UNC basketball vs Alabama: Score prediction, scouting report for ACC/SEC Challenge

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UNC basketball will try to avoid a three-game losing streak as it welcomes Alabama to the Smith Center on Wednesday (7:15 p.m., ESPN) for the ACC/SEC Challenge.

The 20th-ranked Tar Heels (4-3) are playing the 10th-ranked Crimson Tide (6-2) for the first time since ‘Bama upset UNC in the 2024 NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.

The Heels are 8-6 in the all-time series against Alabama, but the Tide has won back-to-back games against UNC by a combined four points. The teams have met only once at the Smith Center, with Hubert Davis and UNC earning a 95-79 win in 1990.

What’s wrong with UNC basketball?

Now in his fourth year as head coach of the Heels, Davis has led UNC to a 43-6 record at the Smith Center, where UNC has won 19 straight nonconference games.

Here are some other things to know and a score prediction for UNC vs. Alabama.

RJ Davis 3-point shooting, rematch with Alabama’s Mark Sears

RJ Davis had an all-time season for the Tar Heels as a senior, earning ACC Player of the Year honors before becoming an All-American. But Davis’ season ended on a sour note with a 4-for-20 shooting effort in the Sweet 16 loss to Alabama, including an 0-for-9 night from 3-point range. Those struggles from beyond the arc have carried into his fifth season, with Davis off to a 14-for-51 start (27.5%) through seven games.

New starting lineup for UNC basketball?

UNC’s top guard will be matched up with fellow All-American guard Mark Sears, who has also found it tough to connect from long distance as a 28% three-point shooter through eight games. Sears has averaged 21 points in two games against UNC.

Turnovers for the Tar Heels, Crimson Tide

UNC is fourth in turnover percentage (12.7%), according to KenPom.com, but the Tar Heels had problems taking care of the ball at the Maui Invitational. More possessions brings the possibility for more mistakes, but UNC has finished with double-digit turnovers in three straight games.

Alabama, which is 136th in turnover percentage (16.9%) has had problems with taking…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/unc-basketball-vs-alabama-score-090354344.html

Author : The Fayetteville Observer

Publish date : 2024-12-03 09:03:00

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