North Carolina Takes On Kentucky In The CBS Sports Classic

On Saturday North Carolina who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference will take on Kentucky who is a member of the Southeastern Conference in the CBS Sports Classic.

North Carolina comes into the game with a record of 8-2 while Kentucky like North Carolina comes into the game with a record of 8-2.

As for North Carolina’s previous game they not only dominated Gonzaga who previously was the top ranked team in the country but handed them their second straight loss.

North Carolina made shot after shot, finally backing its Hall of Fame coach's claim that he has a sharp-shooting bunch. And when they did miss, the Tar Heels relentlessly flew to the rim to pursue the ball for another chance. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

Saving all that for a highly ranked opponent in a marquee nonconference game will only help with confidence, too. Cameron Johnson had 25 points and six 3-pointers to lift No. 12 UNC over No. 4 Gonzaga 103-90 on Saturday night, a strong performance for a team that had flopped in a previous measuring-stick nonconference game. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

It was a few days after Thanksgiving when the Tar Heels lost at No. 5 Michigan, looking overwhelmed at both ends and leaving Roy Williams to say — among many things — that "right now we stink." “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

This time, facing a team that ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 a week ago, the Tar Heels (8-2) shot 57 percent in the first half to build a 14-point lead at the break. And they never let the Zags closer than eight after halftime. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

"I think we needed it, just to show ourselves how good we can be," senior guard Kenny Williams said. "We see everybody talking about 'Carolina's defense is horrible' and all that, so we just need to show ourselves how good we can be and the potential we could play with going deep into the season." “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

UNC finished the game shooting 55 percent, including 13 of 25 from 3-point range, in a matchup featuring two of the nation's best offensive teams. Yet it was the Tar Heels' work on the boards that proved just as important. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

North Carolina finished with a 42-21 rebounding advantage. That included 14 offensive boards that led to a 27-0 edge in second-chance points, which proved critical on a night when neither team missed too often. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

Zach Norvell Jr. scored 21 points to lead the Bulldogs (9-2), who shot 56 percent after halftime and 51 percent overall. But Gonzaga never recovered after falling behind by double figures in the first half and kept coming up a shot or two short of really upping the pressure on the Tar Heels to hold that margin after halftime. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

"They're right up there with anybody we've played," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. "Especially on the glass, we haven't been beaten on the glass like that all year. And I know we certainly haven't given up 50 percent in both halves for defensive field goal percentage. So, they're right there." “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx


BIG PICTURE
Gonzaga: The Bulldogs sat at No. 1 in the AP Top 25 about a week ago, but they've lost two straight — though both games were serious nonconference tests. They lost a close one last weekend against No. 3 Tennessee, then fell behind early Saturday night and never could catch up against a UNC offense that looked very comfortable on its home floor. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

"I think we did our job making them take tough shots, but we just didn't come up with the rebounds," said Josh Perkins, who had 20 points and eight assists. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

"They wanted it on the boards, and defensively they went at us. They earned that win." “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

UNC: The Tar Heels offered a reminder that they have the firepower to score with just about anybody. One significant concern, though, was they committed a season-high 23 turnovers that led to 29 points for Gonzaga — the kind of mistakes that could've proved very costly had North Carolina not been shooting so well and dominating the glass. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx


SEVENTH'S BIG NIGHT
While Johnson and Luke Maye (20 points, 16 rebounds) led UNC, the Tar Heels got a big performance from junior point guard Seventh Woods. Woods finished with a career-high 14 points, including two 3-pointers and three straight baskets right before halftime for a 53-39 lead. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

"If I see an opening, I'm going to try to take it and make a play," Woods said. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

It was the first double-figure scoring game of Woods' career.”according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx


LOTS OF OFFENSE
The 103 points were UNC's No. 2 total against a top-5 opponent and only the third time the Tar Heels had cracked 100 points in those games. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-tar-heels-vs-gonzaga.aspx

Like North Carolina, Kentucky also won their previous game as they defeated the University Of Utah.

Freshman Keldon Johnson scored 24 points, including five 3-pointers in the first half, and No. 19 Kentucky beat Utah 88-61 on Saturday. “according to https://ukathletics.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-johnson-leads-no-19-kentucky-past-utah.aspx

Johnson made a career-high six shots from long range on seven attempts as Kentucky made a season-high 12 3-pointers. “according to https://ukathletics.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-johnson-leads-no-19-kentucky-past-utah.aspx

Tyler Herro scored 17 points, Reid Travis added 16 and Immanuel Quickley chipped in with 10 for the Wildcats (8-2), who lost their best 3-point shooter when Quade Green decided to transfer nine games into his sophomore season. “according to https://ukathletics.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-johnson-leads-no-19-kentucky-past-utah.aspx

Coming off an 84-83 overtime loss to Seton Hall at Madison Square Garden last weekend, the Wildcats trailed 10-2 five minutes into the game, but Kentucky outscored the Utes 28-9 to push the lead to 30-19. The Wildcats did not trail again. “according to https://ukathletics.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-johnson-leads-no-19-kentucky-past-utah.aspx

Johnson highlighted the decisive run with four 3-pointers, including three straight, and finished with 15 points in the opening half. “according to https://ukathletics.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-johnson-leads-no-19-kentucky-past-utah.aspx

Both Gach led the Utes (4-5) with 22 points, followed by Jayce Johnson with 11. “according to https://ukathletics.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-johnson-leads-no-19-kentucky-past-utah.aspx

BIG PICTURE

Utah: The Utes lost their eighth straight game to the Wildcats. Kentucky defeated Utah 78-69 in the 1998 NCAA title game in San Antonio. The Wildcats beat Utah six times in the 1990s, including four times in the NCAA Tournament. The Utes out-rebounded Kentucky 31-23, becoming the first team to top the Wildcats on the glass this season. “according to https://ukathletics.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-johnson-leads-no-19-kentucky-past-utah.aspx

Kentucky: The Wildcats have picked up steam from behind the arc after starting the season slowly. Kentucky has made at least five 3-pointers in each of the past four games. The trend began when Kentucky connected on 10 3s in a 90-44 win over Monmouth on Nov. 28. “according to https://ukathletics.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-johnson-leads-no-19-kentucky-past-utah.aspx

POLL INPLICATIONS

The Wildcats dropped 10 spots from No. 9 to 19th following the loss to Seton Hall, but they can begin climbing back toward the Top 10 if they can finish out the month with wins over North Carolina and in-state rival Louisville. “according to https://ukathletics.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-johnson-leads-no-19-kentucky-past-utah.aspx

REUNION

The 1992-93 Kentucky team that finished 30-4 and lost to eventual runner-up Michigan 81-78 in the 1993 Final Four was honored during halftime. Several members of the team were in attendance, including Jared Prickett, a freshman at the time who also played on the national championship squad three years later. “according to https://ukathletics.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-johnson-leads-no-19-kentucky-past-utah.aspx

"It could have ended up a different story, but things happen for a reason," Prickett said. "It was a great experience for me." “according to https://ukathletics.com/news/2018/12/15/mens-basketball-johnson-leads-no-19-kentucky-past-utah.aspx

Tip-off is set for 5:15pm from the United Center in Chicago. The game will be televised on CBS.