After entering the year as the preseason No. 1 college basketball team, North Carolina hasn’t enjoyed the start many expected from the defending runner-up. And on the heels of a poor showing in Portland, UNC is in for another potential gut punch in a hostile environment on Wednesday.
The Tar Heels are staring down a potential three-game losing streak for the first time since before the pandemic — remember that? — after a pair of losses that ended in a similarly inept fashion. North Carolina blew consecutive fourth-quarter leads with sloppy ball control and forced isolation play late, underscoring this team’s issue with generating clean offense when its stars aren’t cooking.
North Carolina vs. Indiana prediction
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Sunday’s four-overtime loss to Alabama was particularly costly. Caleb Love (34 points) hoisted a career-high 36 shots in a ridiculous 57 minutes — one of four Tar Heels to log at least 48 minutes in the loss. Star big man Armando Bacot (ankle) suffered a late injury that could linger into Wednesday, while key defender Leaky Black also tweaked his ankle late in that contest.
It all sets up for a favorable spot for host Indiana, which has won its four home games by an average of 36.3 points thus far. The Hoosiers have faced middling competition amid a 6-0 start (4-1-1 against the spread), but they still boast elite efficiency on both ends of the court and have been lethal in the paint, converting 63.3% of their buckets inside the arc.
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That approach could be even more deadly if Bacot isn’t at full strength down low. With him hampered and fatigued working against this entire North Carolina rotation, this is an ideal spot to back the home side.
North Carolina vs. Indiana pick
Indiana -5.5 (BetMGM)