UNC basketball: 2018-19 keys to winning at Wake Forest

CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 09: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts in the second half of their game against the Miami Hurricanes at Dean Smith Center on February 9, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. UNC won 88-85 in OT. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

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DURHAM, NC – MARCH 03: Cameron Johnson #13 of the North Carolina Tar Heels goes after a loose ball against Grayson Allen #3 of the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

1. UNC should take advantage of their high steal rate

The first key for North Carolina will be, they must use their ability to get after the ball and turn Wake Forest over as much as possible. The Tar Heels are one of the better teams in college basketball when it comes to thievery. They average 7.5 steals per game which is 67th best in the country and that is something they can take advantage of against Wake Forest.

The Demon Deacons aren’t bad when it comes to committing turnovers, they commit 13 per game, but during league play, Danny Manning’s team is 14th in the league in turnover margin (-2.82) and last in assist-to-turnover ratio (0.72), so the 6.6 steals per game UNC has grabbed in league play can really help them get out and run against Wake Forest.

UNC has four players that average at least a steal per game, led by Cameron Johnson’s 1.3, but Seventh Woods, Kenny Williams, and Coby White all add one apiece. For Wake Forest, the two guys with the biggest propensity to turn the ball over are the team’s leading scorers, junior guard Brandon Childress, and freshman forward Jaylen Hoard who have combined for 5.4 turnovers per game this season. UNC’s ability to create turnovers should help them get out in transition, making things even more difficult for Wake Forest.

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