After learning their NCAA Tournament fate earlier this week, the Tar Heels return to action tonight, in the First Round of the tournament, as they’ll take on San Diego State, for the right to advance to take on Ole Miss on Friday afternoon. Carolina was the last team to make the field of 68, giving Carolina its 54th NCAA Tournament appearance, and its third appearance under Hubert Davis. In each of the previous two tournaments under Davis, Carolina has advanced to the second weekend both times and will look to keep up that succession in this year’s tournament.
San Diego State made its way into the NCAA Tournament, after going 21-9 in the regular season, with a 14-6 mark in the regular season. The Aztecs are among one of the better defensive teams in the country, under Brian Dutcher, and that has been the calling card of the program in recent years. They are in the top 10 in terms of two-point field goal percentage and are among the better teams in terms of defending the three-point line. They are offensively challenged, as they only have two players currently averaging double figures scoring, led by Nick Boyd, and his 13.4 points per game. Myles Byrd is the only double-digit scorer, averaging 12.6 points per contest.
Carlina’s selection into the NCAA Tournament has come with its fair share of criticism, as virtually every media member that covers the sport, doesn’t believe they deserve to be in Dayton. Hubert Davis said yesterday he wasn’t aware of what was benign about his team and his program, but with the team online, they have to be aware of what’s been said about them going into the game tonight. You obviously have to have talent, and depth to win and advance in the NCAA Tournament, but you also have to have belief. The national disrespect that’s been shown to Carolina over the last 36 hours, could be a rallying cry, that fuels a deep tournament run this March.
After the heartbreaking loss to Duke in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament, RJ Davis and Seth Trimble vowed that they belonged in March Madness, and they were confident that they’d hear their name called on Selection Sunday. Now that they are in the tournament, it’s time for this team to prove the doubters wrong, and validate their tournament selection. It won’t be easy, given how good San Diego State is, but if this team plays the way they have over the last month, they are more than capable of winning tonight’s game. Here’s how they do just that.
Half-Court Offense: Carolina’s offense operates at its best when it’s playing in the open court, scoring points in transition. While they’ll look to create those opportunities tonight, how well they execute in the half-court might determine the outcome of this game. This is where the three losses to Duke, should prepare this team for the type of defense they’ll see later tonight. If they can replicate some of the success they had down the stretch in the win over Wake Forest, that’ll go a long way as well. Carolina needs to be active with its ball movement, and its screening, and not get caught standing around, making it easier for the Aztecs to shrink the floor They’ll need to establish a low-post presence through Ven-Allen Lubin, who has produced three straight double-doubles. Additionally, the guards need to be aggressive, driving to the basket, and pressuring the rim, just like they did in the second comeback attempt against Duke.
Rebounding: In their last 10 games, Carolina is averaging a little over 32 rebounds per game, which won’t jump off the stat sheet, until you realize that San Diego State is only averaging over 28 rebounds per game, a theme for them all season long, has been not being a great rebounding team. With the emergence of Lubin at the center position, combined with contributions from the guards and the wings, Carolina is positioned to dominate the glass tonight, which will allow them to control the pace of the game, which is most important for UNC. Furthermore, if they can grab offensive rebounds, and generate second-chance scoring opportunities, that’ll help them get the point total at a mark where San Diego State isn’t equipped to score at, in order to win the game.
Special Teams: Now. more than ever, turnovers and free throws become as important as they’ve been all season long. In the loss to Duke, Carolina left 8 points at the foul line, to go along with a number of turnovers, that led to points going the other way. Elliot Cadeau, and the rest of the guards, have to protect the basketball tonight, and they need to convert on their freebies at the foul line.
Series History:
Carolina is 2-0 all-time against San Diego State, with wins over the Aztecs in 1988 and 1990. Hubert Davis played in both games, scoring 16 points in the win in Chapel Hill in 1990.
UNC in the NCAA Tournament:
This is the 54th time UNC has played in the NCAA Tournament and the third time they’ve played in Dayton in the Big Dance. They beat Alabama back in 1976 in the first round of the Midwest Regional, and they beat Murray State in 2006, before being upset by George Mason in the second round. Carolina has 133 NCAA Tournament wins and has played in 21 Final Fours, both are the most all-time.
KenPom:
North Carolina - 33rd overall. Adjusted Offensive Efficiency: 118.9 (22nd) Adjusted Defensive Efficiency: 99.3 (53rd)
San Diego State - 46th overall. Adjusted Offensive Efficiency: 109.8 (111th) Adjusted Defensive Efficiency: 93.5 (13th)
TV Info:
Tonight’s game will tip at approximately 9:10 on TruTv.
The Four Corners Podcast:
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