Capsule: After losing two straight, North Carolina hopes to beat worst team in the league
No. 9 North Carolina at Boston College
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
TV/Radio: WRAL, 106.1-WTKK
Projected starting lineups
North Carolina (19-4, 8-2 ACC)
G Joel Berry 12.3 ppg, 4.2 apg
G Marcus Paige 12.9 ppg, 3.9 apg
F Justin Jackson 11.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg
F Brice Johnson 16.6 ppg, 10.4 rpg
F Kennedy Meeks 11.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg
Boston College (7-16, 0-10)
G Eli Carter 16.1 ppg, 4.1 apg
G Sammy Barnes-Thompkins 4.6 ppg, 1.2 rpg
F Garland Owens 4.2 ppg, 3 rpg
F A.J Turner 5.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg
C Dennis Clifford 8.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg
Observations
For the second time in less than two weeks, North Carolina will play against Boston College, which has been by a wide margin the ACC’s worst team. The Tar Heels pulled away for an 89-62 victory on Jan. 30 in Chapel Hill. Aside from winning, the goal for UNC is simple: improve everywhere and play with greater intensity. It has been a while since the Tar Heels played a complete, thorough game on both ends of the floor. Senior guard Marcus Paige broke out of his individual slump with 21 points and five 3-pointers in a defeat at Notre Dame on Saturday. Now the Tar Heels will attempt to snap out of a greater funk that has had coach Roy Williams again questioning his team’s toughness and want-to. Boston College has lost all 10 of its ACC games by double-digits. The Eagles haven’t been bad defensively but they rank 342nd nationally in offensive efficiency, according to kenpom.com
Andrew Carter
This story was originally published February 8, 2016 at 4:31 PM with the headline "Capsule: After losing two straight, North Carolina hopes to beat worst team in the league."