Preview Part 2-OSU Bball

OSU(ranked #1/#3) vs. North Carolina (ranked #6/#7)
Wednesday, November 29, 9 PM at Chapel Hill
ESPN with Dan Shulman (play-by-play), Dick Vitale (expert) and Doris Burke (sideline)

 

OSU Record

6-0-wins over VMI(home), Loyola-Chicago(home), Kent State(home), E Kentucky(home), USF(home), YSU(home)

 

OSU Breakdown, per game unless marked total

- High Scorers- Daequan Cook(Fr)-17.8, Ron Lewis(Sr)-17.0, Ivan Harris(Sr)- 11.3

- Most Rebounds- Othello Hunter(Jr)- 7.2

- Most Minutes/Game- Jamar Butler(Jr)-31

- Most Three Points- Ron Lewis-17 total

- Leads Assist/Turnover Ratio- Mike Conley (Fr)- 2.9/1

- Most Steals- Mike Conley(Fr)-19 total

 

UNC Record

4-1-wins Sacred Heart(home), Winthrop(home), Gardner Webb(home), Tennessee(New York)

loss-Gonzaga (New York)

 

UNC Breakdown, per game unless marked total

- High Scorers- Tyler Hansbrough(So)-20.6, Branan Wright(Fr)-16.6, Wayne Ellington(Fr)-12.2

- Most Rebounds- Tyler Hansbrough(So)-8.8

- Most Minutes/Game- Tyler Hansbrough(So)-29.2

- Most Three Points- Wayne Ellington(Fr)-8 total

- Leads Assist/Turnover Ratio- Bobby Frasor(So)-3/1

- Most Steals- Tyler Hansbrough(So)-7 total

 

What Could Happen

North Carolina has a definite size advantage, Hansbrough (6'9"), Wright (6'9") and Rayshawn Terry (6'8") all see significant minutes at forward for Roy Williams. For OSU, Hunter (6'9") and Matt Terwilliger (6'8") each play around 20 minutes/game. North Carolina will definitely attempt to establish a presence inside, however if OSU can light it up with the three, UNC will be forced to put guards on the perimeter. I see Ivan Harris as being the difference maker in this game, with his 6'7" size he could have a big man guarding him, and he is good with the three ( 46.4%.) The key to an OSU victory will be keeping Hunter and Terwilliger out of foul trouble. Hansbrough is an important part of the young Tar Heels, and if OSU can force him to collect cheap fouls, UNC will be forced to bench him. OSU is great with the three, and it will win some games, but I hope to see the forwards make some major contributions to the scoreboard. This game is the first of several difficult road trips (Florida in December), and if OSU can come back home with a victory with Greg Oden on the bench, it will show that this team truly deserves the #1 ranking and it will go far in March. I see OSU pulling away with the victory. I think that UNC's youth (only one non-sophomore or freshman with over 15 minutes/game) will be a big disadvantage.