ACC in NCAA Tourney Breakdown: 2) UNC vs. 4) Kentucky

Posted by Brandon Rink on March 26, 2011 under ACC Basketball | Comments are off for this article

Kentucky/UNC matches up two quality frontcourts. (Per OrangeandWhite.com)

One ACC team remains – can the Tar Heels sweep their two game series with the Wildcats?

(2) North Carolina Tar Heels vs. (4) Kentucky Wildcats, 5:05 (EST), CBS, Newark NJ

Coaches Tourney Records: UNC – Roy Williams 57-18 (7-2 in Elite 8); Kentucky – John Calipari – 28-12 (2-4 Elite 8).
Heel That Has to Step up: F Harrison Barnes – It’s time, time for Barnes’ big game to lead to UNC’s advancement…UK’s Josh Harrellson (6′10 275, averaging 15.6 ppg in tourney) has been going off and will bother Zeller and co. in the paint – UNC needs a big one from Barnes.
UNC Has to Stop: Brandon Knight (17.2 ppg, 4.2 apg) – Knight was Kentucky’s most consistent scorer all season, but not so much in the NCAA Tourney. He’s scored 2 against Princeton, 30 against West Virginia and 9 against Ohio State…your guess is as good as mine on his performance against UNC, but I wouldn’t count on a bad one.
What I’m Thinking…: This is a rematch of a game long before these teams were as good as they are now. UNC won 75-73 in the Dean Dome on December 4, 2010 – Zeller put up 27 points and 11 rebounds – UK’s Doron Lamb was the Wildcats’ leading scorer with 24 points. What can you take from that game? Not much.

What’s important is that Kentucky just downed the tourney’s best team (Ohio State) and UNC drilled Marquette. There may not be a better frontcourt matchup in the tournament then UK/UNC, and Brandon Knight, Kendall Marshall aren’t too shabby either. Bottom-line, this is game is going to be entertaining – just like the first one. The size of each will affect the other, but I like Marshall and Barnes to attack Kentucky in a shootout win.

Pick: Heels 82-76