Carolina Freshmen Lead the Way as the Heels Pound the Yellow Jackets, 81-49

North Carolina needed to build momentum as it headed towards the final game of the regular season and directly into ACC Tournament time.  Tuesday night, the Tar Heels did just that by inflicting a straight-up whooping on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, 81-49.  UNC was led by two freshmen in scoring as Joel Berry II poured in a career-best 15 points and Justin Jackson added 13 to pace another great shooting effort by the Carolina offense.  The 19th-ranked Heels would make 53% of their shots on the evening, 34-of-64, and cruise for most of the way over a beat-down and depleted Yellow Jackets team.  Carolina (21-9, 11-6 ACC) plowed through the Jackets winning by its largest margin ever against Georgia Tech in Atlanta and now have won back-to-back contests for the first time since late January.  The decisive victory secured at least a fifth seed in the ACC Tournament next week for the Heels, with the possibility still remaining for a coveted spot in the top-four.  The Yellow Jackets (12-18, 3-15) seemed listless all night long and wrapped up their ACC season with a fourth loss in a row.  Only three minutes into the game, Jackets' leading scorer Marcus Georges-Hunt suffered a severely sprained right ankle and never returned.

Carolina took full advantage of a trodden-down Yellow Jackets squad and picked up the pace a third of the way through the first half and never looked back.  Once Georges-Hunt was sidelined, the Tar Heels rolled off a 12-5 run and began to turn the Jackets over like crazy.  Carolina would force 11 turnovers from the Jackets in the first half (18 for the game) and that led to 21 points in the half on multiple fast breaks and easy baskets.  The Heels, at one point, scored 11 straight points and took complete control.  Marcus Paige was sensational on defense as he garnered a career-high six steals that helped fuel the defensive intensity all evening long.

"It's a four or six point game then all of a sudden it's an eighteen point game because they turned it over a couple times," Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams said.  "I think that little spurt for us offensively was the most important part of the game for us particularly on the offensive side."

The difference in this game and the blow-out of the Jackets 11 days ago was the sudden emergence of a Carolina perimeter game.  Remember last game, Kennedy Meeks and Brice Johnson dominated the paint combining to score 34 points.  However, on this night, Berry stepped onto the court and immediately gave the Heels a lift, draining all three of his three-point attempts in the first half.  Berry would play 20 minutes and his outside touch is a gladly welcomed sight in Chapel Hill as the Heels have been searching for another consistent threat from the outside to pair with Paige.  Hopefully, Tuesday's game is just the tip of the iceberg of what Berry can deliver down the stretch in tourney time.  The other freshman, Justin Jackson, contributed nicely to the flow of the game.  Besides scoring 13 points, Jackson was tremendously active all over the court finishing with five rebounds and three assists.  Mainly from so many fast break opportunities, Carolina tallied 17 assists on the night and, in the two games versus Georgia Tech, the Heels have dished out a whopping 43 assists!

Once again, Carolina produced a well-balanced scoring attack as seven Tar Heels scored seven points or more against the Jackets.  The Tar Heel big men had a much quieter night on the offensive side of the ball this time around versus GA Tech.  Meeks and Johnson combined for only 10 points on 4-of-15 shooting, but Johnson did not let that deter him from making waves in other areas.  Johnson snagged a game-high in both rebounds and blocks with nine boards and four swats.  That was incredible news for Carolina as Johnson has shown a tendency this season to not respond positively to bad shooting nights.  But, tonight, it was Meeks who seemed to disappear somewhat due to foul trouble and a lack of aggression on the court.  Carolina needs Meeks to find himself quickly as the Heels come down to crunch-time on the season.

Georgia Tech was led in scoring by Charles Mitchell and Demarco Cox with 16 and 14 points, respectively.  The two were asked to carry a heavy load when Georges-Hunt went down to injury, but the Jackets never even had a chance as Carolina ripped through a team that has taken its share of lumps this year.  As has been the case all season long, perimeter offense was very poor for the Jackets.  GA Tech missed its first 11 three point attempts and finished the game a measly 1-of-16 from beyond the arc.  The boys from Atlanta have had their hearts ripped out on many occasions this season (0-10 in games decided by seven points or less) but, after Tuesday's thrashing, the Jackets are left to limp into the ACC Tournament where they will begin play next Tuesday as one of the bottom 3 seeds.

With the game well in hand, Coach Williams had a superb opportunity to give his bench more minutes of action.  The Tar Heel reserves combined for 73 minutes of playing time on the court.  The above-mentioned Berry affected the game the most, but Nate Britt, Isaiah Hicks, and Joel James totaled 23 points and put Tar Heel opponents on notice that the depth on the UNC roster is to be reckoned with.  Maybe the most exciting and surprising move on the night was when Coach Williams called for "#1" off the bench in the final three minutes of play.  That, my folks, was freshman Theo Pinson who made his return after sitting out the last 10 games with an injured foot.  And, Theo made an immediate impact.  He scored on a 17-foot jumper for his first basket and then, not too long after, he drilled a three that signaled the Carolina bench to explode with exhilaration for their teammate.  Pinson is a welcome returnee to the roster for the Heels as his aggressive defensive approach fits nicely into the scheme of things in Chapel Hill.

"I told everyone I was going to get one up!" Pinson said after the game with his trademark grin.

Not only did Pinson play, but Stillman White (out since December) and Luke Davis (had been out all season long) saw time on the court as Carolina has slowly, but surely, regained its health to further bolster the lineup. The Tar Heels have picked up some steam heading into the much-anticipated rematch with Dook on Saturday night, and Carolina will need its full load of energy and bodies to accomplish the monster task of beating a rival.  After the last Georgia Tech victory, Carolina was totally outplayed by NC State and the Heels came out on the short-end of the stick.  The Tar Heels are focusing on winning this time around and proving to themselves that they belong in the upper echelon of the conference.

"If we have a letdown this time, guys, we don't have a frickin' heart," exclaimed Coach Williams going into the regular season-finale versus Dook.  "Come on...You're playing Duke and they beat us last time.  It's the greatest rivalry in all of college basketball.  If we get beat, it won't be because of a letdown."

The Heels will be ready come Saturday.  Count on it.


