12/5: (10) North Carolina vs. (5) Kentucky

• Leonardo

  

  ANOTHER big game for the young Tar Heels as they take on Kentucky at 12:30 PM.
• ironman02

  Not really sure what to think about this game. Both teams have been really shaky at times, but have also looked very good on some occasions as well.
  
  I think UK matches up well with Carolina inside. Cousins and Patterson are physical enough to give Carolina problems, similar to those they experienced with Syracuse. That worries me.
  
  John Wall seems to be ridiculously good, so Carolina's guards are going to have to somehow keep him from getting into the lane. Drew/Strickland will also need to really take care of the ball, because if they don't, Wall will run all over them and create a ton of fast break points for the Cats.
  
  UK probably hasn't played a team as good as Carolina yet, and has been very close to losing twice, but I'm sure they will be on top of their game in Rupp with Carolina in town.
  
  If Carolina plays the way they did tonight in the first 30 minutes against MSU, they have a great chance to win. If they turn the ball over and let UK's big men push them around, it could get ugly. Should be an interesting game on Saturday. Hope Carolina can get the win.
• hoops23

  

  Like MSU, UNC has dominated UK recently...
  
  However, I expect this to be a much stiffer test for the Heels.
  
  I'm just going to hope for a win over UK..
• RiverRat13

  I think UK wins this by double digits.
  
  Kentucky has the HUGE advantage in motivation. This is the 'Cats chance to reintroduce themselves on the national stage. The last time I remember one team having such an emotional edge over the Heels, I found myself seeing 40-12 on my television screen. I don't expect that kind of run, but I feel Kentucky's players and fans will so hyped that it will be hard for Carolina to match.
  
  If these teams meet in March, I'd like Carolina's chances. These two teams match up very well with each other. I just think the emotional edge for Kentucky will be too much and I'm not sure how well the Heels will handle it.
• swamisez

  

  I can't see UK losing on their home court to a young UNC team. Even though UK is young as well, I think the comfort factor is enough to help get them a W. Patterson needs to stay out of foul trouble and needs to get to the stripe. I think he will do both.
• the_system

  ironman02 wrote:
  I think UK matches up well with Carolina inside. Cousins and Patterson are physical enough to give Carolina problems, similar to those they experienced with Syracuse. That worries me.
  

  UNC is a huge team this year. Very tall and talented, but also very young. They are going to be amazing in a year or two. 6 guys that play regularly at 6'9" +.
  
  Zeller 7' Soph.
  Davis 6'10" Soph.
  Henson 6'10" Frosh
  Thompson 6'9" Senior
  D. Wear 6'10" Frosh
  T. Wear 6'10" Frosh
• jpake1

  

  I'm anxious to see Wall play since I have yet to. I think whoever gets to the FT line more wins this game.
• GOONx19

  

  I'll be lining up tomorrow morning to sit front row in the eRupption Zone. There's definitely some energy flowing through campus right now.
• reclegend22

  

  I wouldn't mind seeing Wall going Tayshaun all over the Heels. That'd be beautiful.
  
  "Good god, you could win a car from there." Still one of the best SC lines ever.
• ironman02

  the_system wrote:
  
  UNC is a huge team this year. Very tall and talented, but also very young. They are going to be amazing in a year or two. 6 guys that play regularly at 6'9" +.
  
  Zeller 7' Soph.
  Davis 6'10" Soph.
  Henson 6'10" Frosh
  Thompson 6'9" Senior
  D. Wear 6'10" Frosh
  T. Wear 6'10" Frosh

  That front court depth won't last long. Thompson will graduate after this season and all signs point to Davis leaving early for the NBA. He would have been a lottery pick last season based on potential, and I'm sure his stock will be high again.
  
  Henson is so thin that he's not really an inside presence yet. If he can put on some weight and muscle in the off-season, he could turn into a very good big man, especially with the athleticism that he has.
  
  Next year's Carolina squad will be loaded at positions 1-3 due to the fact that they're bringing in PG Kendall Marshall, SG Reggie Bullock, and SF Harrison Barnes next season.
  
  I would expect next year's lineup to look something like this...
  
