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UNC Basketball: 2019 Keys against Louisville in ACC Tournament Quarterfinals

By Trevor Marks

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 09: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during their game against the Duke Blue Devilsat Dean Smith Center on March 09, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 09: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during their game against the Duke Blue Devilsat Dean Smith Center on March 09, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 12: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts after making a three-point baskwet against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on January 12, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Louisville won 83-62. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 12: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts after making a three-point baskwet against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on January 12, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Louisville won 83-62. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

1. Contain Jordan Nwora, Dwayne Sutton

Stating that a team should limit the opposition’s best two scorers isn’t rocket science nor is it some revolutionary strategy. It’s pretty self-explanatory and basic, but for UNC, it’s a point that should be emphasized considering how the Cardinal duo of Jordan Nwora and Dwayne Sutton has been giving the Tar Heels fits through two regular season meetings.

Although Sutton averages 10.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, he seems to reach another level against the Carolina defense, averaging 18 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.0 steals and a block through the teams’ two meetings, and he’s doing so on efficient shooting (13–24 FG, 5–14 3PT, 5–6 FT).

Nwora, the Cardinals’ leading scorer at 17.3 points per game, hasn’t seen quite the level of success as his teammate but still posted outings of 17 points and 11 points, driven by a combined 8–14 shooting from beyond the arc (57.1 3P%).

If the Tar Heels wish to leave Thursday’s meeting with a second victory against Chris Mack’s team, they must focus on making the pair of players uncomfortable, even if they’ve failed to do so in the past.

For Nwora, running him off the line (73rd percentile on spot ups, per Synergy Sports) would be wise, as he is a statistically-average player when operating within the arc. Through two games against UNC, he has yet to hit a two-pointer, going 0–5 from within the arc. Sending adequate pressure and stunting Nwora whenever he receives a pass on the perimeter could disrupt him, even momentarily, enough so that he’s deterred from shooting and instead drives to the paint, where the Heels have been playing improved defense as of late.

Defending Sutton presents a tougher task for UNC, as the team has thrown multiple defenders at him without much success. With how well Kenny Williams played against Duke’s RJ Barrett on Saturday (by forcing tough shots and offensive fouls), it may be worth a shot to simply glue him to the Cardinal guard/forward throughout the contest. Williams may not be able to neutralize Sutton entirely, but running him off the line and forcing him to create for himself within the arc (tenth percentile on cuts, 19th percentile in isolations) could be enough to force enough scoreless Cardinal possessions.

Limiting Jordan Nwora and Dwayne Sutton won’t be easy, but it’s a necessary focus for the Tar Heel defense on Thursday.

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