Next Game:     #19  North Carolina (21-9, 11-6 ACC)
                                                  vs
                          #3   Dook Blue Devils (26-3, 13-3 ACC)

Date/Time:       Saturday, March 7, 2015 @ 9:00pm EST
Location:          Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, NC
TV/Radio:         ESPN or ACC Network / Tar Heel Sports Network

#19 UNC Squares Off Against Georgia Tech in its Final Regular-Season Road Game

Matchup:     #19 North Carolina (20-9, 10-6 ACC)
                                               vs
                     Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (12-17, 3-14 ACC)

Date/Time:  Tuesday, March 3, 2015 @ 7:00pm EST
Location:      McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, GA
TV/Radio:    ESPNU or ESPN3 / Tar Heel Sports Network


Only 11 days have passed since North Carolina thumped Georgia Tech, 89-60, in Chapel Hill and, on Tuesday evening, Carolina looks to do more of the same in its last regular-season road game.  The 19th-ranked Heels travel down I-85 to Atlanta and face a Yellow Jackets team that has been one of the most unluckiest teams in college basketball this season.  UNC (20-9, 10-6 ACC) comes into the game tonight sitting in fifth-place in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings, one game behind Louisville, and seeking another road victory that would help propel them into the top-four of the league.  A win over the Yellow Jackets would give Carolina its first back-to-back victories since late January when the Heels beat Florida State and Syracuse and provide even more confidence heading into the season-finale with archrival Dook and then into the ACC Tournament held in Greensboro.  Georgia Tech (12-17, 3-14) continues to play hard for a celebratory moment in its season as this year has been defined strictly as heartbreak and bad luck.  The Yellow Jackets have suffered back-breaking losses all year long, 12 of the team's 14 defeats have been by a total of 45 points, all twelve were within single-digits (the 29-point losses to Virginia and UNC are not the norm).  Even with a 12-17 record, Georgia Tech is 81st in the KenPom rankings (just five behind Pittsburgh) and only Florida (#45) ranks higher as a team with a losing record.

Two weeks ago, the Tar Heels played probably the most complete basketball game of the season in the annihilation of the Yellow Jackets in the Dean Dome.  The Heels were clicking on all cylinders that day after coming off a thrilling overtime contest versus Dook and Carolina will need all of those cylinders to be fully functioning, once again, to defeat a hungry Yellow Jackets team on their Senior Night.  In the last contest between the two, UNC used a balanced scoring attack to dismantle Georgia Tech.  Six Tar Heels scored in double figures led by Kennedy Meeks' and Brice Johnson's scoring efforts of 18 and 16, respectively.  Carolina should not turn away from its bread and butter Tuesday night and needs to continue to pound the ball inside where Meeks, Johnson, Isaiah Hicks, and Joel James can do some damage.  The inside game has been a sparkling piece of the puzzle this season for the Heels as UNC has performed very efficiently in the paint.  Meeks and Johnson are shooting above 58% from the field for the season and Hicks is averaging over-51% giving the Tar Heels a lift downlow that is definitely needed.  Johnson turned up the heat Saturday on the road versus Miami by scoring 22 points on 11-of-15 shooting.  He must continue that hot streak while Meeks will need to bring more effort and energy to bounce back from a 4 points on 2-of-5 shooting performance in that same Miami game.  Carolina has not shown itself to be a perimeter-threat this season as the Heels have only made 129 three-pointers (33.2%) compared to its opponents 192, so it has and will be imperative for the Tar Heels to get the load of their points from the big men.  With Meeks and Johnson both averaging over 12.5 pts a game, this 1-2 punch is primed to deal a striking blow to the less-stingy defense of the Jackets.

The Yellow Jackets have not had much luck stopping the opposition.  Georgia Tech's opponents have shot an average of 43.6 % from the field (2-pointers) which signals that the interior defense has not been as strong as the boys from Atlanta would have hoped for.  However, Coach Brian Gregory's team still does many things really well.  One of those being rebounding.  The Yellow Jackets rank 15th nationally in rebound margin (+7.2) and 12th in offensive rebounds per game (14.1) and can hold their own against a Carolina team that loves to do the same thing.  Georgia Tech averages 38.1 rebounds a contest to Carolina's 42.2 and the Heels just barely sneak past the Jackets with 14.6 offensive boards a game.  Charles Mitchell has led the Yellow Jackets all season in this category by averaging 6.9 boards a game and also racking up 98 offensive rebounds alone.  To put this in perspective, Mitchell has 24 more offensive rebounds than the Tar Heels leading offensive rebounder, Meeks.  Carolina must keep Mitchell and senior Demarco Cox off the boards to effectively take down Georgia Tech.  The work on the glass will be a key to the game for both teams.  Whichever squad can win the battle of the boards will be a telling sign of which way this contest will go.

The Yellow Jackets' scoring attack has not changed in the eleven days since the last meeting.  Marcus Georges-Hunt leads the way with 14.0 ppg while also pulling down 5.7 rpg.  In the last game versus Carolina, Georges-Hunt scored 15 points but was not a huge factor in the game, grabbing only two rebounds and dishing out one assist in the blow-out loss.  Georges-Hunt has scored in double-digits for 11 straight games, including a 20-point, 9-rebound, 6-assist effort against Clemson this past weekend.  Georgia Tech's success will lie heavily on the offensive shoulders of Georges-Hunt and, if the Heels can subdue his output again, Carolina should be looking a win squarely in the eyes.

Marcus Paige and J.P. Tokoto had outstanding games against Georgia Tech last time out.  Paige dished out 10 assists and became the first Heel since Dexter Strickland to have a points-assist double-double.  Tokoto used his athleticism and explosiveness at the rim to stuff the stat sheet once again.  I bring this up because I believe the Heels need this to be more of the norm each and every game.  Consistently, the Heels just have not been as crisp this year.  An inconsistent level of effort has existed for most of the season and, heading into tournament time, the Heels would like to squash that giant bug.  When Paige and Tokoto have exceptional games, the energy of the team seems to rise and the level of play is exceedingly better.  Yes, Meeks and Johnson usually still are able to score and dominate in the paint, but its the energy that Paige and Tokoto can bring to the table that will set the Heels apart from the rest of the competition.  Paige leads the Heels in scoring, averaging 13.4 ppg and he and Tokoto have combined for 249 assists this season.  Even with these statistics, there have been times where both players have not quite lived up to what is expected.  Paige has suffered through a foot injury all season and Tokoto has been susceptible to some up-and-down play, but right now is when this duo needs to shine...and shine bright to lead the Heels on a deep post-season run.

Carolina leads the all-time series with the Yellow Jackets, 65-24, with an advantage of 51-22 since Georgia Tech joined the ACC.  However, the Heels have had their issues with the Jackets on the road.  Carolina is only 20-13 against GA Tech in Atlanta, losing five of its last eight road games against the Jackets.  Roy Williams is 11-8 against Georgia Tech as Carolina's head coach, he is 8-1 in Chapel Hill but 3-4 in Atlanta and 0-3 against the Jackets in the ACC Tournament.  Tonight, Williams is searching for his 745th career head coaching victory (16th all-time).  Carolina has won the last five meetings overall versus Georgia Tech, and the Yellow Jackets won four in a row over the Heels before that for its longest winning streak of the series.  Brian Gregory is 1-5 against Carolina all-time with his lone victory coming as head coach of Dayton when the Flyers beat the Heels in the 2010 NIT Championship game.

