donbosco
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North Carolina (9-6, 2-1 ACC) vs. SMU (11-3, 2-1 ACC)
Tuesday, Jan. 7 — 9 p.m.
Chapel Hill, N.C. — Smith Center
TV: ACC Network (Wes Durham, Dan Bonner)
Radio: Tar Heels Sports Network (Jones Angell, Tyler Zeller)
UNC Tar Heels:
Cadeau #3 P = 65, E = 95, I = 95, X = 80
Davis #4 P = 20, E = 0, I = 25, X = 20
Jackson #11 P = 25, E = 50, I = 100, X = 60
Washington #13 P = 45, E = 95, I = 70, X = 55
Powell #9 P = 40, E = 90, I = 40, X = 40
Trimble #7 P = 90, E = 100, I = 25, X = 55
Tyson #5 P = 40, E = 100, I = 40, X = 40
Withers #24 P = 15, E = 5, I = 95, X = 55
Lubin #22 P = 0, E = 90, I = 35, X = 15
Claude #0 P = 95, E = 50, I = 5, X = 45
Brown #2 P = 100, E = 75, I = 25, X = 60
Coach Davis Wisdom = 0
SMU Mustangs
21 YOHAN TRAORE P = 10, E = 30, I = 95, X = 55
33 Matt Cross P = 85, E = 75, I = 100, X = 90
24 SAMET YIGITOGLU P = 0, E = 5, I = 45, X = 20
0 B.J. Edwards P = 100, E = 95, I = 55, X = 75
2 Boopie Miller P = 80, E = 20, I = 55, X = 65
20 JERRELL COLBERT P = 85, E = 0, I = 45, X = 65
8 KARIO OQUENDO P = 80, E = 90, I = 75, X = 75
3 CHUCK HARRIS P = 25, E = 15, I = 5, X = 15
Coach Andy Enfield Wisdom = 80
Look-In: In Carolina’s first visit by a newcomer, SMU rolls into Chapel HIll with a gaudy 11-3 record with wins over Virginia and BC in the league (loss to dook) and frankly, nothing impressive in the other nine victories. They are tall and shoot the trey well (38% – they take 21 and hit 8 per game). Chuck Harris and Kario Oquendo are dead eyes from distance while Boopie Miller and B.J. Edwards are no slouches. Six-Footer Miller leads them in scoring (played at WFU last season, #2, 16 ppg and 6 apg) and he is followed by five Mustangs that average 10 or 11 points per game. Matt Cross (Frosh year at Miami) is a 6-7 gadfly averaging 11 ppg and 8 rebounds. He’s a pain and his rhythms suggest that will be his role tonight. Indeed, Miller, Edwards, and Oquendo also have very positive arcs as does the team in general. From Turkiye comes 7-2 freshman Samet Yigitoglu to fill the paint – he scores 10 ppg and grabs 7 rpg but also leads the team in fouls committed. Frenchman Yohan Traore is a tall (6-10) starter scoring at 9 ppg and taking down 5 rpg. Jerrell Colbert (6-10) brings an active inside game off the bench. It is hard to gauge SMU by the numbers as they have really played but three true power schools (Butler, Virginia, and dook) and two of them are having down years. They lost their last time out to dook by 27.
Frontcourt: Jalen Washington is headed in a good direction with good Intel and Enthusiasm Arcs. A smart Withers also takes the home court joining a fired up Lubin, a physical Claude, and a very motivated James Brown.
Wings: Powell and Tyson bring identical quotients of positivity to the court and are relatively adequate otherwise. Ian Jackson is Mensa Quality smart (an arc that has boded well for his play).
Guards: An across-the-board elevated Elliott Cadeau should be raised up by the return of Seth Trimble who also brings much fire and firepower to the Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center tonight. R.J. Davis is working through rough rhythms but is experienced and will contribute.
Overall: This one looks tougher than it ought to be…when they go tall SMU can cause problems for Carolina so bringing the ball to the rim, and drawing fouls, will be crucial. That is what Seth Trimble does and thoughtful play by Cadeau and Jackson should also make that happen. Truth be told, Carolina needs to win this one on the defensive end. Outrunning the aptly named Mustangs won’t be enough (they score at 85.4 point per game, the Heels 84.6) so tripping them up out of the gate is the way to go. Former Division III star Coach Andy Enfield (Johns Hopkins) is a smart guy and full of tricks. B.J. Edwards is the most likely SMU to cover Ian Jackson and he’s a solid defender. Trimble ought to slow Miller though watch for a hard-nosed R.J. Davis working to stat stuff this game, including on defense. Washington’s mobility will be key, a thinking man’s game from Withers, and a energized Drake Powell may be the story around the rim. Cadeau commands. The Bettors call it Carolina by 6.5. The biorhythms see a tighter contest and a Tar Heel win by 4.
