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North Carolina Basketball: 3 keys for the Tar Heels against Harvard

By Jason Burgess

CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts against the Davidson Wildcats in the first half at Dean Smith Center on December 29, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts against the Davidson Wildcats in the first half at Dean Smith Center on December 29, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 15: Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs battles Luke Maye #32 and Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels for a rebound during the first half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on December 15, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 15: Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs battles Luke Maye #32 and Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels for a rebound during the first half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on December 15, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

The Tar Heels host Harvard in their final non-conference tune-up on Wednesday. Here are 3 keys to victory for North Carolina Basketball.

On Wednesday night North Carolina welcomes Ivy League favorite Harvard to the Dean Dome for what is the final non-conference tune-up for the Tar Heels before they begin ACC play.

Roy Williams’ team began the year on a five-game winning streak before they were tripped up by Texas in Las Vegas 92-89. The team’s other two losses came at Michigan and to Kentucky on a neutral floor, but their biggest win is over then No.4 Gonzaga by 13.

During the first two months of the season, the Tar Heel offense has been elite, averaging 92 points per game which is 4th best in the country. UNC has deployed an eight-man rotation but the points come from the top six scorers who account for nearly 75 of those 92 points. The balanced Tar Heels have two seniors, Luke Maye, and Cameron Johnson and two freshmen, Coby White and Nassir Little leading the way. Maye and Johnson contribute 30.9 points and 15.4 rebounds, while the first-year duo adds 24.6 and 6.7.

Tommy Amaker’s Crimson may just be 6-5 but their record could be a lot better because, besides a 10-point loss to Northeastern in the second game of the year, they have lost their other games by a total of 15 points. The Crimson’s best win so far came at Saint Mary’s where they pulled off a six-point victory.

North Carolina needs to avoid this trap game and not get caught looking ahead to their league opener against Pittsburgh on Saturday. Here are three keys to ensuring that the Tar Heels don’t get tripped up.

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