Heels Drop Four Spots to #19 in this Week's AP Top 25; Kentucky Remains #1; Wichita St. & Maryland Join the Top 10

Week 17 Rankings have been released and here is the rundown:

AP Top 25

ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll

The latest polls are in and Carolina slides down four places to #19 according to this week's AP Top 25.  Last week, the Heels dropped a home game to rival NC State 58-46 on Tuesday night and then went on the road and won a tough matchup over Miami (Fla) 73-64 Saturday afternoon.  The Heels will play its last regular-season road contest Tuesday night, 3/3, against Georgia Tech and then will finish the regular-season at home on Sunday, 3/7, in a much-anticipated rematch against archvival Dook

ACC teams in this week's poll are:

#2    Virginia  (27-1)
#3    Dook  (26-3)
#12  Notre Dame  (24-5)
#16  Louisville  (23-6)
#19  UNC (20-9)

With no surprise, Kentucky is once again the unanimous choice for the #1 spot as the Wildcats continue their march to an undefeated season.  Gonzaga suffered a home defeat to BYU on Saturday night, dropping the 'Zags from #3 to #7.  Dook moves up to the #3 spot.  Notre Dame and Northern Iowa lost a game last week, so they have dropped out of the Top 10.  Wichita State (#8) and Maryland (#10) are the newcomers to the Top 10 this week.  The Top 10 in order are Kentucky, Virginia, Dook, Villanova, Arizona, Wisconsin, Gonzaga, Wichita St., Kansas, and Maryland.

Two Out
VCU (was #22)
San Diego St. (was #24)

Two In
#23  Ohio St.
#25  Murray St.

No other ACC teams received votes for the AP Top 25 this week.

#15 Tar Heels Face Another Rival as the Wolfpack Come A-Howling into Chapel Hill

Matchup:     #15 North Carolina (19-8, 9-5 ACC)
                                                vs
                     North Carolina State Wolfpack (16-11, 7-7 ACC)

Date/Time:  Tuesday, February 24, 2015 @ 8:00pm EST
Location:     Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, NC
TV/Radio:   ACC Network or ESPN3 / Tar Heel Sports Network


Whether you've been watching the snowflakes fall all day from the comfort of your living room, or through the windowpanes of your local workplace, or even if you have braved the elements and had some fun out in the cold, white stuff, one can be sure that tonight's matchup between North Carolina and North Carolina State has been on your mind throughout.  Well, the time for talkin' is over and the time for ballin' is upon us.

The 15th-ranked Tar Heels welcome the Wolfpack to Chapel Hill this evening for the 228th installment between these two rivals and, even though, the Pack has not beaten UNC in Chapel Hill since 2003, the heated clashes have produced a string of exciting and nail-biting affairs of late.  Expect emotions to be at a fever pitch inside the Dean E. Smith Center as Carolina (19-8, 9-5 ACC) will be searching for its 20th victory of the season (42nd time in 45 years) and 10th win in the ACC which would pull the Heels back into a tie for 4th-place in the conference with Louisville.  NC State (16-11, 7-7 ACC) finds itself wedged in a three-way tie for 7th place in the ACC and a big win over Carolina would launch the Pack up the standings and into a much greater position for an NCAA tournament berth.  The Tar Heels edged NC State earlier this season in Raleigh during mid-January, 81-79, in what was a hard-fought battle all the way, and who can forget the epic contest last season when the two teams produced an overtime classic with the Heels nipping State 85-84.

A common theme to both of those Tar Heel victories was Marcus Paige.  The Preseason ACC Player of the Year and First Team All-American may not be scoring the ball at the tip-top level he was expected to coming into this year but, boy, do not tell that to Wolfpack fans.  Paige has made it his mission to perform at the highest level against the rivals from Raleigh.  In his last two games against the Pack, Marcus has scored 58 points on 17-of-30 shooting (an astounding 12-of-17 from 3pt range), 14 assists, 11 rebounds, six steals, one single turnover, and 12-of-14 from the free throw line.  Quite a stat line for the Tar Heel leading scorer.  In his total five games versus the Pack, Paige is averaging 18.8 ppg while shooting 44% from the field.  To put his play against State in comparison to other games, Marcus only averages 12.7 ppg and 40% from the field against other teams.

"He goes out every night trying to give it his best, give it his all," teammate J.P. Tokoto said Monday.  "It may be something against State that he just feels.  Hopefully that is the case and tomorrow he's feeling it."

Carolina will need Paige, who is averaging a team-high 13.6 ppg, to continue his hot streak against State and serve as a key perimeter weapon to a balanced Tar Heel scoring attack that has consisted all season of monster games from the dynamic duo of Kennedy Meeks and Brice Johnson.

Meeks and Johnson have carried the load throughout the year for the Heels.  They stack up right behind Paige in the points per game column (Meeks 12.9 ppg and Johnson 12.8 ppg) and their aggressiveness and grit in the paint continues to excel as the season progresses.  This season, Carolina has dominated the opposition in points in the paint and the tandem of Meeks and Johnson deserves credit for a big chunk of that offensive scoring output.  For example, over the course of the last two games versus Dook and Georgia Tech, UNC has outscored the opposition 108-70 in the points in the paint category.  A very impressive, eye-popping statistic that will need to stay true to form against the Wolfpack for the Heels to wrangle another victory away from State.  In the matchup earlier this season, Meeks logged a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds.  However, Johnson was limited with foul trouble, eventually fouling out, but still produced 10 points and seven rebounds in only 18 minutes of action.  Keeping Brice on the court and out of foul trouble gives Carolina an even bigger advantage in the paint and gives UNC an edge that could definitely lead the Heels to another ACC win.

Carolina has lost four of its last six games while NC State comes into tonight's matchup winners of two straight and playing good basketball after a rough end to January and start to February.  Perimeter offense has powered Coach Mark Gottfried's Pack all season long.  Trevor Lacey, Ralston Turner, and Cat Barber have been a flashy trio combining to average 40.9 ppg on 44.2% field-goal shooting along with 10.7 rebounds per game.  A statistic that is worth keeping an eye on, is whether these three guys can all score in double-figures.  If so, State is 6-2 in those games and if the trio ups the ante and produces a combined 45 points, State is 8-1 in those contests.  Lacey has been on a roll as of late, leading State with 16.4 ppg and scoring in double figures in 12 of his last 13 games.  Barber has been even more on fire over his last five contests, contributing 18.6 points per outing.

"Those three guys out front...really are a load for us on the defensive end of the floor," said UNC Coach Roy Williams during his Monday night radio show.  "We need to play extremely well.  We need to and we want to."

Barber will have to bring a better effort than last time out against Carolina as the Heels held Cat to just five points, four assists, two rebounds, and four turnovers.  Lacey and Turner combined for 39 points in that game versus the Heels, but those points came really late in the game.  So, the Wolfpack will need a full 40 minutes out of their stars to have a shot at the upset in Chapel Hill.

