The Tar Heels host NC State on Saturday, January 21, at 5 p.m. Carolina is 13-6, 5-3 in the ACC. The Tar Heels have won two in a row and eight of the last 10. Carolina is 9-0 at home this season, including 4-0 in league play. NC State is 15-4 overall, 5-3 in the ACC and 2-2 on the road this season. The Wolfpack has won four straight and seven of eight.
Saturday is matchup of the top-two scoring teams in the ACC. In 19 games this season, North Carolina has scored 1,512 points (79.58 per game), one more point than NC State has scored in 19 games (1,511 points, 79.53 per game). NC State is 15-2 this season if it scores 70 or more points, but 0-2 if it scores under 70. North Carolina is 13-2 this season if it scores 70 or more points.
About UNC
- Carolina is No. 25 in the country in KenPom and No. 36 in the NCAA’s NET.
- The Tar Heels lead the ACC in scoring (79.6 ppg) and are second in rebounding (39.4) and rebound margin (+5.0). Carolina is seventh in the league in scoring margin (+7.2).
- Last season, UNC was No. 1 in the ACC and No. 3 in the country in rebound margin (plus 8.5). This season, UNC is No. 2 in the conference and 52nd nationally.
- The Tar Heels are seventh in the ACC in field goal percentage and ninth in field goal percentage defense.
- Carolina is ninth in the ACC in three-pointers per game (6.9), 12th in three-point shooting (.320) and 10th in three-point percentage defense (.333).
- Carolina is the only team with multiple players in the top 10 in the ACC in scoring. Armando Bacot is fourth and RJ Davis and Caleb Love are tied for ninth.
- Nationally, Bacot is third in offensive rebounding, fourth in double-doubles and rebounds and eighth in free throw attempts (134).
- Davis leads the ACC in free throw shooting at 87.8%.
- The opponents have scored at least 40 paint points four times in the UNC losses, including 40 by Alabama, 50 by Indiana, 42 by Virginia Tech and 42 by Pittsburgh. UNC has allowed 32 paint points in its 13 victories.
- In the 13 wins, four starters have more assists than turnovers; in the six losses, only Black has more assists than turnovers.
- Carolina has scored 80 or more points 10 times. The Tar Heels are 9-1 in those games, losing 103-101 in four overtimes vs. Alabama (scored 77 in the regulation).
About NC State
- NC State won its fourth consecutive game – and seventh in its last eight outings.
- Sophomore guard Terquavion Smith leads ACC in scoring and 3PT FGs made, is 3rd in steals and 4th in assists.
- Smith has rattled off five consecutive 20 points or more scoring performances. It ties for the longest 20+-point performance streak of his career.
- Smith’s eight 20-point performances this season are tied for the second-most by an ACC player, only UNC’s Armando Bacot (9) has more.
- During the Pack’s four-game win streak, graduate guard Jarkel Joiner is averaging 18 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
- In the Pack’s 15 wins this season, Joiner is averaging 17.1 points on 47.5 percent shooting, including 40.7 percent from three-point range and 3.7 assists per game. In the Pack’s four losses this season, Joiner is averaging 12.5 points per game on 33.3 percent shooting, including 16.7 percentage from three-point range and 2.8 assists per game.
- In the nine games since Dusan Mahorcic was injured, graduate forward DJ Burns is averaging 12.7 points per game, 5.8 rebounds (including 2.6 offensive rebounds) per game, 2.2 assists and 1.3 blocks per game. Burns is shooting 57.5 percent from the field (50-of-87).
- NC State leads the ACC in turnover margin (+4.0), steals (8.7 per game) and forcing turnovers (14.6 per game).
- The Pack is 9-0 this season when it forces its opponent into 15 or more turnovers and 10-0 when it has at least 18 points off of opponent turnovers.
UNC vs NC State
- Carolina is 163-79 all-time against NC State, including 35-5 in the last 40 games and 52-12 over the last 30 seasons.
- The Tar Heels are 80-23 vs. the Wolfpack in Chapel Hill, including 29-7 in the Smith Center.
- Carolina has won three in a row overall and four straight in Chapel Hill.
- The Tar Heels won both games in 2021-22 –100-80 in the Smith Center on January 29 and 84-74 in Raleigh on February 26.
How to Watch
Time: 5:00 p.m. (ET)
TV: ACCN (Wes Durham, Dan Bonner)
Stream:WatchESPN
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Properties (Jones Angell, Eric Montross, Adam Lucas), Wolfpack Sport Network (Tony Haynes)
