No. 10 Clemson Tigers at No. 5 North Carolina Tarheels

NCAA Basketball Preview
No. 10 Clemson Tigers (16-1) at No. 5 North Carolina Tarheels (16-2)
Wednesday, 9:00PM Eastern

Bookmaker.com betting line – North Carolina -14

The No. 5 North Carolina Tarheels host the No. 10 Clemson Tigers tonight in Chapel Hill in a big ACC conference match-up. Clemson dropped their first loss last weekend 78-68 from the hands of No. 1 Wake Forest. North Carolina has won two games in a row after losing two in one week against Boston College and Wake Forest. The game has big aspirations for both teams in terms of ACC regular season hopes. Clemson lost their first conference game last weekend and North Carolina has already lost two. Neither team can afford anymore losses as they both trial Duke and Wake Forest who are undefeated in conference play. Clemson has the chance to gain a lot of respect among the national audience if they could pull of the win as big underdogs tonight.

The Tarheels own one of the deepest and talented lineups in America lead by superstar Tyler Hansbrough. Hansbrough is sporting a strong 22.9 points and 8 rebounds per game for the season. North Carolina ranks 2^nd in the nation in scoring racking up an amazing 93 points per contest. The Tarheels have also dominated the boards with 43 rebounds per game that ranks in the Top 5 in the country as well. North Carolina’s year started out very well as they seemed to be the best team in America for many weeks of the early season. However with stumbles in recent weeks, North Carolina has to get back on the right track to prove their national status. The Tarheels have won 9 straight games over the Tigers and will try to avoid their first loss from Clemson since January of 2004.

The Clemson Tigers started the season with a perfect 16-0 record before their first loss last week. Clemson has averaged 80 points per game while shooting 49% as a team from the floor which both rank in the top 30 across the land. The Tigers main performer comes from that of Trevor Booker. The junior forward has been responsible for 15 points and 9 boards in every outing this season. Booker inside presence will play huge dividends for the Tigers tonight in Chapel Hill. Clemson must find a way to be effective inside the paint and then receive help from the outside shooting of Terrence Oglesby. Oglesby is shooting 41% from behind the arc and his ability to knock down the three could be what gives the Tigers hope tonight.

What to watch for…
North Carolina has not been shooting the ball near as well in the last few weeks and it should be worth considering before heading into Tonight’s match-up. The Tarheels are shooting 49% as a team on the year, but have only knocked down 39% against their last 4 ACC opponents. North Carolina must shoot the ball better against a Clemson team that can get hot from the floor.

Pick – Clemson keeps it close. Clemson +14