While State's perimeter offense provided by Lacey, Turner, and Barber gets most of the attention, it's the emergence of freshman Abdul Malik-Abu and his rebounding efforts that have turned some heads.  Abu has taken over the starting center role from BeeJay Anya and he ranks sixth in the league in defensive rebounding percentage on a team that ranks outside the Top 100 in the nation in that category.  He and Anya team up with Kyle Washington as an extremely formidable frontcourt for the Pack.  With State struggling to stop the three (oppponents shoot 33.3% from beyond the arc) and force turnovers (only cause 10.2 turnovers a game), a dependable front line is what the Pack needs to succeed on defense.  Tonight will be imperative for State's frontcourt to defend in the paint and challenge the Tar Heel big men on each possession.  If the Pack can limit the Heels' success in the paint, that should open a door for NC State to leave Chapel Hill with a W.

Both teams have "X" factors that could sway the game in either direction.  Carolina's "X" factor is J.P. Tokoto as his superb play has really picked up in the last couple of games.  After suffering through a tough stretch during the recent UNC woes, Tokoto ignited his game against Dook and kept that train rolling versus Georgia Tech.  J.P. has exuded a tremendous amount of confidence and stepped up his energy in an effort to give Carolina an additional lift that the Heels were missing for quite some time.  Over the last two games, Tokoto has scored 27 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, dished out 12 assists, and had only two turnovers.  In the three games before these last two, Tokoto scored a combined 14 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists.  His production is ramping up and if J.P. can deliver another high-flying, energetic, aggressive game against the Pack, look for Carolina to take care of business in the Dean Dome.

NC State's "X" factor is 6-foot-8 forward Lennard Freeman.  Freeman has been a solid contributor to State's efforts this season but his play has picked up as of late.  Rebounding, defending, and passing are all key attributes to Freeman's game and Coach Gottfried has taken notice.  Freeman's minutes have increased recently and State is 9-2 when Freeman plays 20 or more minutes.  Eight of the Wolfpack's 16 wins have come when Freeman leads the team in rebounding, only losing once when Lennard led the team in that category.  When Freeman pulls down more than eight rebounds, State is almost perfect with a 7-1 record in those instances.  Keep a close watch on Freeman's performance this evening versus the Heels.  If his minutes tick up towards 20 and he is rebounding well, that should be a good indication that NC State is in perfect position to pick up a huge road win.

The Tar Heels lead the all-time series with NC State, 151-76.  This includes four wins in a row, 17 of the last 18, 23 of the last 25, and 40 of its last 49 games against the Pack.  Coach Williams is 28-2 as a head coach versus State (5-0 at Kansas and 23-2 at UNC).  Carolina is 73-22 versus State in Chapel Hill, 23-5 in the Dean Dome.  Williams is 11-0 coaching against State in Chapel Hill in his 12 years at the helm of the Heels.

Tar Heels Stay Put at #15 in This Week's AP Top 25; Kentucky #1, Louisville Drops 5 Spots

Week 16 Rankings have been released and here is the rundown:

AP Top 25

ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll

The latest polls are in and Carolina remains #15 according to this week's AP Top 25.  Last week, the Heels lost an OT Thriller to archrival Dook in Durham 92-90 on Wednesday night and then came back home to Chapel Hill to rout Georgia Tech 89-60 on Saturday afternoon.  The Heels will play another rival Tuesday night, 2/24, as NC State comes to town and then UNC will go on the road and play at Miami this Saturday, 2/28.

ACC teams in this week's poll are:

#2    Virginia  (25-1)
#4    Dook  (24-3)
#9    Notre Dame  (24-4)
#15  UNC  (19-8)
#17  Louisville (21-6)

With no surprise, Kentucky is once again the unanimous choice for the #1 spot as the Wildcats continue their march to an undefeated season.  There are absolutely no changes in the Top-8 from last week's AP Poll, but Notre Dame has scooted up to #9 to make room for a new member to the Top 10, Northern Iowa.  The Top 10 in order are Kentucky, Virginia, Gonzaga, Dook, Wisconsin, Villanova, Arizona, Kansas, Notre Dame, Northern Iowa.

Two Out
Oklahoma St. (was #22)
Ohio St. (was #24)

Two In
#24  San Diego St.
#25  Providence

No other ACC teams received votes for the AP Top 25 this week.

#15 Carolina Dismantles Georgia Tech, 89-60

Over the course of the last two weeks, the University of North Carolina' s men's basketball program has done its absolute best on the road in honoring the legendary Coach Dean Smith, but it was Saturday, back on the Dean Dome court for the first time since his passing, that the Tar Heels brought the tributes home to Chapel Hill.  In a fitting nod to Coach Smith, on the Heels' first offensive possession, Roy Williams called for the "Four Corners" set play that Smith made famous years ago.  Marcus Paige threw up his four fingers, as did every UNC player and coach on the bench, signaling the appropriate formation and, within 10 seconds (much quicker than the Four Corners of yesteryear), Paige connected with a cutting Brice Johnson for a successful layup and every pointed back at Paige, the passer, just as Dean had taught us all to do.

And, from there, the Heels never looked back.

Carolina (19-8, 9-5 ACC) rocketed out of the gates Saturday afternoon against the Yellow Jackets (12-15, 3-12 ACC), proving there was no lingering hangover from the gut-wrenching defeat to archrival Duke earlier this week.  The Heels would continue to build on its lead throughout the entire game behind a well-balance scoring attack that saw six Tar Heels score in double digits.  UNC was on fire, smoking from the field as the team shot 62.3% en route to its hightest shooting percentage of the season.  The Carolina big men were at it once again as Kennedy Meeks led UNC with his second 18 point performance in a row while Brice Johnson fought through a serious illness to add 16 points.  Meeks has really stepped up his play of late after being taken out of the starting lineup for a couple games early this month.  Over the the course of the last three games, Meeks has scored 51 points (average of 17 points per game) and has shot 71% from the field (22-of-31).  Marcus Paige rebounded from two straight dismal outings to contribute 13 points and dish out 10 assists, collecting his first-career double-double, and the first UNC points-assists double-double since Dexter Strickland did it against East Carolina in 2012.  Paige also took care of the ball by not having a single turnover, so his 10 assists without a turnover were the most since Kendall Marshall had 13 assists to no turnovers versus NC State in 2012.  The Tar Heels, as a team, tallied 26 assists which was the most by UNC during ACC play this season and third highest output all-year long.  J.P. Tokoto soared high over the Yellow Jackets putting in 12 points as Isaiah Hicks and Justin Jackson entered the double-figures group with 12 and 11, respectively.

"Today we came in, lost four out of five, we needed to make a change," said Tokoto.  "Just wanted to bring energy and anything I could do for the team.  Everyone fell in and everybody played great today."

