Game Picks: North Carolina at Boston College

By: WZBC Sports Staff

With the No. 9 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels (19-4, 8-2 ACC) coming into Conte Forum on Tuesday night to battle the Boston College Eagles (7-16, 0-10), the WZBC Sports broadcasters submit their predictions. Tip-off is at 8 pm, and you can hear Kevin Fritz, Anthony Iati, and Kyle Maslan on the call with Jake DeLorenzo in the studio on WZBC Newton 90.3 FM. You can also listen online through wzbc.org/#listen or by clicking the FM link on the home page of wzbcsports.com. 

Likely starters: 

Boston College- Eli Carter (G), Sammy Barnes-Thompkins (G), Garland Owens (F), AJ Turner (F), Dennis Clifford (C). 

No. 9 University of North Carolina- Marcus Paige (G), Joel Berry II (G), Justin Jackson (F), Kennedy Meeks (F), Brice Johnson (F)

Broadcaster	Winner	Score	Comments
Kevin Fritz Senior		80-68	I still maintain that BC is a team capable of upsetting a major power this year in the ACC, but they simply drew UNC at the wrong time. Marcus Paige and co. are coming off two straight losses, and will certainly put their best effort out on the floor in Conte Forum Tuesday night as a result. BC will keep it close thanks to the Tar Heels’ defensive woes, but they will simply be overpowered in the end by the 9th-best scoring team in the nation.
Scott Geyman Junior		74-51
Michael Graziano Junior		75-37
TJ Hartnett Sophomore		84-64
Anthony Iati Junior		81-62	The Tar Heels will be ready to play from the opening tip after their surprising two game losing streak. BC has struggled to shoot consistently lately, but should get back over 60 points.
Andrew Kelley Junior		79-61	BC will stay competitive in the first half, but Kennedy Meeks and Brice Johnson will be too much down low for the Eagles to handle.
Quinn Kelly Sophomore		96-66	UNC comes in riding a 2 game losing streak.  They are tied now for first in the ACC (8-2), with Louisville holding the advantage with their recent win over the Heels and Virginia breathing down their necks at 8-3 in conference.  Much to the chagrin of the Eagles, UNC will be coupling this fear of slipping in ACC standings with the anger they have to be feeling after not getting the job done against ND with the No. 1 spot in the polls possibly up for grabs following an Oklahoma loss.  Look for the Heels to come out with a no-nonsense attitude and get the job done against a lower-tier ACC opponent in the Eagles.
Steve McAlee Sophomore		75-63	The Tar Heels will be coming into Conte Forum a bit angry after losing on the road to unranked Notre Dame, but the Eagles should be playing with a vengeance too, as they lost by 32 over the weekend to a Louisville team that has removed itself from NCAA tournament contention. Expect a good battle, as it should be the most well-attended-by-students game of the year, but in the end, Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson will be too much for an Eagles bunch that struggles to score as it is, let alone without star freshman Jerome Robinson.
Ryan Poor Senior		72-55	I think BC might be able to keep it somewhat close in the first half, but ultimately, UNC breaks out in the 2nd half with dominant rebounding and consistent scoring from their Top-10 offense.
Griffin Wong Junior		81-61	Pain for BC.

The Pick: North Carolina (unanimous)