UNC vs. Pitt Prediction, Game Preview
UNC vs. Pitt prediction and game preview. The Tar Heels will look to bounce back from their disappointing loss at Miami when they host struggling Pitt in Chapel Hill, NC.
UNC vs. Pitt prediction and game preview. The Tar Heels will look to bounce back from their disappointing loss at Miami when they host struggling Pitt in Chapel Hill, NC.
UNC vs. Pitt Game Preview
When: Tuesday, Jan. 31 – 7 p.m. ET
Where: Dean E. Smith Center, Chapel Hill, NC
TV Broadcast: ESPN2
The Tar Heels (19-4, 7-2 ACC) will be looking to bounce back from their loss to Miami in Coral Gables on Saturday. Roy Williams’ team allowed Hurricanes freshman Bruce Brown to score a career-high 30 points to help upset the Tar Heels, 77-62, and put a stop to their seven-game win streak.
Meanwhile, the Panthers (12-9, 1-7) are enduring a rough start to the Kevin Stallings era. They are coming off of a home loss to a Clemson squad that had lost six straight contests, as the Tigers topped the Panthers, 67-60, this past Saturday. Pitt shot just 32 percent (18-of-55) from the floor, connecting on just 5 of 28 shots in the second half.
This is the first of two meetings between these teams. In their last contest, UNC shot 58.9 percent on the way to an 88-71 rout in the quarterfinals of last year’s conference tournament.
UNC Wins If …
… The Tar Heels revert back to the offensive machine that they have been throughout most of the season. UNC’s point total against the ‘Canes was a season low and 27 below its average, as it shot only 35 percent from the floor. The Hurricanes’ zone defense caused problems, especially in the lane.
UNC will be going up against a team that allowed 106 points to Louisville last week, so being challenged defensively shouldn’t be an issue. The Heels also need to get back to being aggressive on the boards. They were surprisingly out-rebounded, 41-36, by the ‘Canes on Saturday despite leading the nation in that category.
Pitt Wins If …
… The offensive changes that Stallings is thinking about making work out. The offense is slumping, so the Panthers head coach is mulling some different options. The players loved the freedom offensively that Stallings had given them upon his arrival because it was a change from what type of style they had played under former head coach Jamie Dixon. The team recently experienced a 55-point home loss to Louisville, and it appeared that the team had quit. Defense remains a concern, but Stallings knows that getting back in tune on offense is essential as it boasts two 20-point per game scorers in Jamel Artis and Michael Young.
Sixth man Ryan Luther has been out with a right foot injury and Young continued to get comfortable playing with a mask protecting a fracture in his orbital bone. But Artis and Young have seemingly been trying to do too much. Pitt needs to get back to basics while allowing Artis and Young to thrive in a more fluid motion offense.
Matchup To Watch
Artis and Young vs. Tar Heels defense
Young is coming off of a 3-of-16 shooting performance against Clemson, and he was just 1-of-7 from downtown. For the Panthers to have any chance to stick with the Tar Heels for 40 minutes, Stallings needs his best players to be at the top of their game. But they cannot try to do too much and risk the flow of the offense. That has been the problem lately, which is why Stallings has been trying to shake things up offensively.
Betting Odds
Spread: No spread as of post
Over/Under: No line as of post
UNC vs. Pitt Prediction
The Tar Heels are coming off of a subpar performance against Miami, while the Panthers are scuffling. This is a bad spot for Stallings and Co. UNC will closely resemble the national championship contender that we have expected to consistently see throughout the year in an easy win.
UNC vs. Pitt final score prediction: UNC 86, Pitt 69
