Carolina Returns Home to Welcome Iowa in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Matchup:        #12 North Carolina (5-1, 0-0 ACC) vs Iowa Hawkeyes (5-2, 0-0 Big Ten)
Date/Time:     Wednesday, December 3, 2014 @ 7:30pm EST
Location:         Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, NC
TV/Radio:       ESPN and ESPN3 / Tar Heel Sports Network

By the time the Tar Heels take the court Wednesday night to host the Iowa Hawkeyes, the ACC/Big Ten Challenge will already be in full swing and Carolina hopes to continue its decade-long dominance in the event.  Under Coach Roy Williams, UNC holds an impressive 9-3 record (including last year's upset of #1 ranked Michigan State) and has won 7 of its last 10 early season matchups versus its Big Ten counterparts.  The Heels are set to play the Hawkeyes for the first time in this heralded showdown of two Power-5 conferences.  Iowa looks for its first signature win of the season while Carolina focuses on building off a strong finish in the Bahamas last weekend.

The most talked about storyline going into the game is the reunion of Preseason All-American Marcus Paige with a couple of his former AAU teammates during his high school years.  Paige's hometown is Marion, Iowa (located about 35 miles from the Hawkeyes campus in Iowa City) and he grew up playing with Mike Gesell and Adam Woodbury on the AAU circuit.  However, in this new spotlight, old friends will turn to bitter enemies...at least for 40 minutes Wednesday evening in the Smith Center.

Gesell and Woodbury are part of a strong returning group for the Hawkeyes (5-2, 0-0 Big Ten).  Iowa brings back four starters to a team that went 20-13 last season and gained an NCAA Tournament appearance (bowing out to Tennessee in the 1st Round).  Given the loss of last year's leading scorer, Roy Devyn Marble, the team began the season searching for another go-to guy and it seems that player was found.  Senior forward Aaron White has been phenomenal for the Black and Gold in the first seven games of its season.  White paces the squad in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.7 pts/gm and 7.6 reb/gm.  It has been White's ability to knock down 2-pt field goals (58.7%) and convert on the the free-throw line (85.4%) that is making him a tremendously dynamic player on the court.

The Tar Heels (5-1, 0-0 ACC) frontcourt defense will be tested by, not only White, but a much larger group of athletes in the post than UNC has seen this year so far.  Coach Williams' steady rotation of Kennedy Meeks, Brice Johnson, Isaiah Hicks, and occasional use of Joel James and Desmond Hubert could definitely be a focal point for Carolina success.  Using its depth on the front line, Carolina may be able to counter-attack the beef and inside presence the Hawkeyes possess.  That is easier said than done because Iowa's average height ranks #6 in the country, boasting 6'9", 6'10", and 7'1" giants.  The Heels learned a lesson in rebounding when it was dominated on the boards by Butler.  Expect Carolina to be more aware and instinctively react to boxing out its opposition.

Both teams would love to cut down on turnovers as the two average over 13 turnovers/game. And, in a game where I would expect an up-tempo style of play, turnovers will definitely play a crucial part in the favorable outcome for one and the demise of another.  Carolina stepped up its transition game versus UCLA and Florida over the weekend, effectively opening up big leads with its defensive pressure and skill of running the court for easy baskets.  Junior guard Gesell runs the point for Iowa and he has been efficient with the baskeball, dishing out a total of 29 assists to only 11 turnovers.  The defensive committee of Nate Britt, Paige, and Joel Berry II (mix in a little Theo Pinson and J.P. Tokoto) will need to buckle down on the defensive end to create disruption and confusion for the Iowa backcourt which should enable the Heels to get out on the fast break more often.  And, of course, rebounding missed shots and passing the ball quickly inbounds after an opponents made basket should serve as an effective tool in speeding the game up and pleasing Coach Williams.

Isaiah Hicks blossomed in the Bahamas and should see more playing time at forward.  His quick, nifty moves in the post and all-around hustle raised eyebrows in the Carolina Faithful and lead many to believe this will force Brice Johnson to compete even harder for the most minutes at the forward position.  If Hicks stepping to the forefront can push Johnson to be better (and we all know Brice has great athletic ability and can get the job done), then the Tar Heels become even better downlow and a tougher win for the opposing teams.  As the season progresses, if Meeks, Johnson, and Hicks can all raise themselves to the maximum effort level on the court, Carolina should benefit immensely in the win column.

Maximum effort and aggressiveness is what the coaches and fans want out of ALL the players and freshman sensation Justin Jackson has been ramping up his effort all season long.  It looks as if Jackson is starting to become even more comfortable in taking that next step.  Coach Williams believes Jackson is ready.  Averaging 11.7 pts/gm, shooting 50% from the field, and 82.4% from the Free-Throw line, look for Jackson to search out his shot more and more while utilizing stronger moves to the basket that could potentially get him to the charity stripe (a place where he excels).

Paige leads the Heels, scoring 15.2 pts/gm and his on-and-off the court leadership has proven extremely beneficial so far this season.  Expect Paige to fight for open looks early as he will want to perform well against his AAU buddies from Iowa.  Paige loves the big stage and I am sure he will take every opportunity to splash a few threes and driving layups in the faces of his friends...or should I say, foes.

It's like a sibling rivalry.

Iowa's Gesell remarked, "It's kind of like a competition with your brother.  You love each other, but once you get into a competition, you hate each other, and you're going to do anything you can to beat him."  Gesell said, "After the game, you're going to be best friends again."

Paige and a few of the Iowa players may share their AAU bond, but it's the Carolina Family and Tradition that molds Paige right now. And, Paige is just focused on doing all he can to lead the Heels to a banner season.

Carolina is 1-2 all-time versus the Hawkeyes, winning the latest game against Iowa back in the championship game of the 2004 Maui Invitational.  Iowa won the other contests, one in Chapel Hill and the other in Iowa City, against ranked UNC teams.  Carolina hopes to end that particular trend on Wednesday as it enters the matchup ranked 12th in the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches polls.

UNC Athletics will be Turning it Green for the Iowa game.  Every fan in attendance will receive a REPREVE "Turn it Green" shirt with a Carolina Blue NC logo as part of an initiative to bring awareness and education about the importance of recycling among students, faculty, fans, and alumni.  All cheerleaders, band members, and even Rameses will "Turn it Green" by wearing REPREVE shirts.  UNC Athletics will become the first collegiate athletics program to join REPREVE's Turn it Green movement.