Busting Brackets
Fansided

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

By Jason Burgess

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)
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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 12: Luke Maye #32 of the North Carolina Tar Heels pulls down a rebound against the Stanford Cardinal during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on November 12, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 90-72 (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 12: Luke Maye #32 of the North Carolina Tar Heels pulls down a rebound against the Stanford Cardinal during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on November 12, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 90-72 (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

2. The Tar Heels must control the defensive glass

Another key for the Tar Heels will be their ability to dominate the defensive boards against Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons are one of the better offensive rebounding teams in the country, snatching 12.8 per game which is 28th best, and the 14.5 they pull down in league play is the best in the ACC.

The leading offensive rebounders are Hoard and sophomore center Olivier Sarr, the two have grabbed 119 of the team’s 294 offensive rebounds on the year. Forwards Isaiah Mucius and Ikenna Smart along with guard Chaundee Brown are the other players on the roster to have registered at least 20 offensive boards on the year.

Conversely, North Carolina is one of the better defensive rebounding teams in the country and their 29.71 defensive boards per game are not only tops among ACC teams but 9th best in the sport. In league play, they pull down 27.5 defensive boards per game, which is best in the league.

Senior forward Luke Maye leads the team in defensive rebounding, and by a large margin. He’s grabbed 181, while Johnson is 2nd on the team with 90, but besides those two, White, fellow freshman Nassir Little, Williams, and Garrison Brooks have all pulled down at least 60. With the league’s top offensive and defensive rebounding teams facing off, it will be important for UNC to impose their rebounding will on the Demon Deacons.

Home/North Carolina Tar Heels