Thanks to a thrilling, 85-80 comeback win over Virginia last weekend, the UNC basketball team is right back where it best belongs: in the winning column.
North Carolina (16-4, 4-3 ACC) trailed by 16 in Charlottesville, but never wavered. The Tar Heels defended well in second-half action, shot the basketball efficiently and watched five guys reach double-figures.
UNC stays on the road Saturday, traveling to Atlanta for a 2 p.m. tip-off with Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets (11-10, 2-6 ACC), just a half-game out of last place in the conference, are quickly watching their once-hopeful season slip away. North Carolina has just one road ACC win – last weekend at UVA – so exercise caution with Saturday’s matchup. The Tar Heels should win handily, but look what happened in California.
UNC continues to thrive through its lethal, Henri Veesaar-Caleb Wilson frontcourt duo, while head coach Hubert Davis finally appears to have his best backcourt rotations. Derek Dixon is North Carolina’s answer at point guard, while Luka Bogavac and Jonathan Powell are valuable assets off the bench.
If there’s any time for Georgia Tech to have a season-defining moment, Saturday is it. The Yellow Jackets already have one ACC shocker on their schedule, a 78-74 win at NC State on January 17. Georgia Tech has 10 wins at home and, with a marquee team like the Tar Heels coming to McCamish Pavillion, expect seats to be filled.
As UNC attempts its climb further up the ACC standings, Saturday is a must-win. Here’s three keys to look at for a North Carolina win.
Convert on trips to the free throw line
The Tar Heels shoot just 67.6 percent on their free throws, fourth-worst in the ACC. UNC slightly surpassed that average at Virginia, sinking 15 of its 22 free throw attempts (68%), with Stevenson a perfect 3-of-3. Sooner or later, North Carolina has to start converting on its free chances. If the Tar Heels exceed expectations at the charity stripe Saturday, they’ll have no issue beating a sinking Georgia Tech squad.
Defend the deep ball effectively
Despite season-long struggles, Georgia Tech is a team that knows how to make its 3-pointers. The Yellow Jackets shoot 35.8% from deep, fifth amongst ACC schools.
UNC defended Virginia (30%) and Notre Dame (32%) well from deep, but allowed SMU (52%), Stanford (57%) and Cal (54%) to make over half their threes.
North Carolina wins Saturday if if continues its recent, mini-hot stretch defending the 3-pointer.
Hubert Davis needs to keep his same rotation
20 games in, the Tar Heels finally appear to have a lineup solution.
Dixon, Veesaar, Wilson, Seth Trimble and Jaydon Young all started at Virginia. Bogavac, Powell, Stevenson, Kyans Evans and Zayden High all came off the bench. Stevenson scored a career-high 17 points, while Powell tied for a UNC-best seven rebounds.
If Davis keeps his lineup rotations put, expect North Carolina to continue producing – and win – on Saturday at Georgia Tech
