CHAPEL HILL, N.C. –– The Tar Heels look to complete a season sweep of NC State tomorrow night at the Smith Center, following their narrow 63-61 victory over the Wolfpack at Lenovo Center last month.
North Carolina (15-11, 8-6 ACC) enters the contest seeking consecutive wins for the first time since early January. Fresh off an 88-82 road victory at Syracuse, the Tar Heels currently sit sixth in the conference standings. Meanwhile, NC State (3-11 ACC) snapped a nine-game losing streak with a home win over Boston College on Saturday, but remains at the bottom of the conference.
With the ACC Tournament looming, both programs find themselves at critical junctures. The Wolfpack must climb out of the bottom three to avoid missing the trip to Charlotte, while the Tar Heels are fighting to salvage their season and build momentum for a potential postseason run.
“We gave up too many transition baskets,” Wolfpack head coach Kevin Keatts reflected on their previous matchup against the conference’s fastest-paced team. Containing freshman Ian Jackson will be crucial for NC State – Jackson torched the Wolfpack with 21 points, including five three-pointers, in their first meeting. Sophomore Jalen Washington also proved decisive with an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double, highlighted by his game-sealing block in the final second.
While the Smith Center provides a favorable setting for North Carolina, their inconsistent play this season combined with NC State’s renewed confidence suggests another intense rivalry battle. With both teams desperate for a win, expect another close and physical affair between these longtime rivals.
The game tips off at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Dean E. Smith Center
Ian Jackson’s Resurgence Will Be Crucial for Tar Heels As They Enter the Final Stretch of Conference Play