Published Jan 24, 2021
THI Basketball Central: Pittsburgh
John Gwaltney  •  TarHeelIllustrated
TarHeelIllustrated.com
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Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Arena: Petersen Events Center (12,508)

Time/TV: 7:00 pm/ACC Network

Live Audio: Tar Heel Sports Network, GoHeelsTV; Sirius (387), XM (387), SiriusXM Online (977)

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PITTSBURGH - NORTH CAROLINA SERIES

Series vs. UNC: Carolina leads 14-5

Last Meeting: Pittsburgh 66 Carolina 52 (1/18/20)

Streak: Pittsburgh has won the last two meetings with Carolina with one coming in Chapel Hill and the last meeting in Pittsburgh. The Tar Heels had won the six previous meetings.

PITTSBURGH PANTHERS (8-3, 4-2)

Head Coach: Jeff Capel (38-39 at Pitt, 200-149 overall)

Rankings: NR AP, NR Coaches, #59 ESPN BPI, #67 Sagarin

Strength of Schedule: #65

Strength of Record: #44

Offense (Per Game): 74.3 points, 43.5 FG%, 31.7 3-pt FG%, 64.8 FT%, 42.3 rebounds, 16.0 assists, 13.4 turnovers, 1.2 A/T ratio, 6.7 steals, 3.8 blocks

Opponents (Per Game): 67.0 points, 39.6 FG%, 28.5 3-pt FG%, 67.6 FT%, 35.4 rebounds, 14.9 assists, 13.6 turnovers, 1.1 A/T ratio, 6.6 steals, 4.5 blocks

PROJECTED STARTERS

#1 Xavier Johnson, G, 6-3, 200, Jr. (28.8 mpg, 14.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 6.3 apg)

#5 Au'diese Toney, G, 6-6, 210, Jr. (34.8 mpg, 16.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.3 apg)

#0 Ithiel Horton, G, 6-3, 200, So. (26.1 mpg, 8.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.8 apg)

#12 Abdoul Karim Coulibaly, F, 6-8, 215, So. (20.4 mpg, 5.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 0.8 apg)

#11 Justin Champagnie F, 6-6, 200, So. (33.7 mpg, 19.9 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 1.8 apg)

NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (10-5, 5-3)

Head Coach: Roy Williams (477-157 at UNC, 895-258 overall)

Rankings: NR AP, NR Coaches, #30 ESPN BPI, #25 Sagarin

Strength of Schedule: #22

Strength of Record: #32

Offense (Per Game): 74.5 points, 43.1 FG%, 31.0 3-pt FG%, 67.7 FT%, 43.5 rebounds, 14.8 assists, 14.9 turnovers, 1.0 A/T ratio, 6.9 steals, 4.3 blocks

Opponents (Per Game): 70.2 points, 42.7 FG%, 35.7 3-pt FG%, 67.7 FT%, 32.1 rebounds, 12.3 assists, 14.1 turnovers, 0.9 A/T ratio, 8.8 steals, 4.7 blocks

PROJECTED STARTERS

#2 Caleb Love, G, 6-4, 195, Fr. (27.3 mpg, 10.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.1 apg)

#24 Kerwin Walton, G, 6-5, 205, Fr. (17.1 mpg, 6.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.0 apg)

#1 Leaky Black, G, 6-8, 195, Jr. (29.7 mpg, 6.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.7 apg)

#15 Garrison Brooks, F, 6-10, 240, Sr. (28.5 mpg, 10.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.4 apg)

#5 Armando Bacot, F/C, 6-10, 240, So. (22.9 mpg, 12.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 0.7 apg)

*Projected starters based on previous game; Stats & rankings through 1/24/21*

NEXT FIVE FOR THE HEELS

February 2 at Clemson 7:00 pm ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU

February 6 at Duke 6:00 pm ESPN

February 8 vs. Miami 7:00 pm ESPN

February 13 at Virginia 6:00 pm ESPN

February 16 vs Virginia Tech 7:00 pm ESPN/ESPN2