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

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 02: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels directs his team against the Harvard Crimson during the first half at the Dean Smith Center on January 02, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images /

3. Dominate the frontcourt

With Luke Maye and Cameron Johnson, the North Carolina Tar Heels have a size advantage that they must use to their benefit in this game. The Panthers are a guard-heavy team but their frontcourt is thin in terms of production.

6-foot-9 forward Kene Chukwuka is the only big man featured in the Panthers four-guard starting rotation. He is averaging 5.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in 21.2 minutes per contest in 2018-19 through 13 appearances (12 starts) but when faced with a sizeable opponent in the frontcourt, he’s struggled.

In the Panthers most recent loss, he appeared in just 24 minutes against the West Virginia Mountaineers back on Dec. 8 while battling foul trouble. Chukwuka finished the game with four points as well as four fouls. Pittsburgh lost that game, 69-59.

Freshman guard Au’diese Toney is another player that struggled against the Mountaineers as well, finishing with four fouls. He’s listed at guard but his 6-foot-6, 210-pound frame has allowed him to play inside as well.

The Tar Heels have their fair share of targets to get in foul trouble heading into this one in Chukwuka and Toney. If they can pound the ball inside and keep them out of the flow of the game, victory could be on the horizon for North Carolina.

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