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#11 UNC (19-5) v Pitt (9-16)
2:00 Dean E. Smith Center
TV ESPN
Radio: 97.9 The Hill WCHL - Chapelboro.com
UNC Tar Heels:
#1 Kyan Evans P = 15, E = 95, I = 15, X = 15
#7 Seth Trimble P = 0, E = 90, I = 0, X = 0
#8 Caleb Wilson Will Not Play
#44 Luka Bogavac P = 0, E = 100, I = 45, X = 20
#13 Henri Veesaar P = 45, E = 60. I = 100, X = 70
#15 Jarin Stevenson P = 25, E = 100, I = 70, X = 45
#11 Jonathan Powell P = 95, E = 20, I = 95, X = 95
#3 Derek Dixon P = 5, E = 10, I = 30, X = 15
#2 James Brown Will Not Play
#1 Zayden High P = 20, E = 40, I = 100, X = 60
#4 Jaydon Young P = 90, E = 0, I = 45, X = 65
#5 Isaiah Denis P = 5, E = 70, I = 45, x = 25
Coach Davis Wisdom = 80
Pitt Panthers
#13 Roman Siulepa P = 95, E = 0, I = 40, X = 65
#22 Barry Dunning Jr. P = 95, E = 20, I = 0, X = 45
#21 Macari Moore 6-3 Fr 1.4 ppg
#2 Cameron Corhen P = 60, E = 100, I = 95, X = 75
#8 Omari Witherspoon P = 45, E = 50, I = 20, X = 30
#25 Nojus Indrusaitis P = 35, E = 80, I = 100, X = 65
#12 Kieran Mullin P = 65, E = 70, I = 85, X = 75
#21 Macari Moore P = 40, E = 60, I = 60, X = 50
#7 Damarco Minor P = 55, E = 5, I = 40, X = 45 (Questionable)
Coach Jeff Capel Wisdom = 60
We all know the harsh news by now of the left hand fracture of joyous superstar Caleb Wilson. He’s out for 3 to 4 weeks. The ACC Tournament begins March 10. Carolina has the following games after today: at State college Tuesday 2/17, at Syracuse Saturday 2/21, Louisville Monday 2/23, Virginia Tech Saturday 2/28, Clemson Tuesday 3/3, and at dook Saturday 3/7. Those are all likely to be played with our modified line-up, i.e., no Caleb Wilson. We’ll see how the coaches stretch and strategize their way through the coming weeks. No doubt there will be enhanced demands placed on everyone on the team – Caleb Wilson’s sneakers are big ones as he led the team in virtually every category. Today we played a dookie surrogate in Pitt, led as it is by Jeff Capel, a bit of a Rat Clone, who often reaches back into the “Hey Knight!” bag of dirty tricks to play in ways that skirt along the edge of both rules and sportsmanship, i.e., no love lost in this match-up. Unfortunately for the Fayetteville native his squad has been nigh decimated by injuries and will only be able to court up seven scholarship players for today’s game at best. The rest in the Overall section to come.
Frontcourt: Veesaar is a very smart man with fire. Stevenson has a great deal of motivation and is also a thinker. High joins the other bigs in the Mensa Corner.
Wings: Bogavac has the ‘want-to’ and Powell has the whole package.
Guards: Adrenaline only fuels Seth Trimble while Derek Dixon is down. Kyan Evans is inspired. Jaydon Young is athletic.
Overall: Such a game coming on the Heels of both a devastating game loss and a personnel blow can often be compensatory. We’ll see about that. Carolina has some poor overall biorhythms but there is also a very elevated level of drive showing across the board. Pitt is a bundle of unpredictables – their best remaining player, Corhen is listed as but “Probable” and not definite – he’s a 6-10 senior averaging 12 ppg. Joining him in the frontcourt is Aussie Roman Siulepa (6-6, 10ppg, 5.5rpg. Another big Aussie, 7-foot Kieran Mullin will play though he has been made to see court time by the injuries not due to prowess. Nojus Indrusaitis, a 6-5 sophomore (Iowa State) will play. He averages 7.7ppg and shoots 35.6% from Three. Omari Witherspoon (6-4 freshman, 7.4ppg) and Macari Moore (6-3 freshman, 1.4ppg) are the guards. The truest anchor that the Panthers have is Barry Dunning, a 6-6 senior averaging 11.7ppg and 5.5rpg. Capel has the challenge of patching together this effort.
Coach Davis bears the other quilting assignment and that will certainly prove interesting to see – Carolina will likely move to a Veesaar-Stevenson-Bogavac-Dixon-Trimble starting line-up but plenty of Powell should be on tap. Best minutes from Goldsboro’s Jaydon Young are also a distinct possibility. Kyan Evans is back more deeply in the rotation given the likelihood of some three guard line-ups to come. And of course this is Zayden High’s moment to maintain his cool and play smart and strong.
Carolina ought to win this one but there may very well be some puzzling moments and floor configurations. Guard dearth among the Pittsburgh squad and depth for UNC – may mean true pressing defense – even full-court – from Carolina. The Enthusiasm and Braininess showing in the Ritmos bodes well for that sort of game plan. Carolina is an 11.5 favorite according to the gamblers. Ritmos show a 15 point win.
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