University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Host BC, Go For 12 In A Row
January 30, 2016 | Men's Basketball
THE MATCHUP
♦ North Carolina (18-2, 7-0 ACC) will go for its 12th win a row when it hosts Boston College (7-13, 0-7) on Saturday afternoon in Chapel Hill.
♦ The Tar Heels and Eagles will tip off just after 4 p.m. on Saturday in the Smith Center.
♦ Dave O'Brien (play-by-play), Cory Alexander (analyst) and Allison Williams (reporter) will call the game for an ESPN2 national television audience. Watch with WatchESPN.
WILLIAMS GETS #350 AT UNC
♦ The Tar Heels are 350-103 under Roy Williams, who is the first coach in NCAA history to win 350 games at two Division I schools.
♦ Williams won 418 games at Kansas. He is one of 10 coaches to win at least 200 at two schools and is already the only coach with at least 300 at two schools.
TAR HEEL STORYLINES
♦ After Saturday's contest, the next Tar Heel home game will come over two weeks later, on Feb. 14 vs. Pittsburgh.
♦ Carolina is in a stretch when it will play four of five games on the road. The run will include trips to Virginia Tech (W, 75-70), Louisville (Feb. 1), Notre Dame (Feb. 6) and Boston College (Feb. 9) and the home matchup with BC.
♦ Carolina is the only remaining undefeated team in the ACC.
♦ The Tar Heels, off to their first 7-0 ACC start under Roy Williams, are trying for their 12th win in a row, their 16th win in 17 games and their 19th victory of the season.
♦ The last time UNC had a better ACC start than 7-0 was in 2000-01, when it started 11-0.
♦ UNC is ranked No. 2 in this week's Associated Press poll and No. 1 in the coaches' poll, up a spot in the coaches' poll from last week.
UP NEXT
♦ After the game vs. Boston College on Saturday, the Tar Heels will visit Louisille on ESPN's Big Monday in Louisville, Ky.
♦ The Louisville game is the first of three in a row on the road for the Tar Heels.
A TAR HEEL WIN WOULD ...
♦ Improve UNC to 19-2, 8-0 ACC in 2015-16.
♦ Make UNC 12-0 in the Smith Center in 2015-16 and 375-67 there in 31 seasons overall.
♦ Extend Carolina's winning streak to 12 games since losing on a buzzer-beater at Texas on Dec. 12.
♦ Continue the Tar Heels' best ACC start in 13 seasons under Roy Williams at 8-0.
♦ Give Carolina its eighth win in a row over Boston College and its 12th in the last 14 meetings in the series.
♦ Make Carolina 5-2 against the Eagles in Chapel Hill, all in the Smith Center.
♦ Improve Roy Williams' career record as a head coach to 769-204 overall.
♦ Make Williams 351-103 at Carolina.
A TAR HEEL LOSS WOULD ...
♦ Drop Carolina to 18-3, 7-1 ACC.
♦ Snap Carolina's 11-game winning streak.
♦ Make UNC 11-1 in the Smith Center this season and 374-68 in the arena overall.
♦ Be Boston College's first win over Carolina since Feb. 20, 2010, in Chestnut Hill.
♦ End UNC's seven-game winning streak over the Eagles.
♦ Drop Roy Williams' career record to 768-205 overall.
♦ Make Williams 350-104 at Carolina.
COACHES VS. CANCER GAME
♦ The UNC coaches and staff will wear sneakers with special gold laces on the sidelines for the game vs. Boston College as part of a Coaches vs. Cancer awareness and fundraising campaign.
♦ The laces are in memory of Lacey Holsworth, an eight-year-old Michigan State fan who died of cancer. The laces are available for sale in Shoe Carnival stores, with 85 percent of the proceeds going to Coaches vs. Cancer and 15 percent going to the Princess Lacey Legacy fund.
♦ Tar Heel players will wear pink shoelaces on Saturday as part of the awareness event.
TAR HEEL TIDBITS
TEAM NOTES
♦ Cutting Down on Turnovers: UNC is averaging 10.5 turnovers per game, the lowest figure of any Carolina team since turnovers were first recorded in 1981-82. Last year, the Tar Heels averaged nearly 13 turnovers per contest.
♦ There have been seven seasons in which UNC has committed fewer than 13 turnovers per game. The current record was set in 2013-14 (11.94 per game). The other seasons below 13 are 2011-12 (11.95), 2012-13 (12.3), 2008-09 (12.4), 1994-95 (12.9) and 1981-82 (12.9).
♦ Carolina's assist-to-turnover ratio (1.77) ranks third in the nation and would be the best of any Tar Heel team since turnovers were recorded in 1981-82. The second-best figure is 1.53 in 1985-86. Other top-five seasons include 1.45 (2008-09), 1.45 (2011-12) and 1.42 (1997-98).
♦ Under 40 Percent: The Tar Heels shot a season-low 37.8 percent from the floor in their win at Virginia Tech. It was the second time in three games UNC won despite shooting a season-low percentage.