The Yellow Jackets never had an answer to the explosive offensive display the Heels rained down on them all day in the Dean Dome.  Georgia Tech was led by Marcus Georges-Hunt who scored 15 and Quinton Stephens added 10, but those two would only combine for six of their points in the second half that was all Carolina Blue.  Carolina dominated in the paint outscoring Georgia Tech 46-30 and the Heels consistently got to the rim and found themselves open for many uncontested shots.  The Tar Heels would shoot above 60% in both halves (61.3 in the first, 63.3 in the second) and Carolina had not shot that well since 2011 against Tennessee State.  From the get-go, the Heels just looked crisp with a bounce in their step.  Paige, most noticeably, seemed to have a swagger in his dribble and intended on getting himself and the Heels back on track after dropping four of the last five contests.

On the first possession, Roy held up those ever-famous four fingers and the crowd (which was much more quiet during the game than usual) sensed something special.  Paige directed the "Four Corners" set on the court just as Phil Ford, Jimmy Black, and Kenny "The Jet" Smith had done for Coach Smith's ballclubs in the past.  It was a surreal moment and when Johnson's layup went through the hoop for two, chillbumps and memories of Coach Smith came rushing in.  Coach Williams took a seat by his assistant coaches after that first play and took a big breath, exhaled, and seemed to say a little prayer to his mentor.  Coach Williams had practiced the play with the team when no one else was around because he wanted the moment to be extremely special, touching, and significant.

"I wanted it to be something very sincere from our team...to Coach Dean Smith," Williams stated.  "So we didn't want anybody sending out a daggum Twitter or fax or whatever the dickens we go on today.  I wanted it to be something from my team to Coach Smith and that worked out great."

For the current players, like Paige, who weren't even born when there wasn't a shot clock and "Four Corners" reigned supreme, the execution of the play had them on pins and needles.

"That was one of the most nerve-racking moments of my life just because I feel like if I would've turned it over, if I would've messed it up or something that I was letting down the way we were going to pay homage to Coach Smith," Paige said.  "I'm just glad Brice caught it and laid it up.  He made me look good."

The whole team looked mighty good the rest of the way.  Cruising into the half with a 43-29 advantage, the Heels would blow this thing completely out of the water in the first minutes of the second.  By the first official timeout in the second half, UNC's lead had ballooned to 28 points and reached a peak of 38 with seven minutes to go.  Even without Joel Berry II, due to a stomach virus, the Heels managed to rotate players flawlessly and keep the Ramblin' Wreck at bay.  Meeks' and Johnson's assertive and aggressive tone, Paige's effeciency, and Tokoto's high-flying acrobatics highlighted this game and put a exclamation point on this crazy week for the Heels.  Hopefully, this game serves as a springboard into the final four games of the regular season, starting with another rivalry matchup with NC State at home on Tuesday night.

With all of the lettermen from the coaching days of Dean Smith in attendance Saturday in the wake of Dean's public memorial inside the Dean Dome Sunday, Carolina executed the gameplan to perfection, getting out in transition, scoring off of turnovers, and distributing the scoring balance up and down the roster.

On this day in Chapel Hill, it was a heartfelt statement to our legend, to our Dean, reminding him that This is Carolina Basketball and that Coach Smith is "Forever A Tar Heel."

Heels Host the Yellow Jackets in Hopes of Shaking Off a Two-Game Skid

Matchup:     #15 North Carolina (18-8, 8-5 ACC)
                                            vs
                     Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (12-14, 3-11 ACC)

Date/Time:   Saturday, February 21, 2015 @ 12:00pm EST
Location:      Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, NC
TV/Radio:    ACC Network or ESPN3 / Tar Heel Sports Network


After nearly three weeks away from the friendly confines of the Dean E. Smith Center, Carolina returns to Chapel Hill on Saturday afternoon in search of some home cooking and a much-needed conference win against Georgia Tech.  Coming off a two-point loss to Duke in an Overtime classic earlier this week, the Tar Heels have dropped back-to-back and four of its last five games.  Getting back in the win column is paramount to UNC's season at this point and would pump a bit more confidence into the team which is definitely essential to the team's success.  Carolina (18-8, 8-5) comes into this matchup tied for fourth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference with Louisville and Syracuse, so there is no room for slip-ups if the Heels want to secure a top-four spot and double-bye in the ACC Tournament.  The Yellow Jackets (12-14, 3-11) have had their struggles this season, starting 0-7 in league play, but have turned things around a smidgen by going 3-4 in the last seven games and moving up from cellar-dweller in the ACC.  Georgia Tech hopes to ride the momentum of a double-digit victory over Clemson at home on Monday and pull off a huge win against a Top-15 squad.

The Tar Heels were extremely disappointed and upset with the way they handled the final four minutes of the Duke game during regulation.  A number of mental mistakes and free throw jitters led to the 10-point collapse so it is imperative that Carolina bounce back in a positive manner versus the Yellow Jackets.  Confidence can be fragile in the world of sports and the Heels have had their share of confidence killers so far this season.  We all remember these last four losses; the sting of the 18-point lead that vanished into thin air in the second half on the road at Louisville, the lackluster effort at home in a loss to Virginia, another uninspired 40 minutes of defensive play against Pitt, and then the exhilarating yet heart-breaking loss to the Blue Devils in Overtime.  What is most important now, and vital to the future advancement of UNC this year, is the ability for the coaches and players to learn from these wounds and attack each and every minute of preparation with the ferocity of a lion.  Developing a killer instinct and just being doggone fed-up with losing can go a long way in redirecting Carolina's fate.

It all starts with Marcus Paige.

Yes, Paige has been dealing with plantar fasciitis all season long and, Lord knows, this injury can be one of the most annoying and painful ones an athlete will deal with.  However, the Preseason All-American and ACC Player of the Year is the leader of this squad and he and the team must find a way to get him back into the flow as the regular season winds down.  Paige still leads the Heels in scoring (13.6 ppg) but, after two straight games with single-digit scoring outputs, Carolina desperately needs an offensive spark from the perimeter.  His recent shooting woes (and, truthfully, the whole season hasn't been completely Paige-esque) have been covered and critiqued throughout the media and sports nation.  Now is a perfect time for Paige to find his rhythm and once again stake his claim as the best shooter in the league.  Marcus carries a 37.4% 3-pt field goal percentage and leads the team in assists with 4.2 apg (just barely beating out J.P. Tokoto by percentage points) but, by becoming a consistent perimeter threat once again, the Marion, Iowa native could accomplish so much more for himself and his team.

