Chapel Hill, NC (Betting Express) - The top-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels finally open up ACC play this evening, as they welcome the Boston College Eagles to Chapel Hill for a showdown from the Smith Center.
Roy Williams' Tar Heels have definitely been worthy of their number one ranking, winning all 13 games this season by double figures, setting a school record in the process. The team returns home following an 84-61 rout of Nevada in Reno last Wednesday, claiming its 15th straight road win.
The Eagles will certainly present a stiff challenge for UNC, as Boston College brings a hefty nine-game win streak into this game. The team's two losses came in back-to-back games against Saint Louis (53-50) and Purdue (71-64) in late November. More recently, the Eagles picked up win number 12 on the season with an 89-76 decision against Sacred Heart.
This is the 10th all-time meeting in this series, with North Carolina winning six of the previous nine matchups. The Tar Heels have opened a comfortable lead in the series thanks to four straight wins over the Eagles entering this contest.
The Eagles have the offensive mindset to really challenge the Tar Heels in this game. The team is averaging a healthy 77.9 ppg this year, getting it done on .460 shooting from the floor. Scoring depth is evident, with four of the team's five starters averaging double figures. The straw that stirs the drink however, is standout guard Tyrece Rice. Both a prolific scorer and deft distributor, Rice leads the team in both scoring (16.7 ppg) and assists (83). Forwards Joe Trapani (14.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and Corey Raji (12.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg) provide adequate frontcourt balance. Rakim Sanders aids in the backcourt with 11.1 ppg. It was Sanders who paced the team in the win over Sacred Heart, as the sophomore poured in a game-high 20 points, on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor. Rice hit 10-of-12 from the free-throw line and tallied 18 points in support. Center Josh Southern just missed a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds, while freshman Reggie Jackson and junior Tyler Roche chipped in with 12 and 10 points, respectively, off the bench.
While the Eagles are a good offensive team, the Tar Heels are a great one. UNC enters conference play averaging a robust 94.8 ppg. The team is shooting a scorching .511 from the floor, including .382 from behind the arc. Defensively, the Tar Heels have thrived as well, as the team is enjoying a +26.5 scoring margin. It definitely helps to have the nation's top player on the floor in All-American Tyler Hansbrough. The 6-9 power forward missed four games early on, but has made up for it in a hurry, shooting .556 from the field and averaging 23.0 ppg. Ty Lawson is as good as it gets at the point, showing the ability to both fill up the basket (15.6 ppg) and get others involved in the offense (86 assists). The nation's best starting five rounds out with forwards Deon Thompson (14.0 ppg) and Danny Green (12.8 ppg) and guard Wayne Ellington (12.5 ppg) all making their presence felt in the scoring column. In the big win over Nevada, North Carolina was able to convert 50.8 percent from the floor and was led offensively by Hansbrough, who netted 22 points. Ellington poured in 15 points, while Lawson tallied 11 points, while doling out seven assists.
