North Carolina vs Pittsburgh: 2022-23 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

The last time these teams faced off, Pittsburgh blew North Carolina off the floor in an upset. Will the Tar Heels return the favor in the Steel City?

TV schedule: Friday, December 30th, 12:00 pm ET. ACC Network

Arena: Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Last season, North Carolina was dealing with ups and downs in the regular season. But after suffering a 76-67 home loss to Pittsburgh, one of the worst teams in the ACC, it looked as if the Tar Heels were on the cusp of missing the NCAA Tournament. What happened afterward was a run of epic proportions for them, winning 11 out of 12 games and making it all the way to the national title game, losing to Kansas in the final minute.

With four starters returning, UNC (9-4, 1-1) was the preseason No. 1 team in the country for this year. But after a four-game losing streak, the Tar Heels were unranked in December. But a four-game winning streak has followed, including wins over Ohio State and Michigan to get back to No. 25.

Armando Bacot remains the best player on the team, averaging 18.2 ppg and 11.1 rpg. Guard Caleb Love leads UNC with 18.3 ppg, while Northwestern transfer Pete Nance is in double figures as a starter. But the team is essentially the same as last year makeup-wise; they’re an explosive, yet inefficient offensive team with a below-average defense outside of wing Leaky Black.

The Tar Heels take on a Pitt squad that’s much improved compared to a year ago. The Panthers (9-4, 2-0) have won eight of the last nine games, including a pair of ACC road wins over both Syracuse and NC State. They’ve been without last year’s leading scorer and rebounder John Hugley due to injury but in his place has been impact transfer, Blake Hinson. The 6’7 forward leads the team with 17.2 ppg and 7.4 rpg while shooting 50% from the field.

Pittsburgh has three other double-digit scorers in the lineup in Greg Elliott, Nelly Cummings, and Jamarius Burton, all of whom have shot the ball well from deep. As a team, the Panthers are 2nd in the ACC in three-point shooting, making over nine a game. In what could be a shootout, the Panthers will need to make around 10 to keep this one close.

The matchup between Bacot and Federiko Federiko at the center position will be one to watch. If Bacot goes off and gets the sophomore in foul trouble, it could be a long night for Pittsburgh. However, the Tar Heels will be on the road and could fall back to old patterns when it comes to a lack of urgency. This one should be close but UNC will want revenge from a year ago and should get it Friday afternoon.

Prediction: North Carolina 84, Pittsburgh 70