The No. 5-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels (15-2) will attempt to keep their eight-game winning streak alive when they take on the North Carolina State Wolfpack (10-7) at Dean E. Smith Center. Action begins at 12:00 pm ET on Saturday, Jan. 16 and can be seen on ESP and ES3.
The Tar Heels enter this game hoping for similar success after topping Syracuse 84-73 in their last matchup. Isaiah Hicks was the team’s leading scorer with 21 points on 5-for-5 shooting. The Wolfpack, meanwhile, are feeling some disappointment after their 85-78 loss against Florida State in their last game. North Carolina State lost despite the best efforts of Abdul-Malik Abu, who recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 21 points and 13 rebounds.
Over the last five games, Brice Johnson has taken his game to another level for the Tar Heels, averaging 17.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.4 blocks.
The Tar Heels could put on a ball-control clinic in this one. They’re ranked 13th in the nation at avoiding errors (TO% of only 15.0%). Additionally, North Carolina State forces the 38th-fewest turnovers in the nation (16.3%).
Notes
Ranked seventh, the North Carolina Tar Heels have an offensive rating of 121.0. The North Carolina State Wolfpack rank 200th with a defensive rating of just 103.2.
On average, North Carolina has 72.4 possessions per game and scores 1.210 points on each possession. North Carolina State has both fewer possessions (68.3) and scores fewer points during those possessions (1.098).
The North Carolina State Wolfpack average an effective field goal percentage of 46.0% this season. The North Carolina Tar Heels have a fantastic 13-2 record in games where opponents have an eFG% of 46.0% or greater.
On average, the North Carolina Tar Heels attempt 17.0 three point field goals per game and the North Carolina State Wolfpack attempt 18.0. In games where they attempt at least 20 three pointers, North Carolina is a perfect 5-0, while North Carolina State has a subpar record of 1-5.
The second-ranked team in the category, North Carolina has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.78 this season. North Carolina State ranks outside the top 100 at 136th with an A/TO of 1.12.
North Carolina State, the 11th-ranked team in rebounding, registers an average of 42.7 rebounds per game. North Carolina ranks 33rd with 41.1.
When it comes to offensive rebounds, North Carolina State ranks sixth. North Carolina ranks 51st in defensive rebounds.
Opponents have had an average turnover percentage of 18.5% when playing North Carolina this season. North Carolina State is undefeated (1-0) when its TO% is 18.5% or higher.