♦ It was the first time Carolina has won three straight games shooting under 40 percent since 2010-11, when UNC beat Clemson, Wake Forest & Boston College.
♦ UNC has never shot under 40 percent in four consecutive games under Roy Williams. The last time UNC shot under 40 percent four times in a row was in 2002-03, when it shot under 40 percent five games in a row.
♦ Carolina is 27-48 under Williams when shooting under 40 percent.
♦ UNC's three-point percentage of 30.6 would be the lowest in school history if the season were to end today. The current low is 32.8 percent, set in 2010-11.
♦ Carolina is 7-0 in ACC play for the first time under Roy Williams. The last time UNC began ACC action better was 2000-01 (an 11-0 ACC start under head coach Matt Doherty).
♦ UNC has won 11 games in a row, the seventh time in Roy Williams's 13-year tenure as UNC's head coach the Tar Heels have won at least 11 games in a row. The 2007-08 team has the two longest streaks (18 games and 15 games).
♦ Carolina has had seven different players lead the team in scoring in games this season.
♦ The Tar Heels had five different leading scorers in their first five ACC games. Marcus Paige led with 18 points vs. Clemson, Joel Berry II had 19 vs. Georgia Tech, Brice Johnson had 39 at Florida State, Isaiah Hicks had 21 at Syracuse and Kennedy Meeks had 23 vs. N.C. State.
♦ 80 or More: Carolina has scored 80 or more points in 16 of 20 games and is averaging 85.7 ppg this season.
♦ The Tar Heels are 228-28 in 13 seasons under Roy Williams when they score at least 80 points (15-1 this season).
♦ 90 or More: The Tar Heels have scored 90 or more points seven times his season after doing so five times all of last year.
♦ 100 or More: UNC is 49-1 under Williams when it scores 100 points or more.
♦ Carolina has shot 50 percent or better from the floor in 13 of 20 games this year. The Tar Heels are shooting .482 as a team.
♦ The Tar Heels have shot 50 percent or better in the second half of 22 of their last 30 games (including 13 of 20 games in 2015-16).
♦ Roy Williams is 768-204 as a head coach, including 350-103 at Carolina, 148-57 in ACC regular-season games and 179-26 in the Smith Center.
♦ 25-Point Games: No Tar Heel player scored 25 points in a game last season, but the team has had seven 25-point performances already this year by four different players: Justin Jackson (25 vs. Northern Iowa), Kennedy Meeks (25 vs. Temple), Marcus Paige (30 at Florida State) and Brice Johnson four times (25 vs. Tulane, 27 vs. UCLA, 39 at Florida State and 27 vs. Wake Forest).
♦ In the NCAA stats: The Tar Heels are seventh in the nation in scoring at 85.7 points per game, ninth in scoring margin at 15.1, third with an assist-turnover ratio of 1.77, eighth with 18.6 assists per game, 15th in rebounding margin (9.3) and 24th in field goal percentage (48.2).
♦ KenPom Ratings: Carolina is ranked No. 5 in the nation in the KenPom.com statistical rankings. UNC is fourth in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency (120.4) and is 40th in adjusted defensive efficiency (95.8).
♦ Boston College is No. 255 in the KenPom rankings, including 339th in offensive efficiency (91.1) and 73rd in defensive efficiency (98.1).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
♦ Roy Williams has 350 wins at Carolina, four behind Bobby Cremins for fourth place in ACC history.
♦ Joel James missed the games vs. Wake Forest and Virginia Tech due to a sore right achilles tendon. He is probable to play vs. Boston College on Saturday.
♦ Brice Johnson is ninth in the ACC in scoring (16.8 ppg), tied for second in rebounding (10.2 rpg) and first in field goal percentage (63.3). He also leads the conference in defensive rebounding (7.80 per game).
♦ Johnson has been named the ACC Player of the Week three times in the last six weeks. He is the 10th Tar Heel to win the award at least three times in one season.
♦ Johnson has 11 double-doubles in 20 games this season after having posted 10 in his first 108 games over three seasons.
♦ Johnson has 11 blocked shots and 12 steals in the last five games.
♦ Johnson is averaging 19.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game in his last 11 outings. Those figures come despite a three-point performance vs. Clemson and six points and two rebounds vs. N.C. State during the stretch.
♦ Johnson has scored 25 or more points four times this season (39 vs. Florida State, 27 vs. Wake Forest, 27 vs. UCLA and 25 vs. Tulane). That's the most 25-point games in a season since Marcus Paige had five in 2013-14.
♦ Johnson has led UNC in scoring eight times this year, most on the team.
♦ Johnson enters the Boston College game with 822 career rebounds, 16th in Carolina history. Larry Miller is 15th with 834 and Brendan Haywood is 14th with 839.
♦ Johnson is averaging a team-high 16.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game this season. His previous career highs were 12.9 ppg and 7.8 rpg last season.
♦ Joel Berry II has made eight of UNC's 11 three-pointers over the last three games.
