University of North Carolina Athletics
Know Your Opponent: Battle For Atlantis
November 25, 2014 | Men's Basketball
The Battle 4 Atlantis boasts one of the top fields of the Thanksgiving week tournaments, with seven teams in the KenPom top 56 and four teams in the AP top 25. It's a nice mix of familiar opponents, bluebloods, exciting mid-majors and legitimate national title contenders. Here's a quick look at the seven teams awaiting the Tar Heels in paradise.
Butler (No. 56 KenPom, NR AP)
Location: Indianapolis, Ind.
2014-15 Record: 3-0
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): Series tied 2-2 (Butler 82, UNC 71, Nov. 20, 2012, Maui Invitational)
It has been an unusual start to 2014-15 for the Bulldogs, who are 3-0 under interim head coach Chris Holtmann. Holtmann, who was the head coach at Gardner-Webb for three seasons prior to joining the staff at Butler, is coaching in place of Brandon Miller, who took a medical leave of absence in October. Despite the staff turmoil, Butler has thrashed three inferior opponents by an average of 35.0 points per game, and the return of Roosevelt Jones from wrist surgery makes this a much more dangerous team than the one that struggled to a 14-17 finish in 2014.
Oklahoma (No. 28 KenPom, RV AP)
Location: Norman, Okla.
2014-15 Record: 2-1
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): Carolina leads 3-0 (UNC 72, OU 60, March 29, 2009, Memphis, Tenn.)
Lon Kruger's fourth OU team should once again push for NCAA tournament consideration, and the Sooners will be eager to avenge a pair of first round losses to San Diego State and North Dakota State. The loss of forward Cameron Clark hurts (15.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg in 2014), but Oklahoma returns its other four starters from last season, including point guard Jordan Woodard and sharp-shooting wing Buddy Hield. Hield has been especially dangerous so far this season, making 11 of 20 attempts from deep (though he's just 11 of 30 from inside the arc).
UCLA (No. 17 KenPom, No. 22 AP)
Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
2014-15 Record: 4-0
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): Carolina leads 6-3 (UNC 80, UCLA 70, Dec. 23, 2000, Los Angeles)
The Bruins were hit by early departures as badly as anyone in 2014, with three underclassmen - Kyle Anderson, Jordan Adams and Zach LaVine - all going in the first round of the NBA Draft. That means second-year coach Steve Alford's team has a much different look this season, with Alford's son Bryce one of just two returning starters along with outside threat Norman Powell. The Bruins have been among the 20 fastest teams in the country so far, so a matchup with Carolina would be welcomed in a year that could be one of the slowest in history.
UAB (No. 204 KenPom, NR AP)
Location: Birmingham, Ala.
2014-15 Record: 2-2
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): Carolina leads 3-1 (UAB 63, UNC 59, Dec, 1, 2013, Birmingham, Ala.)
Beating Carolina was the highlight of Jarod Haase's first year in Birmingham, a season that saw the Blazers enter conference play at 11-3 before a 7-9 C-USA campaign and a first-round loss to Charlotte in the league tournament. UAB rallied past Jackson State for its first D-I win of the year on Sunday, and Wednesday's opener against Wisconsin will be a tall task. Two things that the Blazers have done well so far (which will come as no surprise considering Haase's coaching pedigree) - force turnovers and get to the foul line.
Florida (No. 11 KenPom, No. 18 AP)
Location: Gainesville, Fla.
2014-15 Record: 2-1
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): Carolina leads 3-2 (UF 71, UNC 59, April 3, 2000, Indianapolis, Ind.)
Much of last year's Final Four team is gone, and the adjustment period has been rocky at times so far this season. With seniors Casey Prather, Scottie Wilbekin and Patric Young all playing professionally, the Gators have stumbled out of the gate. After a loss to Miami last Monday, Florida needed overtime to beat UL-Monroe on Friday. Injuries have only exacerbated the situation, as guard Eli Carter's sprained foot and forward Dorian Finney-Smith's injured hand threaten to sideline both juniors for the Bahamas trip.
Georgetown (No. 25 KenPom, RV AP)
Location: Washington, D.C.
2014-15 Record: 3-0
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): Georgetown leads 5-4 (Georgetown 96, UNC 84 (OT), March 25, 2007, East Rutherford, N.J.)
Georgetown has been largely untested in three wins to open the year, but the Hoyas are a veteran club with size. Senior Joshua Smith goes 6-10, 350, and has averaged 17.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Frontcourt classmate Mikael Hopkins, who leads the team in rebounding and blocks, helps create real problems down low, as the Hoyas rank in the top 20 nationally in both offensive rebounding percentage and 2-point FG percentage. Georgetown, like UNC, attempts 3s on less than 26% of its shots, which ranks outside the top 300 nationally.
Wisconsin (No. 4 KenPom, No. 2 AP)
Location: Madison, Wis.
2014-15 Record: 4-0
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): Carolina leads 2-0 (UNC 60, Wisconsin 57, Nov. 30, 2011, Chapel Hill)
Wisconsin is 4-0 and has dominated a couple of solid mid-majors in Green Bay and Boise State. Frank Kaminsky was a breakout star as a junior in 2014 and will threaten for National Player of the Year honors as a senior. The 7-footer does it all - he averages a double-double (19.3 points, 10.3 rebounds), leads the team in steals and blocks and ranks second in assists. The Bo Ryan philosophy is simple but extremely effective - limit opponent free throw attempts, prevent second-chance opportunities and protect the ball.
