No. 25 North Carolina to test mettle vs. Blake Hinson, Pitt

There have been indicators that No. 25 North Carolina is getting right into a groove, and now after a greater than every week layoff, the Tar Heels have one other likelihood to indicate their enchancment.

North Carolina will start the sizable portion of its Atlantic Coast Convention schedule by visiting Pittsburgh on Friday afternoon.

“I really feel like we’re in an incredible state of affairs and our group is unquestionably battle-tested,” Tar Heels guard Caleb Love stated. “It is good for us when our again is towards the wall and the way we struggle again. Something thrown at us, we will overcome it.”

North Carolina (9-4, 1-1 ACC) has gained 4 video games in a row. Pittsburgh (9-4, 2-0) shall be enjoying its ACC residence opener.

The Tar Heels have displayed a extra intense nature in latest video games.

“Motivating them to be at their finest,” coach Hubert Davis stated.

The Tar Heels started the season at No. 1, however they have been all the best way out of the rankings by early December following a four-game shedding streak. They spent three weeks out of the ballot.

North Carolina ahead Armando Bacot has raised his degree the previous couple of video games, averaging 27 factors in these two outings.

“I feel he has been at his finest,” Davis stated. “He is enjoying with a starvation and a thirst. He is actually enjoying laborious and getting the ball in the correct place. He has been actually particular, not simply offensively however defensively as effectively.”

Pittsburgh’s Blake Hinson obtained co-ACC Participant of the Week honors for his efforts final week in an 84-82 victory at Syracuse. The switch from Mississippi racked up 25 factors and 13 rebounds to spice up his team-leading averages in each classes (17.2, 7.4).

The Panthers, who additionally personal an ACC highway victory at North Carolina State, are driving a three-game successful streak.

“No one got here right here to be simply 2-0 (within the ACC),” Hinson stated. “That is what I envisioned after I signed as much as play ACC basketball.”

Pittsburgh has racked up 10 or extra 3-point baskets in 5 of its previous seven video games. The Panthers will flip consideration to defending the defensive glass after Syracuse had 15 offensive rebounds.

Story continues

“We’ve to be higher there,” Pittsburgh coach Jeff Capel stated. “… We have continued to work and get higher.”

The one widespread opponent for the groups is Michigan, which beat Pittsburgh 91-60 on Nov. 16 in New York after which misplaced to North Carolina 80-76 final week in Charlotte, N.C.

The Tar Heels pulled out an in depth recreation towards Ohio State on Dec. 17 earlier than upending Michigan in one other tight contest.

“We belief each other to go forward and make a big-time play when it issues,” North Carolina guard RJ Davis stated.

Pittsburgh gained the one assembly final season, topping the host Tar Heels 76-67 in a Feb. 16 recreation that on the time put North Carolina’s postseason prospects in severe jeopardy. After that consequence, the Tar Heels misplaced solely as soon as extra till falling within the nationwide championship recreation to Kansas.

Amongst Pittsburgh gamers from final season’s matchup, solely John Hugley IV and Jamarius Burton performed within the recreation in Chapel Hill.

–Discipline Stage Media