Following a big performance against Florida State in a 94-74 win on Saturday, the North Carolina men’s basketball team will return to the Dean E. Smith Center, where it posts a 13-1 record.
The Tar Heels will face off against a Pittsburgh team that is also on a modest two-game winning streak, coming off of close wins against Florida State and N.C. State.
Pitt currently ranks in the bottom five of ACC teams, but if conference play so far this season has proven anything, it’s that nobody is safe. Here are several things UNC must focus on to be successful against the Panthers on Wednesday.
Apply the pressure early
“We have identified our recipe for success, and the first thing is to get after it on the defensive end,” head coach Hubert Davis said in Saturday’s postgame press conference.
In their Florida State matchup, the Tar Heels allowed the Seminoles to score just 24 points in the first half, holding them scoreless until almost seven minutes into the game. While Pittsburgh doesn’t have the same offensive firepower as the Seminoles, a hot defensive start will allow the Tar Heels to go on an early run and potentially give UNC the opportunity to extend some playing time to its bench.
The defensive pressure applied to FSU allowed for an early substitution of first-year Dontrez Styles, who came into the game at the 13-minute mark and went on to earn a career-high eight points on Saturday. On Wednesday, against a Pittsburgh team that ranks last in the ACC in points per game, there is no reason the North Carolina bench shouldn’t see action. The key, however, is starting the game with stifling man-to-man defense.
Crashing the boards
Exploiting Pitt’s weakness on the glass will be critical in Wednesday’s matchup. The Panthers rank third in the ACC in combined opponent rebounds, while UNC ranks first in rebound margin, as well as combined team rebounds per game. This mismatch on the boards is something the Tar Heels can use to their advantage come Wednesday night.