  PG - Drew II, Marshall
  SG - Strickland, Bullock, Watts
  SF - Barnes, Graves, McDonald
  PF - Henson, D. Wear
  C - Zeller, T. Wear
  
  Strickland could also play PG at times next year (he is this year), but I would say he'll play more minutes at shooting guard. There are a ton of guys in there who can play the 2/3 so I'm not sure how those minutes will be divided, but it seems to me that Graves, Watts, and McDonald will all be taking a back seat to Strickland, Barnes, and Bullock when all is said and done. Henson could see some time at the 3 again (like this season), but if Davis leaves early, they're gonna need him to play the 4 most of the time.
  
  James McAdoo, a 5* PF, and PJ Hairston, a 5* SG, will make their way to Chapel Hill in the 2011 recruiting class. I would look for Roy to target another big man sometime soon because Henson will probably leave after his sophomore season and the roster will be guard/small forward heavy beginning with next season.
• centralbucksfan

  I like UNC in this game because of their size and experience in Big Games. Even though they are young, they have guys on the team who have played in big games like this. UK on the other hand, lacks that. They do have home court, which is an obvious advantage. But I think the 'Cuse game woke UNC up quite a bit. They looked very good against MSU.
  But this should be a fun game to watch.
• Heelz

  

  I'm going with the Heels for this matchup, alot of people have Uk crowned already but I think with UNC's size and UK hasn't really played anyone yet, if the Heels can play like they did against MSU it will be double digits for the Heels
  
  
  GO HEELS!
• SportsAndLady

  

  That reverse layup by Wall was one of the sickest things I've ever seen..they haven't fricken shown a replay though wtf
• thedynasty1998

  

  Wall is FOR REAL! This is the first time I've seen him play, I watched Kentucky's opener when he was suspended.
  
  This Kentucky team will be scary good by the end of the year. Wall is definitely the best player on the court, and as the other freshmen gain more experience they will be very very good.
• Trueblue23

  

  Kentucky is NASTY
• chicago510

  

  John Wall is nasty.
  
  Easily the quickest and fastest player in the NCAA.
  
  That fast break dunk and reverse circus layup were unreal.
  
  Meanwhile UK all over UNC 33-14
• thedynasty1998

  

  Yes they are!
  
  UNC will make a run in this game, but IMO Kentucky is the best team in the country, and I don't know if anyone else is that close. They have it all, best PG in the country, shooters, size, inside presence, coaching and the home court advantage in Rupp Arena!
• Trueblue23

  

  If there is a God, John Wall will get a fastbreak all by himself.. EASILY the best dunker in the country
• thedynasty1998

  

  I'm wondering if Kentucky is happy with the hiring of Calipari at this point in the season?
• chicago510

  

  thedynasty1998 wrote: I'm wondering if Kentucky is happy with the hiring of Calipari at this point in the season?

  Yeah until he finally gets caught and actually punished, not just after the fact.
• k_boogy

  I think everyone knew that Kentucky was going to have some offensive firepower but what I have been shocked by is how well they get after it defensively. UNC couldnt get their bigs involved at all until the end of the half there
• reclegend22

  

  Billy Gillespie would be doing the same thing right now.
  
  This has been a really fun game to watch. And John Wall is the best player in the country. I'm a believer. I wasn't at first, but the more I seem him play, and the better I see the Wildcats get, I'll be surprised if he isn't player of the year. He's just too gifted physically and athletically. He can do whatever he wants.
• k_boogy

  Im thinking Wall can fill up ESPN's top ten list by the end of the game. Should already have like 3 or 4 on it lol
• reclegend22

  

  Haha probably. I dislike many of their fans, but it's good to see UK basketball back. It's good for basketball. And great for a Blue Devil on a day like today
  
  45-28 is not quite 40-12, but it'll do.
• k_boogy

  Ya I agree some of their fans suck, but really I think all teams have those fans too. But like you said it is good to see one of the great programs in basketball coming back to the top after being down. LOL and im sure all u blue devil fans are loving this.
  
  One thing that sucks I moved to NC last year and didnt find out till after bball season that good ol John Wall played bout 30 minutes away from where I live, definitely wish I could of caught some of his HS games. Especially after seeing him just destroy the team I love lol