High-Powered Heels Face Top D in Wahoos
The fans at Dean Smith Center will the Virginia Cavaliers and the North Carolina Tar Heels when they take their seats on Monday. This is a game between two ACC heavyweights and should be a hard fought battle. We know one thing. Something will have to give in this matchup. One of the nation’s best offenses takes on the nation’s best defense.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN LINE: Tar Heels -1; O/U: 140.5.
Eighth-ranked North Carolina will test an offense that is averaging more than 90 points over the last six games when it visits No. 3 Virginia on Monday night for a critical ACC contest. The Tar Heels have won seven straight games after surviving a challenge from Miami (Fla.) on Saturday while grinding out an 88-85 overtime victory. They will face a Virginia team that is allowing a national-best 54.1 points per contest.
Cavaliers and Tar Heels Look for Plenty of Defense
The Cavaliers have three straight wins over the Tar Heels including the ACC Tournament final last March. The Wahoos have given up 60 or more points just five times this season. But Virginia coach Tony Bennett will be looking for a “cleaner game” from his team after dropping an 81-71 decision to second-ranked Duke at home on Saturday. The Cavaliers allowed 13-of-21 shooting from 3-point range. “We just have to keep trying to tighten up and be as sound as we can,” said Bennett, whose team is limiting opponents to 26.5 percent from behind the arc overall in 2018-19.
This, That, and a Dart Throw
The Cavaliers are 20-2 overall and 8-2 in the ACC. Junior guard Ty Jerome returned after missing one game with a back injury. He scored 16 points to go along with four assists against Duke. He will likely be a game-time decision in the quick turnaround Monday.
Guard Kyle Guy also recorded 16 points versus the Blue Devils and leads the team in scoring at 14.6 ppg and 3-point shooting with 63 makes, while shooting 43.2%. Guard De’Andre Hunter, who averages 14.5 ppg, scored 11 against Duke. He is shooting 52.5 percent from the field overall.
Guard Braxton Key tops the team in rebounds at 6.1 rpg, including 28 total over the last three games. F Mamadi Diakite, who has at least one block in 15 straight games, left Saturday’s game after a collision and his status is uncertain.
The Tar Heels are 19-4 overall and 9-1 in the ACC. Freshman guard Coby White is averaging 20 points during the winning streak to push his team-high scoring mark to 15.9. He matched a season high by scoring 33 against Miami. Brice Johnson is a close second in scoring at 15.8 ppg.
Senior forward Luke Maye is pouring in 15.1 points and 9.7 rpg, is scoring 23.7 per game the last three contests. Johnson connected on 19-of-37 shots from 3-point range in the last six games and shoots 47.2 percent from behind the arc overall – second in the ACC.
PREDICTION: North Carolina 67, Virginia 64
ACC Basketball Betting Odds & Trends
| Virginia Cavaliers |
|---|
| Virginia is 10-3 ATS in its last 13 games |
| Virginia is 20-2 SU in its last 22 games |
| Virginia is 15-2 ATS in its last 17 games on the road |
| Virginia is 16-1 SU in its last 17 games on the road |
| The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Virginia’s last 20 games on the road |
| Virginia is 14-6 ATS in its last 20 games when playing North Carolina |
| Virginia is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing North Carolina |
| The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Virginia’s last 5 games when playing North Carolina |
| Virginia is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against North Carolina |
| Virginia is 2-11 SU in its last 13 games when playing on the road against North Carolina |
| The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Virginia’s last 8 games when playing on the road against North Carolina |
| North Carolina Tar Heels |
|---|
| North Carolina is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games |
| North Carolina is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games |
| The total has gone OVER in 4 of North Carolina’s last 6 games |
| The total has gone UNDER in 9 of North Carolina’s last 13 games |
| North Carolina is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home |
| North Carolina is 6-14 ATS in its last 20 games when playing Virginia |
| North Carolina is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Virginia |
| The total has gone UNDER in 4 of North Carolina’s last 5 games when playing Virginia |
| North Carolina is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Virginia |
| North Carolina is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games when playing at home against Virginia |
| The total has gone UNDER in 6 of North Carolina’s last 8 games when playing at home against Virginia |
Next up:
Virginia home to Notre Dame Saturday, February 16
North Carolina at Wake Forest Saturday, February 16
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