaging an early-season trip to the Bahamas (Carolina even more because a win would mean the Heels defeated two ranked opponents) with a 2-1 record, even though both squads would love to be in the tournament championship game that pits #2 Wisconsin vs Oklahoma.
A championship will have to wait for now. And, maybe...just maybe...lessons learned here on Paradise Island will usher in opportunities for greater tournament victories down the road. Focus now is on wrestling down the Gators and getting back to Chapel Hill in pretty good shape.
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