This is going to be so much fun. Two ranked teams will collide in one of the quarterfinal pairings of the ACC Tournament as North Carolina and Louisville lock horns in Greensboro later today. The fifth-seeded Tar Heels may hold a 10-4 head-to-head advantage against the fourth-seeded Cardinals but Louisville have proven to be a worthy opponent this time around, splitting its two meetings with North Carolina this season.
Read on below for a preview of this mouth-watering clash and while you’re at it, you can check out our preview of the quarterfinal showdown between Virginia and Florida State here.
[sc:MarchMadness ]North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Louisville Cardinals Betting Preview
Where: Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina
When: Thursday, March 12, 2:00 PM ET
Line: North Carolina Tar Heels (-2) vs. Louisville Cardinals (+2) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
Betting on the North Carolina Tar Heels
There will be no early exit for North Carolina this time around.
The Tar Heels sealed their place in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament with a resounding 81-63 win Wednesday over the Boston College Eagles. It was a much better tournament debut for the Tar Heels who avoided a repeat of their one-and-done exit a year ago to the Pittsburgh Panthers.
[sc:NCAAB240banner ]Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson led the Tar Heels with 17 points apiece as they stepped up big time in the absence of forward Kennedy Meeks who was out because of high fever. North Carolina stormed to a quick 43-30 advantage at the break and never looked back as they pulled away late for its seventh consecutive win over the Eagles.
More than their offensive exploits, it was the Tar Heels’ work on the defensive end that really turned the game in North Carolina’s favor. In particular, they did an excellent job in stopping all-ACC guard Olivier Hanlan who exploded for 30 points in their only regular season meeting last month.
The Tar Heels made sure there will be no repeat of that performance this time around as Hanlan was held to just 18 points on a horrid 5 of 19 shooting from the field. Hanlan found it difficult to solve North Carolina’s length, in particular J.P. Tokoto’s defense as he missed 12 of his first 14 shots.
With Meeks (12.0 PPG, 7.6 RPG) still out tonight with mononucleosis, the Tar Heels will need to bring that same defensive intensity if they are to stand a chance against the Cardinals. The Cardinals have averaged 66.0 points against them in their two meetings this season.
If this game turns into another offensive shootout just like their first two meetings with the Cardinals, however, head coach Roy Williams will need Paige to bring it once again on the offensive end. Paige is the Tar Heels’ leading scorer with 13.7 PPG and he is clearly improving from a foot injury that’s hampered him since January, averaging 20.0 points on 59.1% shooting in North Carolina’s last two games.
He will be licking his chops at the prospect of facing Louisville as he has fared extremely well against them in the past. Paige has averaged 19.0 points on 50.0 percent shooting in three career games against the Cardinals.
The Tar Heels are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games.
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Betting on the Louisville Cardinals
Louisville ended the regular-season on a high with a thrilling 59-57 come-from-behind win Saturday over then No. 2 seed Virginia. It was a huge victory for the Cardinals as they not only snapped Virginia’s nine-game winning streak and its perfect road record but the win helped them clinch fourth place in the conference and an automatic place in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament.
They will have a battle in their hands, however, in the next round as lying in wait are the North Carolina Tar Heels. If their two meetings this season are anything to go by, it’s bound to be another close contest between the two sides. The two teams have split their two meetings this campaign with Louisville holding a 132-131 scoring advantage in regulation in those two games.
After North Carolina stunned Louisville, 72-71, in their first meeting on January 10, it was the Cardinals’ turn to shock the Tar Heels three weeks later, recording an impressive 78-68 come-from-behind victory. Terry Rozier and Montrezl Harrell starred for the Cardinals in that game, grabbing 22 points apiece.
They are expected to lead the charge for the Cardinals once again later today. Rozier has been superb against the Tar Heels this season averaging 23.5 PPG. Harrell, on the other hand, has been in impressive form as of late, averaging 21.5 points and 12 rebounds in the Cardinals’ last two games.
The Cardinals are 4-1 SU in their last five games.
Writer’s Prediction
North Carolina (-2) wins, 79-72.
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