NCAA Basketball Picks: North Carolina Tar Heels vs Miami Hurricanes
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
by Mike Stewart
Big men Tyler Zeller and John Henson recorded double-doubles to help North Carolina Tar Heels defeat Miami 73-56 on Jan. 10, but the backcourt duel was more telling.
Kendall Marshall and Dexter Strickland made 12 of 16 shots from the field and held Miami Hurricanes guards Durand Scott and Malcolm Grant to 6 for 20. Strickland has since been lost for the season (knee surgery), but the Tar Heels aren’t hurting for offense as they lead the nation in scoring (83.5).
Miami, which had its five-game winning streak snapped at Florida State on Saturday, has output almost 10 points under its average the last two contests.
- North Carolina Tar Heels @ Miami Hurricanes
When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Where: BankUnited Center, Coral Gables, Florida
TV: ET; ESPN.
The Tar Heels have opened as 5-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Basketball Odds.
North Carolina Tar Heels (21-4): Zeller, a 7-foot senior, has averaged 20 points and almost 11 rebounds the last seven games. The Tar Heels’ only loss in that stretch was Duke’s late comeback. Zeller has 10 double-doubles, and front-court partner Henson has 12. Harrison Barnes is still the go-to player, averaging 17.5 points, but he has shot 36.2 percent from the field the last four games. Marshall is second in the nation in assists (9.6). Reggie Bullock shot 8 for 16 his first two games taking over for Strickland, but 11 for 35 since.
Miami Hurricanes (15-8): The Hurricanes play four of their final six regular-season games at the BankUnited Center, where they are 10-2. Against Florida State, Miami mustered its lowest point total (59) since the North Carolina contest and made just 5 of 22 from 3-point range. The Hurricanes need to get Grant going again. The senior guard has just 15 points combined the last three games and is 8 for 40 from the field the last four. Big men Kenny Kadji and Reggie Johnson are both shooting over 50 percent, and Scott is the key threat outside.
1. The last Miami victory over North Carolina was Jan. 14, 2006. They have lost nine straight since.
2. North Carolina coach Roy Williams is tied with UCLA’s John Wooden for 23rd on the all-time Division I wins list (664).
3. Miami has never finished better than 8-8 in the ACC since joining the league in 2004-05.
NCAA BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Tar Heels 78, Hurricanes 68.
Bet on NCAA College Basketball games with SBG Global Sportsbook
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bankunited center - dexter strickland - durand scott - harrison barnes - john henson - john wooden - kendall marshall - kenny kadji - malcolm grant - miami hurricanes
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