One thing the Heels are doing well consistently is scoring in the paint.  Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks have, for the most part, powered the Carolina engine all season long.  The dynamic duo both average 12.7 ppg and rack up a combined 15.6 rebounds per game.  Tokoto has been very successful when he puts his mind to it at slashing to the basket and finishing strong around the rim (just ask the Dookies) and Isaiah Hicks has shown spells of being a break-out superstar for UNC.  In order to continue its effectiveness on the offensive end, Carolina will have to pound the ball inside against Georgia Tech and be exceptionally physical with the Yellow Jackets downlow.  As long as the Heels can continue to dominate the paint, it leaves the opportunity for Paige, Nate Britt, and Joel Berry to knock down shots from the outside.  Given the perimeter guys must do their part to make those shots, the offense is going to flow from the inside-out for the Heels and that means Georgia Tech should see strong doses of Johnson and Meeks aggressively attacking the painted area.

The Yellow Jackets have had their share of tough times this year but there have been a few bright spots to the season.  The star that has burned the brightest for Georgia Tech is junior forward Marcus Georges-Hunt who is one of only two Jacket players averaging double figures.  Georges-Hunt tops his team with 13.8 ppg and he pulls down 5.7 boards per contest.  The College Park, Ga. native has been on a roll lately in the conference by scoring an average 16.6 points and 53.4% field goal shooting over the last eight games.  Carolina must concentrate on slowing down Georges-Hunt's offensive production because if the Heels can contain him there has not been many other options when it comes to offense for the Yellow Jackets.

Georgia Tech ranks next to last in the ACC in scoring average (64.4 points per game) but they attempt the fourth-most field goal attempts in the conference.  That all adds up to a 41.5% shooting percentage which is close to the bottom of the league (14th).  Besides Georges-Hunt, only Charles Mitchell averages double-figures, and just barely with an average of 10.0.  Look for Carolina to speed up the Yellow Jackets and find a way to get out on the fast break for easy buckets on the offensive end.  The Tar Heels did a great job of turning over Duke Wednesday night and it will be interesting to see if the Heels can continue that effort.  Duke drained 10 3's on Carolina this week, but don't expect the Yellow Jackets to follow suit (unless they decide to shoot lights out like Pitt did on Valentine's Day).  Georgia Tech is the worst three-point shooting team in the ACC, connecting on only 27.7% of their long-range attempts.  The Heels may be able to once again play their zone and pack the middle on Georges-Hunt and Mitchell which could shut down any offensive attack the Jackets have planned.

Both teams rebound the ball extraordinarily well.  Carolina comes into the game, leading the ACC, boasting a +9.2 rebounding margin (42.6 to 33.4) while Georgia Tech is third behind Virginia with a +7.9 rebounding margin (38.4 to 30.5).  Offensive rebounding is a strength of both team.  In fact, the Yellow Jackets rank 10th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (38.9%) and pull down 14.1 offensive boards a game.  Carolina trumps that by ripping down 15.2 offensive boards per contest, so whichever team can keep the opponent from corralling its own misses will have a definite advantage in this one.  Limiting team's to one shot per possession has been a difficult task for the Heels this season (opponents average 12.4 offensive rebounds per game) and the Yellow Jackets will be no slouch in this category.  Look for offensive rebounds to be a crucial statistic in deciding a victor in Saturday's matchup.

Justin Jackson seemed lost during the game at Duke, only scoring two points and having the "deer in the headlights" look about him.  The freshman from Texas must bounce back from such a performance with a decent showing against the Yellow Jackets.  Getting right back into the flow of the offense and seeing the ball go through the net will only enhance and improve his confidence.  Jackson, as Coach Roy Williams has long said, could be that extra perimeter spark plug that leads the team to bigger and better things.  He hasn't quite risen to the occasion yet, but he is only a freshman and figuring the game out more and more as the season progresses.  I look for Jackson to rebound from his lackluster performance and deliver a much better showing against Georgia Tech.

The Yellow Jackets, even in its losses, have found a way to keep their games close.  10 of their 11 losses within the conference have come by a combined 38 points (that's only losing by an average of 3.8 pts per game).  In victories, Georgia Tech has won its three conference games by a total of 45 points (all wins in conference were by double figures).  So, for having a sub-.500 record, this team does not get blown out and usually stays in the game until the end.  Hopefully, Carolina can hit a hot streak and blow that statistic out of the water like Virginia did when it defeated the Jackets by 29 points earlier this season.

Saturday's game will be the first of two between the two squads within a 10-day period.  The teams are scheduled to meet in Atlanta on March 3rd.  The Tar Heels lead the all-time series with the Yellow Jackets, 64-24.  Carolina is 27-6 against Georgia Tech in Chapel Hill (22-4 in the Dean Dome).  Over the last 16 games against the Jackets in Chapel Hill, since 1997, UNC owns a 14-2 record with its only two losses at home in that time span coming in 2010 and 2011.

Public Memorial to Dean Smith Sunday @ 2pm in the Dean Dome

Are any of my blog readers interested in attending the Public memorial to Dean Smith on Sunday @ 2pm EST emanating from the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill?  Please read the following articles and personally let me know if you would like to attend.  One should arrive to the Dean Dome early to ensure a seat for the proceedings.  I will be in attendance and would love to have as many of you there that we can.  Please let me know.  Let's all be in Chapel Hill for this heartfelt memorial to the Best Coach of All-Time..Our One and Only, Coach Smith!

On Campus: Public memorial to Dean Smith on Sunday on UNC Campus

Thousands expected at Dean Smith memorial Sunday

A Rivalry Renewed: Tar Heels Come Up Short at Duke in an Overtime Instant Classic

Year after year, All-American after All- American, Championship after Championship, the intense Carolina-Duke rivalry is placed on the highest pedestal in collegiate sports and, arguably, sports period.  And, with good reason.  Throw out the rankings, conference standings, and which team has more talent, the Battle of the Blues brings out the best in these two teams.  On Wednesday night in Durham, this classic rivalry of two Tobacco Road foes lived up to all of its expectations and more.  Round 1 of the epic 2015 showdowns was an Overtime Instant Classic and Carolina ended up on the short end of the stick, falling to Duke 92-90 at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

In a heart-warming display of class and admiration, Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski and UNC Coach Roy Williams gathered before the game, arm-and-arm on bended knee, with their players around the center court in honor of the late legend Dean Smith who was involved in so many of these rivalry games.  This touching tribute to Dean added another sparkle to this night that can hardly be expressed in words.  Duke and Carolina want to beat each other so badly on the court but, as this tribute displayed, the respect that is generated from each team through their emotions and actions is truly like the rivalry...One-of-a-Kind.

Coach Roy Williams had only pleasant words for Duke coaches and players.  He said, “I think it shows the class that this rivalry has. Some people hate, hate, hate, and I want to beat their butts so bad I can taste it. But, there is a great deal of respect between the two programs.”

Coach K responded by saying, "He (Dean) was looking down, he may not have liked the end result of the game, but I’m sure he liked the way both teams played.”

