UNC basketball vs. SMU game preview, info and more

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SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – JANUARY 04: Ian Jackson #11 of the North Carolina Tar Heels goes up for a layup against Braeden Shrewsberry #11 and Garrett Sundra #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center on January 04, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

After a 1-1 start to 2025 on the road, the North Carolina Tar Heels return home on Tuesday, January 7 with hopes of picking up their third ACC win.

UNC will host ACC newcomer SMU for a late, 9 p.m. ET tip-off. North Carolina is coming off a close, 74-73 win over Notre Dame on Saturday, while the visiting Mustangs lost by 27 – at home – to Duke on Saturday.

The Tar Heels (9-6, 2-1 ACC) hold a brief, 2-1 record in their all-time series with SMU (11-3, 2-1), including a 90-74 win in Chapel Hill during 1987. With the Mustangs now part of the ACC, expect to see UNC play its new conference opponent annually, unless we undergo conference realignment in the near future.

North Carolina isn’t in the clear yet, but we’re starting to see lineup combinations that work. Ian Jackson is thriving in Seth Trimble’s absence, with the former scoring 20 points in four straight games. Jalen Washington is playing the best basketball of his junior season, coming off a season-high five blocks in South Bend. Elliot Cadeau played hero against the Fighting Irish, sinking the game-tying 3-pointer and the ensuing, game-winning free throw.

SMU is led by Wake Forest transfer Boopie Miller, who averages 15.8 points per game as a starting guard for the Mustangs. Chuck Harris (11.4 ppg) and Matt Cross (10.7) give SMU two additional scorers in double-digits, while Cross (8.2 rebounds per game) and 7’2″ center Samet Yigitoglu (6.6) provide a 1-2 punch in the post.

The Mustangs aren’t as good as their record shows, but they didn’t get to 11 wins magically. The Tar Heels aren’t playing up to preseason expectations, but appear to be finding a groove with recent results.

Let’s take a…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/unc-basketball-vs-smu-game-142227923.html

Author : Tar Heels Wire

Publish date : 2025-01-07 14:22:00

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