North Carolina vs. NC State Prediction, Online Live Stream, TV Info

North Carolina vs. NC State prediction, online live stream and TV broadcast information for Wednesday’s game.

The No. 7 North Carolina Tar Heels will make the 25-mile trip to Raleigh, N.C. Wednesday to take on rival NC State in hopes of sweeping the season set.

The Tar Heels (22-5, 11-3 ACC) rebounded nicely from their devastating loss to Duke by manhandling the Miami Hurricanes, 96-71, on Saturday. North Carolina grabbed a nine-point lead at halftime but really put its foot on the pedal in the second half thanks to a 10-0 out of the gate. The 25-point win was the biggest for the Heels vs. an AP Top 25 team since they beat Michigan State by the same margin in 2008. UNC’s shooting numbers in that one improved drastically from its loss to Duke, as it shot 45 percent from three and 54.2 percent overall. Five Tar Heels found themselves in double figures, including four starters. Brice Johnson led that group with 16 points and collected 15 boards for his 16th double-double of the year.

The Wolfpack (14-13, 4-10 ACC) has fallen on hard times as of late, having lost three of its last five games, but it managed to eek out a win over Clemson last time out. In a close game throughout, the Tigers pulled within a single point with a little over two minutes to play. However, the ensuing jumper by Maverick Rowan and four Anthony Barber free throws down the stretch put the game on ice for NC State. The Wolfpack lost the turnover battle (10-1), but it was able to maintain its lead by shooting better from three (45 percent) and the field (46.7 percent). Barber, the ACC’s leading scorer, was held to just eight points on 1-of-12 shooting, but he got some much needed help from his teammates. Rowan lead the team with 20 points while Abdul-Malik Abu (17 points, 16 rebounds) posted his 12th double-double of the season.

North Carolina and NC State will renew their rivalry for the 230th time in a series dating back to 1912. The Tar Heels hold a 152-77 advantage all-time and won the previous meeting this year, 67-55, on Jan. 16 in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Below is everything you need to know about the matchup, including the North Carolina vs. NC State prediction, online live stream and TV broadcast info, and game notes.

Live Stream, Game Broadcast Info

Venue: PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC.
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 24
Tipoff Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
National TV: ACCN, ESPN 3
North Carolina vs. NC State Online Live Stream: Watch ESPN, NC State Radio Live Stream

Prediction

No matter where these teams fall in the standings, this rivalry is always heated. PNC Arena will be rocking Wednesday night, but is the Wolfpack up for the challenge? Anthony Barber will be “Public Enemy No. 1” for the UNC defense, so it will be up to his supporting cast to get the job done. Barber’s teammates performed admirably vs. Clemson, but do they have another game like that in them? We’ll see.

This one ultimately will come down to talent, which the Heels have an abundance of. If UNC gives Brice Johnson his touches and refrains from playing down to its competition, it’ll be clear sailing for Carolina.

Prediction: North Carolina 82, NC State 70

Game Notes

UNC is averaging 10.85 turnovers per game, the lowest figure of any Carolina team since turnovers were first recorded in 1981-82. Last year, the Tar Heels averaged nearly 13 turnovers per contest.
Anthony Barber is leading the ACC in scoring with 23.1 points per game (league-best 23.2 ppg in ACC play) and is on pace to become the second player in ACC history to average 23 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 4.5 apg (Kenny Anderson in 1990-91).
Carolina’s five losses this year have been by a total of 17 points. That’s UNC’s lowest combined margin of defeat in five losses to start a season since 1940-41 when the Tar Heels lost by a combined 15 points (one, one, one, four and eight).