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NCAA Basketball: 2018 Las Vegas Initational preview and predictions

By Austin Walther

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 18: Luke Maye #32 of the North Carolina Tar Heels runs down court against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 18, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 18: Luke Maye #32 of the North Carolina Tar Heels runs down court against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 18, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 19: (L-R) Leaky Black #1, Cameron Johnson #13, Kenny Williams #24 and Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels react during the second half of their game against the St. Francis Red Flash at the Dean Smith Center on November 19, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 101-76. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 19: (L-R) Leaky Black #1, Cameron Johnson #13, Kenny Williams #24 and Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels react during the second half of their game against the St. Francis Red Flash at the Dean Smith Center on November 19, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 101-76. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

How will the Las Vegas Invitational play out?

The first game on Thanksgiving evening will be North Carolina vs. Texas at 4:30 p.m. local time, 7:30 p.m. ET. So when you’re getting done with your fifth meal of the day, settle in for some good college hoops. The Longhorns play some good defense. Their scoring isn’t quite there yet.

Kerwin Roach is their leading scorer and Cam Johnson is the guy for North Carolina. It’ll be a nice matchup in the back court. I think Texas could give North Carolina a fair fight for a while, but I haven’t seen much from Texas yet to think that they can keep with the talented freshmen that the Tar Heels bring.

The night cap will start roughly at 9 p.m. ET. The Las Vegas Invitational will be on FS1. I’m hoping you all get that channel and plan for a nap during the day. UCLA vs. Michigan State is a pair of ranked teams. The Spartans have been on National TV already. We all know what they’re capable of doing with their big three. But the Bruins of a big three of their own. Moses Brown fits everyone word of that description. I picked UCLA as my dark horse and I’m comfortable by saying the Bruins have what it takes to defeat the Spartans.

The consolation game will get underway at 4 p.m. ET on Friday. This is going to be buried by more football, but a matchup between Michigan State and Texas is worth missing a little college pigskin for. Honestly it wouldn’t even matter who was playing, it’s going to be fun. The Spartans led by Tom Izzo aren’t going to play in the Las Vegas Invitational and not win a game. Michigan State has serious talent and as soon as they find their identity, it’ll be a dangerous one.

dark. Next. Top-25 Power Rankings

North Carolina has a chance at competing for a number one seed when it’s all said and done. There probably has never been three teams from the same conference who have all been on the one line, but the ACC believes they have squads worthy enough. Experience takes over in the Las Vegas Invitational. At least for the title game if it’s between the Tar Heels and the Bruins. North Carolina just has a ton of talent and athletes on their team.

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