North Carolina and Clemson play tonight at 6 in Chapel Hill.
Frontcourt
Junior forward K.J. McDaniels carries the Tigers offensively as the team’s leading scorer and rebounder. With 16.4 points per game, he’s the only Clemson player to average in double-digit scoring. He also pulls down seven rebounds per game. Center Landry Nnoko joins McDaniel in the paint and is 6-foot-10, making him the same height as both Desmond Hubert and Joel James. He’s an inch taller than James Michael McAdoo. Hubert has been sidelined as of late with a concussion, while McAdoo averages 14.4 points and not quite seven rebounds per game. Clemson averages 38.3 rebounds and holds its opponents to 32.7. Roy Williams is still looking for the perfect combination of big men.
EDGE: CLEMSON
Backcourt
Though he’s been quieter than usual in the past few games, Marcus Paige is still averaging 16.8 points per game, good for best on North Carolina’s team. Recently Williams has had Paige back at the true point guard slot, and though he’s not scoring as much, he’s still the floor commander. Though Rod Hall and Jordan Roper are a solid duo for Clemson, Williams could bring Nate Britt back to the point and move Paige back to the two, where he’s thrived.
EDGE: UNC
Bench
UNC’s bench is unpredictable, simply because its starting lineup is unpredictable. Sophomore Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks are typically the first two to get the nod from Williams. They average 10.2 and 7.3 points respectively. For the Tigers, Roper and Damarcus Harrison sometimes come off the bench, averaging nine and 6.3 points, respectively. Because UNC’s starting lineup is constantly changing, there are several players that have played substantial minutes and are conditioned to play for long periods of time.
EDGE: UNC
Intangibles
Though Clemson is ranked fifth in the conference, while the Tar Heels are ranked 13th, UNC returns to Chapel Hill with a 56-game home winning streak against the Tigers to defend. Additionally, the 1-4 ACC start is the worst in the Williams era, making UNC due for a win. Clemson beat Duke earlier in the season for its biggest victory of the season and only lost to Syracuse by nine, but the Tar Heels will enjoy the home-court advantage.
EDGE: UNC
The Bottom Line: UNC 63 CLEMSON 57
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