The Tar Heels have been spectacular so far this season against ranked teams, especially away from home, which is something that they struggled with last season.
After defeating Michigan State and Louisville away from Chapel Hill, Carolina now welcome one of the most storied programs in college basketball into the Smith Center, as the Kentucky Wildcats come in Saturday afternoon ranked No. 11 in the nation and looking to end the Tar Heels' recent success in picking up RPI-worthy victories.
This is the first ranked opponent this season making their way to the Dean Dome and could likely their last until the Tar Heels enter Atlantic Coast Conference play after the first of the year.
Even though the Wildcats might be young and inexperienced, John Calipari will have his team ready for a hostile environment Saturday afternoon, in what should be one of the top match ups this weekend nationally around college basketball.
Tar Heel Illustrated goes in depth about this matchup. Tip off is set to be at 5:15 pm EST.
Kentucky Wildcats
Record: 8-2
Streak: 1 Win
Conference Record: 0-0
National Ranking: #11
RPI: 54
SOS: 105
Points per Game: 80.8
Rebounds per Game: 44.2
Assists per game 12.9
Field Goal Percentage: 48.3 percent
Rebounding Leaders
Julius Randle: 12.0
Willie Cauley-Stein: 7.7
Alex Poythress: 5.9
James Young: 3.9
Dakari Johnson: 3.5
Assist Leaders
Andrew Harrison: 3.5
Julius Randle: 2.2
Aaron Harrison: 2.1
James Young: 1.8
Willie Cauley-Stein 1.2
Field Goal Shooting Percentage Leaders
Marcus Lee: 71.4 percent
Willie Cauley-Stein: 61.7 percent
Julius Randle: 53.8 percent
Dakari Johnson: 53.6 percent
Derek Willis: 50.0 percent
3pt Shooting Percentage Leaders
Derek Willis: 50.0 percent
Andrew Harrison: 38.1 percent
James Young: 34.3 percent
Jon Hood: 33.3 percent
Alex Poythress: 33.3 percent
Free Throw Percentage Leaders
Jon Hood: 100 percent (4-4)
Andrew Harrison: 78.9 percent (45-57)
Aaron Harrison: 76.6 percent (36-47)
Derek Willis: 75.0 percent (9-12)
Julius Randle: 73.6 percent (64-87)