The Tar Heels (18-8, 8-5 ACC) started slow out of the blocks for the third straight game, falling behind 20-8 in the first few minutes, but scratched and clawed their way back into the contest by getting the ball into the paint for close-range shots.  Duke (23-3, 10-3 ACC) once again took control and extended their lead to as many 13 points, but Carolina would not back down.  Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks, and J.P. Tokoto were exceptional in this one combining for 51 points (22-of-35 from the field) and 27 rebounds.  Tokoto had more points in this game than his previous three games combined.  Such a wonderful effort from the junior standout.as he added eight rebounds, seven assists, and zero turnovers to his stat sheet.  Carolina would eventually take the lead in the second half, energized and full of passion, and pushed the lead to double figures late in the game.. But, in typical rivalry-game fashion, there is always another run left.  This one just happened to be from the Blue Devils.  Led by Quinn Cook and freshman Tyus Jones (22 points apiece), Duke was then able to stifle the Heels in the last four minutes of play and charge mightily back tying the game in the final seconds.  Carolina's Preseason All-American Marcus Paige's shot at the regulation horn would bang hard off the rim sending this incredible game into Overtime.

In the first minutes of the extra session, the Heels would lose Johnson to foul trouble and both teams exchanged buckets with the lead swinging back and forth.  For Duke, Jahlil Okafor (who had sprained his ankle late in the first half) made a couple big layups down the stretch giving Duke the one-point lead, 90-89.  Cook would make 1-of-2 free throws giving the Heels an opportunity to tie or take the lead.  However, the Tar Heels offense broke down and the Heels settled for a Tokoto baseline jumper that clanged off the rim.  UNC fouled Cook again and, just as before, he only made 1-of-2 setting the stage for the final seconds.  Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski elected to foul Nate Britt before he even had a chance to throw up a three.  Britt made the first from the charity stripe.  Carolina had one last chance to tie it as Britt would selectively miss the free throw off the left side of the rim, but Marcus Paige's put-back attempt was thwarted by Justise Winslow and Duke corralled the ball as the final buzzer sounded raising the roof off Cameron in celebration of Duke's ninth win in the last 12 games against Carolina.

"If you didn’t care who won the game, you had to enjoy a great college basketball game," said a visibly emotionally-drained Roy Williams.  "If you happen to just like college basketball, then you had to enjoy that part of it, but I happen to love North Carolina. So, it’s not so agreeable with me."

Coach K reflected on the game saying, “It was a great game. One team had to win and one team had to lose and it’s one possession and we won. I thought both teams played their hearts out. I don’t see how both teams could have played any harder than they did."

An awfully tough pill to swallow for the Tar Heels as it makes the stomach curl to lose in such a heartbreaking way.  But, you gotta say this game had everything a fan of the game and of sports would want as the sports nation and the world were served up another classic on a silver platter.  Lead changes, "A" effort plays on both ends of the court, big scoring runs by each team, two Hall of Fame coaches with very different but effective strategies, spectacular dunks (J.P. Tokoto & Isaiah Hicks)...

It is somewhat hard to believe, looking at a few glaring statistics, that Carolina would have been able to stay in the game.  Duke drilled 10-of-16 three-pointers (six coming from Cook who was smoking hot from beyond the arc in this game) whereas UNC only managed to make a measly 2-of-10.  The Blue Devils would shoot over 50% for the game and also attempted 31 free throws to Carolina's 20 attempts.  Winslow poured in 16 points to bolster the rest of the Blue Devils' offensive production.  The inside presence of the Heels, though, made a difference especially with Okafor feeling the effects of the ankle sprain (even 12 points and 13 rebounds is a down game for Okafor).  His mobility was limited and Carolina took full advantage by muscling the ball to the rim and fighting for every lose ball.  However, on this night, Carolina just could not seal the deal and the Blue Devils used an explosive run powered by Jones (nine straight points late in regulation) and another stinging defeat rippled through the UNC locker room afterwards.  Players sat in silence, emotionally and physically spent from the nearly three hours of intense basketball warfare that defines such a rivalry and tradition as the Battle of the Blues.

None were as solemn as UNC's Paige after his sub-par five points on 2-of-11 shooting.  Paige lamented, "My teammates came to battle.  They played fantastic the whole game.  And I didn't really give them anything."

But, the Heels battled and Coach Williams felt good about that.  "For the most part, I really, really enjoyed the toughness and the poise of my team," said Roy.  "Yes, we missed some free throws and some wide open shots and a corner that was a three that would have helped, but that is college basketball.  We’ve been through a tough stretch. We’ve lost three out of four coming in here and I am really proud of my team."

Even with Paige struggling, Carolina was able to squeeze really good minutes and production from Britt and Joel Berry II.  Britt seemed to catch his stride in this game, scoring 11 points and playing comfortably at the point by aggressively driving to the hoop on multiple occasions.  You would like to see more than one assist from the sophomore, but Britt held his own Wednesday night.  Also, Joel James spelled the starting big men with a solid 12 minutes of action where he scored six points and helped Carolina steady the ship late in the first half.

Duke sits comfortably in the Top 3 of the ACC, two full games clear of fourth place and this is where Carolina is situated at this point.  Carolina remains tied for fourth place in the ACC as Louisville was upset by Syracuse last night.  Both the Heels and the Cardinals share 8-5 records in the conference.  Both teams have suffered back-to-back losses and now there are only two games in the standings separating the fourth-placed teams and the 11th-placed team.  The way Carolina handles this loss will dictate how successful the Heels can be down the regular season stretch.  UNC will welcome Georgia Tech and NC State in two straight contests at the Dean Dome, but then have difficult road trips to Miami and Georgia Tech before the regular season finale back in Chapel Hill against these same Blue Devils.

Nothing comes easy in the ACC.  If Carolina can keep up the energy and exude the type of passion and toughness it delivered against Duke Wednesday night, there is no reason to believe the Heels will not have a successful finish to the season.

Coach Williams summed up the regular season journey to finish his post-game press conference by saying, "It's a marathon and in this league it's a tough marathon."

It will take an "A+" effort every single minute of every single game the rest of the way, but the Heels still have the depth and maturity to finish this race on top.


