Player to watch:
Harrison Barnes, 6-foot-8, Soph. Barnes has been quiet in North Carolina's past two games - a 15-point victory against Appalachian State and a blowout win Monday night against Nicholls State. For the only times this season, Barnes failed to score in double figures in those games. Barnes said Tuesday he wasn't worried about his relatively low output - that it was a matter of some shots not falling. Barnes has shot 33 percent the past two games. It's likely he'll be needed more tonight than he was in the past two victories.
Observations: North Carolina will be playing its third game in five days, but coach Roy Williams went deep into his bench Monday night and provided his starters with ample rest. The Tar Heels gathered Tuesday morning for a practice and then ate a late breakfast together. ... Texas, which hasn't lost since a 77-74 defeat Nov. 21 against N.C. State, has defeated North Carolina the past two seasons. The Tar Heels are 0-3 against Texas during the Williams era. The Longhorns prevailed 78-76 a season ago at the Greensboro Coliseum, as Cory Joseph hit the winning shot with 1.4 seconds to play.
When/where: 7 p.m. today, Smith Center, Chapel Hill
TV/Radio: ESPN2/WRDU-106.1, WCHL-1360
Projected starting lineups
Texas (9-2)
F Jonathan Holmes 9.3, 5.5 rpg
F Alexis Wangmene 6.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg
G Julien Lewis 9.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg
G Myck Kabongo 10.8 ppg, 6.0 apg
G J'Covan Brown 19.3 ppg, 4.3 apg
North Carolina (10-2)
F Harrison Barnes 16.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg
F John Henson 14.5 ppg, 10.3 rpg
F Tyler Zeller 14.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg
G Dexter Strickland 8.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg
G Kendall Marshall 5.2 ppg, 10.2 apg
Player to watch: Harrison Barnes, 6-foot-8, Soph. Barnes has been quiet in North Carolina's past two games - a 15-point victory against Appalachian State and a blowout win Monday night against Nicholls State. For the only times this season, Barnes failed to score in double figures in those games. Barnes said Tuesday he wasn't worried about his relatively low output - that it was a matter of some shots not falling. Barnes has shot 33 percent the past two games. It's likely he'll be needed more tonight than he was in the past two victories.
Observations: North Carolina will be playing its third game in five days, but coach Roy Williams went deep into his bench Monday night and provided his starters with ample rest. The Tar Heels gathered Tuesday morning for a practice and then ate a late breakfast together. ... Texas, which hasn't lost since a 77-74 defeat Nov. 21 against N.C. State, has defeated North Carolina the past two seasons. The Tar Heels are 0-3 against Texas during the Williams era. The Longhorns prevailed 78-76 a season ago at the Greensboro Coliseum, as Cory Joseph hit the winning shot with 1.4 seconds to play.
