North Carolina vs. Virginia: 2019-20 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

North Carolina and Virginia face off on Sunday as both are trying to rebound from brutal losses in the Big Ten ACC Challenge.

Who: 7. North Carolina Tar Heels 6-2, (1-0) vs. Virginia Cavaliers 7-1, (1-0)

When: Sunday, December 8th at 4 PM ET

Where: John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, VA

TV Schedule: ACCN

What was already an important early-season matchup between two of the top teams in the ACC will now be even more crucial for both squads. Both teams just suffered rough losses in the Big Ten ACC Challenge and will look to rebound their seasons in what is, for now, still a top-10 matchup. North Carolina had their worst home loss since 2002 in a 74-49 defeat against the 6th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Virginia’s performance wasn’t any prettier, 69-40 at unranked Purdue.

Prior to their last defeat, UNC had looked like their usual dominant selves for most of the season, including a 78-74 victory over the 11th-ranked Oregon Ducks. The Heels’ only other stumbling block was a 73-64 defeat to Michigan in the Battle 4 Atlantis. The Big Ten has really had the Tar Heel’s number to start the year. This year, Roy William’s team is led by freshman phenom Cole Anthony. The 6’3″ guard out of Oak Hill Academy is currently averaging an even 20 ppg and has been everything he was billed to be and more.

Last season’s national champions, the Virginia Cavaliers were off to another strong, and low scoring, start to the year prior to the Boilermakers derailing them. Defense has always been the hallmark of Tony Bennett’s teams and this year’s iteration is no different. The Cavaliers currently lead the nation in opponent’s FG% (30.9%) and opponent’s points per game (43.9 ppg) and are second in overall defensive-rating. This includes holding one of their most recent opponents, the Main Black Bears, to only 26 total points in one game!

UVA’s defense will be key to trying to slow the human flamethrower that is Cole Anthony. Though he was slowed by OSU’s tight defense, Anthony will look to come out firing on all cylinders and take back the early-season momentum that had many projecting him as a top-5 pick in the draft. If the Cavaliers do somehow manage to slow Anthony down, big men Garrison Brooks and Armando Bacot (that’s such a fun name) will need to pick up the slack by scoring down-low in bunches. The Cavaliers themselves don’t score a lot of points, so if Anthony or any of the Tar Heels are able to get hot they will have a good chance to pull away.

Speaking of the Cavalier’s offensive struggles, they were on full display in their loss at Purdue. UVA is currently 350th in the nation in points per game (53.3 ppg), and showed that they might struggle to win games this year if they can’t hold every opponent below 50. The Cavs will need to find more scoring for themselves and facing a more average defense in UNC could provide the cure. Virginia is currently led in scoring by one of last year’s tournament heroes, senior Mamadi Diakite, with 13.4 ppg. Diakite’s previous career-high was 7.4 ppg so he will need someone else on UVA to step up and also put up some buckets.

UNC and UVA both need a strong win here against a top conference opponent to rebound their seasons and reassert themselves atop the conference, and the league as a whole. Look for Virginia to try to slow down the tempo and play a tough, defensive game. UNC will need to push the pace and light up the scoreboard, forcing UVA to find more offense. With Cole Anthony at the helm, the Tar Heels certainly have the potential to do just that, if they can overcome Virginia’s talented defense.

Final Prediction: North Carolina – 65, Virginia – 56