NCAA Tournament – Friars vs Tar Heels Pick
The Tar Heels had their long winning streak snapped by Duke and then lost again in the ACC Tournament to Pittsburgh. [ad-4468020]
2014 NCAA Tournament Free Picks
East Region – Second Round
#6 North Carolina Tar Heels vs. #11 Providence Friars
Friday March 21
AT&T Center – San Antonio Texas
7:20PM
Moneyline: North Carolina -185. Providence +165
Spread: North Carolina -4
Total: 143
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North Carolina
There is no shame in either of those losses but they are now entering the tournament on a down note, against a team that finished pretty strong.
This team is pretty different than what we are used to seeing from UNC. The recruiting rankings say elite but this team is more blue collar.
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It is rare that a North Carolina team is so dependent on their point guard but that is the way things have gone this season. Marcus Paige has turned into a better scorer than I think anyone would have predicted thanks to some impressive outside shooting.
Unfortunately he has been kind of alone out there as Leslie McDonald is having a terrible season. This Tar Heels team could really benefit from James Michael McAdoo becoming the player we was supposed to be for the next 6 games.
I really do not like what is going on with North Carolina right now. They are ice cold and have been not very good when playing away from home.
If Marcus Paige has an off day these guys were toast and he is going to have to chase a pretty good guard in Bryce Cotton. I think they might fall outright making a pretty big thud.
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Providence
The Friars were surprise winners of the Big East tournament. Winning it was especially impressive because they knocked off Creighton in the title game, a team they had lost to by 15 points on the roa just a week prior. Providence has won 6 of their last 7 and has played well in March.
They have all the momentum in this one and have a nice nucleus of productive players who are more reliable than Carolina.
Nobody plays more minutes than the Friars Bryce Cotton.
He is averaging an astounding 39:56 minutes per game. He is not having a great shooting season but is averaging more than 20pppg so Paige is going to have his hands full. Cotton has a couple of solid running mates in forwards Ladontae Henton and Kadeem Batts.
They both average 12+ points and 7 + rebounds per game.
Hopefully all three of these guys still have something in the tank.
I think Providence is ripe to get the upset in this one. Cotton and Paige could easily cancel each other out and based on what I have seen I trust the Friars supporting cast more.
They are only getting 4 points but that might go up as we head toward tip off given how public a team North Carolina is.
Spread prediction: Providence +4
Totals prediction: Over
Score prediction: Providence 77 – North Carolina 76