♦ Berry did not commit a turnover in four of Carolina's first seven ACC games.
♦ Berry has the third-highest scoring increase in the ACC this season (+8.4 ppg) behind Duke's Grayson Allen and N.C. State's Cat Barber.
♦ Berry has stepped into a starting role this season and improved across the board statistically, including scoring (4.2 to 12.6 ppg), field goal percentage (40.4 to 43.1), three-point percentage (35.4 to 38.0) and assists (1.5 to 4.2 per game).
♦ Berry is the only Tar Heel to score in double figures in each of the last 11 games.
♦ Berry has scored in double figures in 17 of 20 games this season. As a freshman he scored in double figures one time.
♦ Isaiah Hicks became the seventh different player to lead Carolina in scoring this season when he scored 21 points at Syracuse.
♦ Hicks made five or more field goals three times in his first 84 career games (through the Tulane game) and has made five or more field goals in six of the last 10 games.
♦ Hicks has 240 career rebounds – 108 on the offensive glass and 132 on the defensive (45 percent offensive rebounds, the highest percentage among active Tar Heels).
♦ Hicks has scored in double figures in nine of the last 12 games and is shooting 48 for 68 (.706) from the floor in that span.
♦ Marcus Paige has scored 1,594 points entering the Boston College game, 24th in Carolina history. Mitch Kupchak is 23rd with 1,611 and Hubert Davis is 22nd with 1,615.
♦ Paige is the ACC's top active career scorer with 1,594 points and Brice Johnson is fourth with 1,374.
♦ Paige has scored 15 points in the last four games (three each vs. Syracuse and N.C. State, two vs. Wake Forest and seven at Virginia Tech), the lowest four-game scoring output of his career.
♦ Paige is shooting 5 for 35 from the floor (including 1 for 22 from three-point range) in the last four games.
♦ Paige made a three-pointer in a school-record 41 consecutive games, a streak that ended on Jan. 16 vs. N.C. State. Paige's streak tied the eighth-longest run in ACC history.
♦ Paige enters the Virginia Tech game with 531 assists, 10th in school history. Jeff Lebo is ninth with 580.
♦ Paige is the only Tar Heel and one of seven players in ACC history with at least 1,500 points, 500 assists, 150 steals and 250 three-pointers.
♦ Paige is one of four Tar Heels with 1,500 career points and 500 career assists (joining Phil Ford, Jeff Lebo and Kenny Smith).
♦ Paige made one three-pointer vs. Syracuse to extend his career school record to 250.
♦ Paige has 57 assists and 12 turnovers in his 14 games this year (an assist/turnover ratio of 4.75).
♦ Kennedy Meeks returned to game action on Jan. 9 at Syracuse after missing seven games with a bruised bone in his left knee. He came off the bench to score eight points in 14 minutes vs. the Orange.
♦ A game later, Meeks scored a game-high 23 points on 10 of 16 shooting with a team-high six rebounds in the win over N.C. State.
PREVIEWING THE EAGLES
♦ Boston College enters Saturday afternoon's matchup with a 7-13 record, 0-7 in ACC play.
♦ The Eagles' last win was a 72-67 overtime victory on Dec. 30 vs. New Hampshire.
♦ In the KenPom.com adjusted efficiency ratings, Boston College ranks 255th overall, including 339th offensively (91.1) and 73rd defensively (98.1).
SERIES HISTORY
♦ Carolina leads the series with the Eagles, 13-5, including a 4-2 mark at home in the Smith Center.
♦ The Tar Heels have won seven in a row over BC, including 11 of the last 13 meetings.
♦ Roy Williams is 11-4 vs. Boston College as a head coach and has won 11 of his last 13 vs. the Eagles after losing the first two in 2005-06 (BC's first season in the ACC).
♦ Carolina is 4-2 against Boston College in Chapel Hill, all at the Smith Center.
♦ Last season, UNC won at BC and also beat the Eagles in the ACC Tournament second round in Greensboro.
♦ After four consecutive years of meeting just once in the regular season, the Tar Heels and Eagles will meet twice in 2015-16. Both of those meetings will come in a 10-day span, as UNC will visit Chestnut Hill on Feb. 9.
♦ The last time these squads had played a home-and-home in the regular season was a Tar Heel sweep in 2010-11.
♦ All three meetings prior to BC joining the ACC came in NCAA Tournament play at neutral sites. On March 18, 1967, Carolina defeated Boston College 96-80 in the NCAA East Regional Final at Cole Field House in College Park, Md. Bob Lewis scored 31 points in the game and was named Most Outstanding Player of the East Regional as Carolina advanced to Dean Smith's first Final Four.
♦ On March 22, 1975, the Tar Heels beat the Eagles 110-90 in the NCAA East Regional third place game in Providence, R.I. UNC's Mitch Kupchak led all players with 36 points and 13 rebounds in the contest.
♦ On March 20, 1994, BC beat No. 1-ranked and defending NCAA champion Carolina 75-72 in the NCAA East Regional second round in Landover, Md.