Next Game:     #15 North Carolina (18-8, 8-5 ACC)
                                                 vs
                          Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (12-14, 3-11 ACC)

Date/Time:       Saturday, February 21, 2015 @ 12:00pm EST
Location:          Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, NC
TV/Radio:         ACC Network or ESPN3 / Tar Heel Sports Network

Battle of the Blues 2015 : Round 1 - UNC Collides with Duke in Durham

Matchup:     #15 North Carolina (18-7, 8-4 ACC)
                                                 vs
                      #4 Duke Blue Devils (22-3, 9-3 ACC)

Date/Time:   Wednesday, February 18, 2015 @ 9:00pm EST
Location:      Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham,  NC
TV/Radio:    ESPN or ESPN3 or ACC Network / Tar Heel Sports Network


It's that time of year again, the time when the sports nation is completely focused on one game emanating from Tobacco Road.  It's the Battle of the Blues 2015: Round 1 - Carolina vs Duke and tonight's road trip eight miles down US Highway 15-501 is literally and figuratively a slippery slope for the Tar Heels.  #15 UNC (18-7, 8-4 ACC) is hoping to bounce back nicely from a defeat at Pittsburgh on Valentine's Day and, at the same time, hold on to a top four spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference.  With three losses in its last four games, Carolina can ill afford another lackluster energy effort on the court.  Carolina's defense took a step back against Pitt so it is imperative that the Heels buckle down defensively and bring back that toughness and grit that started the conference slate with a 7-1 record.  The rivalry game with Duke may be what the doctor ordered to put Carolina's mindset back into full gear.  A high-octane environment in Cameron Indoor Stadium and the fact that both teams usually bring their "A" game to the matchup should be enough fuel to power the Heels on this icy, cold evening in North Carolina.  The fourth-ranked Blue Devils (22-3, 9-3 ACC) has been trending up the last few weeks and has once again placed itself in contention for a number-one seed in the NCAA Tournament.  Since losing back-to-back games to NC State and Miami in January, the Blue Devils have reeled off eight wins in its last nine games behind a potent and lethal offensive attack.  Led by freshman sensation Jahlil Okafor and his 18.2 points per game, Duke has turned up the heat on its offensive production as the year has progressed and the Blue Devils have been unstoppable recently.

Cameron Indoor will be at a fever pitch from tip to the final buzzer and the way the game starts on the court could be a telling sign of where it ends up.  The Tar Heels have had two straight games where they have fallen behind early due to sluggish starts, 7-2 to Boston College and 10-0 to Pittsburgh, with Carolina going 1-1 in those games.  There is absolutely no way the Heels can fall behind by double figures to Duke in Cameron and expect to come away with a victory.  Duke has been tremendously poised since that eye-popping home defeat to Miami in January and eagerly awaits a Carolina slip in effort so that it can pounce.  It will be important for Carolina to score early and often as getting some points quickly on the board in a hostile environment could go a long way in boosting the Heels' confidence and enhance their body language on the floor.

Duke's defense ranks middle of the pack in the ACC this season and are outside the top 100 in effective field goal percentage defense, turnover defense, block defense, and 2-pt field goal defense.  So, right there, a gameplan for the Heels can consist of using its size to push the Duke defenders back and create easier baskets in the paint.  With Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks on the blocks, Carolina has had pretty good success in the paint this year.  Johnson and Meeks are averaging a combined 24.9 ppg and the Heels will need a prime-time performance from these two downlow to offset Okafor and Justise Winslow.  Marcus Paige leads the Heels in scoring at 13.9 ppg but he is coming off a dismal shooting performance on the road at Pitt.  Now is the time for Paige to shine as Carolina must find a way to get Paige more involved and open for clean looks at the basket.  Getting Paige off to a hot start offensively (especially from 3-pt range) could indicate very good things for Carolina.

Justin Jackson, freshman forward for the Heels, will be playing in his first game on the road in Durham.  Jackson has started every single game for Carolina, averaging 9.8 ppg to go with 3.6 rebounds per game, and it will interesting to see how he responds to the atmosphere in this high-impact rivalry game.  His maturity has seemed to blossom recently but he definitely still has those rookie moments and as a starter against Duke in Cameron Indoor, Jackson will dive head first into the shark tank tonight.  If the Heels can get a decent scoring game from Justin (let's say 14-18 points) expect Carolina to be right in it for the win.

Duke has some freshmen of its own.  Coach Mike Krzyzewski starts three of them.  Okafor, Winslow, and Tyus Jones have been in the starting lineup for all 25 of Duke's games.  And, these guys are not in the lineup just to look pretty...they contribute mightily to Duke's all-around performance.  Duke is the only team in the NCAA that has three freshmen that average double figures on the season (Okafor - 18.2 ppg, Winslow - 11.4 ppg, and Jones 11.3 ppg) and over half of Duke's offense comes from these first-year players (50.9% of the offense to be exact).  With 9.3 rpg and a 66.5% field goal percentage, Okafor is trying to become the first freshmen to lead Duke in points, rebounds, and FG percentage in the same season.

Quinn Cook brings perimeter offense to the table as well as he has made at least one three-pointer in 35 straight games.  Cook's lethal shooting mixed with Jones' outside shooting talent makes for a very formidable tag team from long range.  Carolina must bring its toughest and most effective defensive performance to the court tonight as Duke will look to hit the open three at any second.  Expect Okafor to get plenty of touches in the paint and hopefully Carolina can force Okafor into bad decisions as he is prone to turnovers (61st in the ACC in turnover ratio).  Carolina cannot afford to get into any foul trouble this evening but if they decide to hack away on Okafor at anytime, the Duke center is a miserable 57.1% from the charity stripe. Carolina would rather foul the big man than the Duke guards as Cook and Jones have been almost automatic from the free throw line.  Over the last 15 games, Cook is shooting 91.3% (42-of-46) and Jones is shooting 91.4% (64-of-70) from the line.  Carolina needs to focus on moving their feet defensively, fighting through screens, getting hands in the face of every shooter, and making it extremely tough for Duke to get open.  The way Carolina can defend is going to control what happens in this game.  If Carolina is up to the challenge defensively and causing turnovers, there is no reason to think Carolina cannot be successful in this one.

J.P. Tokoto is the "X-factor" for the Heels.  Tokoto began the season playing with tremendous confidence and leading the team in assists, but as the last couple of weeks have unfolded, he has regressed in his performance.  J.P. began turning the ball over at a ridiculously high rate back during the Syracuse game and he seems somewhat gun-shy on a lot of his ball handling and passing in recent game.  He has not started the last two contest.  Carolina is going to need a big game from the Tar Heel junior, whether it's in a starting role or off the bench.  The Heels are hoping Tokoto can respond to his most recent struggles and get back to playing the exciting and electrifying basketball that they have grown to love in Chapel Hill.  His effectiveness on the court and his confidence in decision-making is something to watch during the game.

Carolina leads the all-time series with Duke, 133-105 and have played more games against the Blue Devils than any other opponent (the rivalry dates back to 1920).  Carolina and Duke split the two meeting last year with each team winning on its home court.  The Blue Devils have won eight out of the last 11 meetings (since 2009-2010) after UNC won six of seven meetings from 2006-2009.  Duke has won four of the last five meetings in Durham after Carolina had won four straight in Cameron from 2006-2009.  Duke leades the series 51-47 in Durham, 42-35 in Cameron Indoor Stadium.  Roy Williams is 5-6 against Duke in Durham (all as the UNC Head Coach).