Wake Forest has struggled all non-conference in the 2017-18 season. Will they be able to start anew with a win over the defending National Champs North Carolina?
TV schedule: Saturday, Dec. 30 12:00 p.m. ET. FS1
Arena: Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Despite losing star forward John Collins after last season, Wake Forest 7-5 (0-0) figured to be part of the bubble conversation with talented guards Keyshawn Woods and Bryant Crawford returning to the fold.
Those hopes however faded quickly with the Demon Deacons losing four of their first five games to start out the season, including losses to Drake, Liberty, and Georgia Southern. The star guards of the team did their part, but a lack of consistent scoring from the role players, combined with an overall poor team defense, doomed them in.
Wake Forest has won six of seven but was recently drubbed at home against Tennessee. With the bad losses accumulating, it might be too late in terms of an at-large bid, but the ACC provides many chances at marque wins.
The first opportunity for those comes with the No. 13 ranked North Carolina 11-2 (0-0), who not only is the defending NCAA champ but also the regular season champ of the ACC a year ago as well. Despite losing a few experienced players, Roy Williams still has a very talented team. The leader is Luke Maye, who went from role player a year ago to a 19 ppg and 11 rpg player in the non-conference.
Joel Berry, Kenny Williams, and Theo Pinson make up the starting perimeter, which is one of the best in the conference. But it hasn’t been easy sledding for the team with an inexplicable home loss to Wofford coming a couple of weeks ago. However, the Tar Heels have received reinforcements in the name of Cam Johnson, who’s scored 24 points in his two games back.
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The one weakness North Carolina has is a lack of frontcourt depth, which can be exploited by the right team. Wake Forest isn’t that team, however, with the strength of the Demon Deacons coming from their guards, which plays right into their hands.
Prediction: North Carolina 84 – Wake Forest 70