UNC men's basketball prepares to take on struggling Eagles

Coach Roy Williams has never started this well.

At least not in ACC play. His No. 2 North Carolina men’s basketball team is the last undefeated team in the ACC. And while the team’s seven conference victories thus far haven’t always been pretty, they still count in the win column.

The trick is keeping that up. To do so, at least in Williams’ eyes, the team has to get better.

“I told them I want them to focus on the proper way to shoot the ball, their technique,” Williams said. “Don’t think result. That’s the way you’re supposed to play golf.

“Think technique, not thinking, ‘Oh if I don’t make this putt I’ve lost the U.S. Open’ kinda crap.”

Saturday’s matchup with Boston College (7-13, 0-7 ACC) represents the perfect opportunity for UNC (18-2, 7-0 ACC) to practice the technique Williams preaches.

Here are some things to look for in Saturday’s game, which tips off at 4 p.m. on ESPN2.

1. Missing Marcus?

After scoring 30 points at Florida State earlier this month, Marcus Paige has disappeared. In four games since, the ACC Preseason Co-Player of the Year has scored three, three, two and seven points, respectively. The Tar Heels should be fine against middling Boston College, but getting Paige back in rhythm before season’s end is crucial.

2. How will Boston College cope without Jerome Robinson?

Robinson, the Eagles’ second-leading scorer so far this season, will miss Saturday’s game with a broken wrist. The first-year from Raleigh is one of only two players on the team averaging double digits in scoring, and he also leads the team in minutes per game.

3. Can the Tar Heels convert from deep?

UNC’s 3-point shooting average so far this season sits at 30.6 percent. If the season ended today, this would be the lowest mark in school history. Against lower-level ACC foes in Virginia Tech and Boston College, that might be enough to get by. But against the likes of Louisville, Duke and Virginia, the Tar Heels won’t be able to rely solely on their big men to win games.

4. How will Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks work together?

Meeks’ seven-game hiatus is over, and heading into the toughest stretch of the schedule yet, UNC’s frontcourt trio is finally back together. The question is whether Johnson, who thrived in Meeks’ absence, will be able to continue his dominant level of play. Add Hicks to the mix, and Williams has the tough job of finding minutes for all three.

5. Will UNC fall for the trap (game)?

Saturday’s game marks UNC’s last home game for two weeks. The team will then travel to Louisville, Notre Dame and Boston College before heading back to Chapel Hill to face Pittsburgh on Feb. 14. While the Tar Heels should handle Boston College at home, it is important they focus on the game at hand and don’t get caught looking ahead at the upcoming schedule.

@BrendanRMarks

sports@dailytarheel.com