UNC Basketball: 2019-20 keys for Tar Heels to beat Ohio State

UNC Basketball: 2019-20 keys to beat Ohio State in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 15: Cole Anthony #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels waits to inbound the ball during the first half of their game against the Gardner-Webb Runnin Bulldogs at the Dean Smith Center on November 15, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 06: Cole Anthony #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

1. Cole Anthony needs a huge game

Well Cole Anthony was spotted in a walking boot after the finale in Battle 4 Atlantis, but he fully expects to play against Ohio State. The Tar Heels need this young man to stay healthy or the season could be lost. We saw him on opening night go off for 34 against Notre Dame. He dropped six three-pointers, shot 50 percent from the floor and hauled in 11 boards on five assists. Anthony put his name in early for Player of the Year and one of the top picks in the NBA draft.

As good as Ohio State is, they do not have this kind of a player on their offensive end. DJ Carton is very talented, but he doesn’t start. He also hasn’t scored more than 13 in a game, hauled in more than five boards and five assists. His game high is three three-pointers and he did that just once. Duane Washington is spotty. The only two times he’s gone into double-digits has been for 16 and 14. He has made three or more three-pointers twice, but he laid a goose egg in that department against Cincinnati.

That’s alright for Ohio State. They are one of the most balanced teams in the country and it’s going to work for them all season long. Everyone has their job. Their point guard CJ Walker is averaging a healthy 7.3 points per game, but is sixth on the team is scoring. North Carolina though runs its entire offense through Anthony. The Tar Heels hold their breath for the seven minutes he isn’t playing. He can ignite the offense at any given moment, but he’s only one guy.

Anthony will also get a little sloppy with the ball. As a freshman point guard who does most of the scoring, it’s bound to happen. He’s averaging over three turnovers per game. He had six against Alabama, but only three vs. Michigan. Anthony did match the total number of turnovers with assists in those two games as well.

Nonetheless, Anthony needs a game like the one against Notre Dame in-order for North Carolina to pull this game out. I’m not saying they’re totally under matched against the Buckeyes, but Ohio State is deep in scoring. UNC relies on Anthony to give them that spark and he needs to control the entire game.

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